RURAL WATER LEGISLATIVE NETWORK

• Phosphorus Hearing Comments (7-28-2010)

• SENATE HEARING ON PROPOSED PHOSPHORUS REGULATIONS
  The Senate Environment Committee has announced a hearing on proposed revisions to NR 102 and NR 217 related to phosphorus water quality standards criteria and WPDES permit provisions for phosphorus which were recently approved by the DNR's Natural Resources Board. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 10am, in Room 411-S of the State Capital.
  Facts: According to the DNR’s own estimates, to comply with the proposed regulations 163 Wastewater Treatment Plants in Wisconsin would have to install new filtration systems at a cost of between $1.8 million and $6.9 million per system. These costs could climb to between $8.6 million and $26 million per system, once land acquisition and other costs are included.
  Municipal WWTPs have already spent millions of dollars to remove up to 90% of their phosphorus discharges – and it would cost an additional $200 per pound to remove phosphorus to the levels proposed.
  Although 163 communities would initially be affected, virtually every municipal WWTP would eventually be forced to comply with the new standards.
  These rules do not address agricultural runoff, failing septic systems or other sources that account for up to 80% of the phosphorus pollution in Wisconsin waters.
  Municipal WWTP operators and municipal representatives are strongly encouraged to provide written comments or attend this hearing. Let your legislators know your community cannot afford to spend millions of dollars on this unfunded mandate for additional treatment, while the larger issue is not addressed!

• WRWA Comments on Clearinghouse Rule 09-073

• Proposed Conservation & Efficiency Rules- https://health.wisconsin.gov/admrules/public/Rmo?nRmoId=7924

• Proposed Water Use Fees- https://health.wisconsin.gov/admrules/public/Rmo?nRmoId=7823
   

• Proposed Conservation & Efficiency Rules 

• Rules Fact sheet

• Affected Municipal Utilities

•  Fee Calculator website (with a hyperlink to http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/greatlakes/rules.html )
   

• WRWA Legislative Alert

• MEG Phosphorus Fact Sheet

• MEG Phosphorus Charts

• WRWA Written Comments to DNR

REPORT TO CONGRESS
REPORT TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE

STATE LEGISLATIVE NEWS

*GROUNDWATER BILL (AB 844) HEARING The Assembly Natural Resources Committee will be meeting at 9 am, this Wednesday, March 31, at the state Capitol in room 417-N. On the agenda is Assembly Bill AB-844. Groundwater management, water conservation, standard setting and a process for designating areas in this state as groundwater management areas - all will have an impact on public water suppliers. Last week’s Senate hearing drew out a crowd from the environmental arena who stacked the deck in favor of SB 620, which is the Senate’s version of same bill. It is important that our public water supply make a strong showing at the hearing, where you do not have to testify, but can simply register in opposition to the bill. WRWA’s testimony will be posted soon.
These bills appear on the fast track to the Governor’s desk and unless we act now, may become law and place an unfair share of the water conservation burden on the backs of the public water supply industry.  See you in Madison on Wednesday!
Click here to view bill.

►WRWA Testimony
►Plover-Whiting-Stevens Point Testimony
►Municipal Environmental Group (MEG)
    – Water Division Comments

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE NEWS

The full version of these reports are available at: www.ruralwater.org  National Rural Water Association (Washington, DC) editor@ruralwater.org

(8/1/10)–– Appropriations Update (EPA funding). –– Chemical Security Update –– EPA Revisions to Water Quality Standards –– IA, WI, and PA’s Reports –– EPA’s Numerical Nutrient Criteria –– ME SWP Program TV –– BABs and Lifting the PAB Cap –– WRDA Update –– Expanding the Scope of the CWA

(7/18/10) –– Appropriations Update - Senate increases SWP –– Update on BABs and PAB Cap –– Update National Policy Activities –– Latest on EPA's Climate Change Policy –– Chemical Security Legislation Update

(6/13/10)–– EPA Releases Its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda –– EPA’s Numerical Nutrient Criteria Conflagration in Fla. & Kansas –– EPA Continues to Reform TCR Rule –– Is God an Environmentalist? –– Wisc. Water Tower Catches Fire –– EPA Moving Forward on a SSO Rule –– House Lifts Cap on Water Private Activity Bonds

(5/9/10)– Chairman Dicks Message to Rural Water – House SRF Reauthorization Bill – Tenn. Taking the Threat to 1926(b) Seriously – 2012 Farm Bill Hearings – Total Coliform Rule Revision – Appropriations Chair Obey to Retire – Mexico City Doesn’t Treat Wastewater – EPA’s “Climate Read Water Utility….” – Senate Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds Bill – States Urge EPA Not To Implement NNCs
(5/2/10)– Times Square Bomb Relevance to Water – Boston Boil Water Order Impacts 2 Million – AWWA Security Funding Catalogue – House Appropriations Delays – Lobbying To Delay EPA Arsenic Assessment – Is CO the next WI and FL for Numerical Nutrient Criteria – Jim Dunlap’s Vision Coming to Fruition for BOR – Biosolids Case Before Supreme Court – EPA Climate Change Planning for Water Utilities – 7 USC Sec. 1926(b) – EPA Guidance for this Year’s SRFs – Privatization in USA Today
(4/11/10)-- Arsenic Update -- 1926(b) Happenings -- EPA Report on FY10 SRF Provisions -- EPA to Total Coliform Rule Meeting -- WI's Statewide Phosphorus Rules -- KS' guidelines for territory transfers -- U.S. Water Supply Infrastructure Status -- EPA's New Sustainability Policy -- House passes private activity bonds bill -- Recession is sending water bills up

(4/4/10)-- Appropriations Update – cosign HR 2206 -- Arsenic Science Update -- Congressional Inquiry Into 1926(b) Changes -- EPA Adds Bisphenol-A Its List of Chemicals of Concern -- Nat'l Geol Issue Devoted to Water -- AWWA Holds Capitol Hill Day -- Stimulus money to largest investor-owned utility company -- Kansas' New Law to Determine Value of Annexed Districts -- USDA's $993,000 Household Well Program -- Chlorine Gas Often Gets the Blame -- Stockholm Water Prize Awarded U.S. Scientist

(3/21/10)-- Appropriations Update – House Dear Colleague wrapping up -- EPA's Water System Sustainability Regulation -- Etheridge Bill Relevance and earmarking -- Chemical Security Focus in Senate -- Troubled Xenia (Iowa) Votes on Higher Rates -- State Nutrient Limitations (VT, WI, and FL) -- Atrazine Regulation -- 1926(b) Case in Ohio

(3/14/10)-- Changes to Dear Colleagues and final list of cosigners -- Earmark Circumlocutions in the House -- New Jersey Joins Elite Delegation Letter Club -- SRF Reauthorization Update -- EPA Stands By Limiting Arsenic Analysis

State Regulatory News

FEDERAL REGULATORY NEWS

• Regulatory Snapshot

    

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DECEMBER 2007 LEGISLATIVE NEWS
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