House to Hold Hearing on Clean Water Affordability, Integrated Planning Framework

The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment will hold a hearing on July 24, 2014 to examine the status of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Integrated Planning Framework and legislative efforts being made to supplement the approach and promote clean water affordability issues.

Stephen Meyer, director of environmental services for Springfield, Mo., and member of NACWA’s board of directors will be testifying on National Association of Clean Water Agency’s (NACWA) behalf. Meyer will be speaking about Springfield’s affordability challenges and the city’s efforts to develop an integrated plan in order to more affordably manage their wastewater and stormwater requirements under the Clean Water Act. Springfield hopes to eventually incorporate their requirements under the Clean Air Act and the Solid Waste Disposal Act into their integrated plan as well.

The hearing, titled “Integrated Planning and Permitting Framework: An Opportunity for EPA to Provide Communities with Flexibility to Make Smart Investments in Water Quality,” will also examine three pieces of legislation that promote Integrated Planning and affordability issues. The first is H.R. 3862, The Clean Water Affordability Act, which is co-sponsored by Representatives Bob Latta (R-OH) and Tim Walz (D-MN) and would codify EPA’s Integrated Planning approach, extend permit terms for communities with an approved integrated plan, and require EPA to revise its guidance on financial capability. The hearing will also look at H.R. 2707, The Clean Water Compliance and Ratepayer Affordability Act, which is co-sponsored by Representatives Steven Chabot (R-OH) and Marcia Fudge (R-OH) and would create a new pilot program for 15 communities across the country to develop integrated plans and extend permit terms for pilot communities with an approved integrated plan. Finally, the hearing will look at a proposal by the U.S. Conference of Mayors referred to as the Water Quality Improvement Act that has yet to be introduced.

Source: NACWA