WASHINGTON — The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment will hold a hearing to observe the status of EPA’s Integrated Planning Framework and legislative efforts being made to supplement the approach and promote clean water affordability issues, according to a press release.
The hearing, entitled “Integrated Planning and Permitting Framework: An Opportunity for EPA to Provide Communities with Flexibility to Make Smart Investments in Water Quality,” will examine three pieces of legislation promoting Integrated Planning and affordability issues: The Clean Water Affordability Act, The Clean Water Compliance and Ratepayer Affordability Act and a proposal by the U.S. Conference of Mayors referred to as the Water Quality Improvement Act, which has yet to be introduced, stated the release.
The Clean Water Affordability Act would require EPA to revise its guidance on financial capability, codify EPA’s Integrated Planning approach and extend permit terms for communities with an approved integrated plan, and The Clean Water Compliance and Ratepayer Affordability Act would produce a new pilot program for 15 communities throughout the country to develop integrated plans and extend permit terms for pilot communities with an approved integrated plan, continued the release.
The Director of Environmental Services for the City of Springfield, Missouri, and member of NACWA’s Board of Directors, Stephen Meyer, will be testifying on NACWA’s behalf, speaking about Springfield’s affordability challenges and efforts to develop an integrated plan in order to more affordably manage their wastewater and stormwater requirements under the Clean Water Act, noted the release.
