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Senate Introduces America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018
On May 8, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee introduced American's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, this year's version of the Water Resources Development Act. A hearing on the legislation was held on May 9 and a second hearing is set for May 17. The Senate Committee is expected to mark up the bill by the end of May. The House has not yet introduced a bill.
Thanks to the work of many WPN members--and strong leadership by Senator Carper (D-DE) and other environmental champions--the Senate bill is currently free of any language that undermines bedrock environmental laws, and the bill advances a key WPN priority. Section 1023 promotes use of natural infrastructure for flood and storm risk reduction by requiring the Corps of Engineers to consider the use of natural infrastructure, alone or in conjunction with more structural approaches, where natural infrastructure alternatives are practicable.
On the project side, the bill calls on the Corps to expedite critical ecosystem restoration efforts, including in the Mississippi River Delta and the Everglades. However, the bill also advances a number of destructive Corps projects, including an effort to dam the ecologically-rich Pearl River near Jackson, Mississippi that is strongly opposed by many WPN members.
In a section focused on the Environmental Protection Agency, the bill includes provisions that will help upgrade aging drinking water and wastewater systems, focusing on communities in need.
Click here for the full text of the Senate Bill>>
Click here for a section by section summary Prepared by the Committee>>
Click here to watch the May 9 hearing and read the written testimony>>
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House Introduces Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
Please Urge Your Representative to Oppose the Bill's Anti-Environmental Riders
On May 6, the House Appropriations Committee released the FY 2019 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that proposes $7.28 billion in funding for the Corps of Engineers, an increase of $451 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level.
This bill includes a number of extremely bad policy riders, including section 108 which would repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The section 108 dirty water rider would eliminate the vital safeguards provided by the Clean Water Rule—safeguards that protect the drinking water of 117 million people; and that protect streams, headwaters, wetlands and other waters that provide vital habitat for wildlife, reduce flood risks, and naturally filter pollution. The dirty water rider ignores the more than 1.5 million comments submitted in support of the Clean Water Rule and the strong scientific foundation for the Clean Water Rule. The dirty water rider would reinstate an inconsistent and uncertain regulatory scheme that is uniformly recognized as unworkable.
This bill could be marked up in Committee early next week. Please reach out today to tell your Representative to oppose the dirty water rider and all anti-environmental riders in the FY 2019 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
Click here for the full text of the House Bill>>
Click here for the Committee's summary of the Bill>>
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Corps Public Notices Published in the Past 30 Days
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Online Resources for WPN Members
Have you seen the WPN website recently?
Comments:
We have a *new* tab – Comments – that contains comment letters submitted by WPNetwork members. Topics range from veto requests, to the USACE Environmental Advisory Board, omnibus appropriations, WRDA, to USACE nationwide permits. Have you submitted a comment that you would like to share with fellow members? Let us know at sametm@nwf.org.
Resources:
Don't forget to check out our Resources tab where you can find sample FOIA requests and EIS comments (including scoping comments and comments on draft and final EISs), Corps regulations, Guidance and Information, reports, the Citizens Guide to the Corps, and WPNetwork Webinars. Click here to view past webinars sponsored by the WPNetwork>> |
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