Legislation To Improve Water Quality Throughout United States Strongly Supported At Congressional Hearing
Four Bills Will Authorize Grants To Address Sewer Overflows, And Programs To Improve Nation's Estuaries, Chesapeake Bay, & Lake Pontchartrain
Washington, D.C. - Members of Congress and other governmental and non-governmental witnesses with expertise in sewage treatment and ecosystem restoration testified in support of legislative measures that will improve water quality both regionally and nationwide.
The hearing by the U.S. House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, chaired by U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), focused on four bills:
- H.R. 784, the "Water Quality Investment Act of 2003",
- H.R. 4470, a bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program,
- H.R. 4688, a bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Program, and
- H.R. 4731, a bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program.
H.R. 784 - "The Water Quality Investment Act of 2003"
H.R. 784 reauthorizes section 221 of the Clean Water Act, providing authority for $750 million for each of FY 2004 and FY 2005 in grants to municipalities and States to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). H.R. 784 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and 16 cosponsors.
Combined sewer systems, which carry both storm water and sewage flows, and separate sanitary sewer systems can overflow with untreated waste during wet weather episodes, like rain or snow melts. Infrastructure problems and system capacity constraints can also cause CSOs and SSOs. These discharges present significant public health and safety concerns and are among the major sources responsible for beach closures, shellfish restrictions and exceedances in water quality standards. EPA estimates the cost to communities of addressing these problems to be tens of billions of dollars.
"Our systems are aging, our population is growing, and our local communities are literally drowning under the cost of repairs," Rep. Camp said. "If we don't act quickly, we could soon face pollution levels like we haven't seen since the 1970s.
"The Environmental Protection Agency reports that 1,260 billion gallons of sewer overflow discharges occur ever year. In less than a dozen years, more than half of the country's sewer pipes will deteriorate to the point of being in poor or very poor condition.
"This legislation is about our nation's physical health, economic vitality and goes to the very core of the quality of life we have in our communities."
H.R. 4470, Reauthorizing The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program
H.R. 4470 reauthorizes the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program within EPA, providing for $20 million each year through FY 2010 for restoration projects and studies and public education projects. H.R. 4470 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. David Vitter (R-LA), U.S. Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA), U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), and U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA).
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin is the largest estuary in the Gulf Coast region and one of the largest estuaries in the U.S. Particularly since the 1940s, population growth and development of the area have contributed to the degradation of the Basin's water quality. The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program was established in law in 2000, and the Basin has experienced recent improvements in water quality.
"Local grassroots organizations and many others have all done a great job cleaning up Lake Pontchartrain," Rep. Vitter said. "The federal resources made available through the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program are helping advance these efforts so that one day the lake will be fully restored. Reauthorization of this program will help us continue this vitally important work."
H.R. 4688, Reauthorizing The Chesapeake Bay Program
H.R. 4688 reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program within EPA, providing for $40 million each year through FY 2010 in federal assistance for the Program. H.R. 4688 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), U.S. Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA) and 15 cosponsors.
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership that directs and conducts the restoration of the Bay. A great deal of progress has been made in restoring the Bay - nitrogen and phosphorous levels are decreasing in non-tidal portions of rivers that flow to the Bay and sediment levels in some rivers are declining. However, the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Program have not yet been reached and more must be done to reduce pollutant loadings.
"I am pleased we are working to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Program and restore one of America's natural treasures," said Rep. Gilchrest, a member of the Subcommittee.
"In recent years, this 15,000 year-old treasure has suffered from the effects of growing human population, over-harvesting of its resources, and water quality degradation. While funds have been spent and restoration plans are being implemented, the job of restoring the Bay is far from completed. In the final analysis, it is essential to have stakeholder involvement in order to for restoration to be a success. Now is the time to reauthorize the program and continue moving forward."
H.R. 4731, Reauthorizing The National Estuary Program
H.R. 4731 reauthorizes the National Estuary Program within EPA, providing for $35 million each year through FY 2010. H.R. 4731 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA).
The National Estuary Program is designed to promote comprehensive planning for long-term protection of estuaries through collaborative voluntary efforts of Federal, State, local, non-profit and private interests. After a Governor recommends an estuary for inclusion in the National Estuary Program, and if EPA determines the estuary is "nationally significant," it is accepted, and becomes eligible for technical assistance and grant funding. Of the roughly 130 estuaries in the U.S., 28 have been incorporated into the National Estuary Program.
"My bill is a simple reauthorization of the highly respected and successful National Estuary Program, a program whose authorization will expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2005," said Rep. Gerlach, a member of the Subcommittee.
"Established by Congress in 1987, EPA's National Estuary Program is designed to improve the quality of estuaries of national importance. This program has helped us restore more than 700,000 acres of costal habitat, protect public water supplies and watch over precious fish and wildlife.
"Ultimately, the program is a watershed approach in which all affected interests participate in creating solutions that balance environmental objectives with competing issues and it's vitally important that it continues on."