Activity in U.S. Congress

Clean Water Affordability Act Introduced to Senate
Sen. George Voinovich (Ohio) has introduced the Clean Water Affordability Act. The bill modifies and extends appropriations authorization for sewer overflow grants and directs the Environmental Protection Agency to update its guidance (more).

Long-Term Energy Assurance and Security Act Introduced in House
Rep. Gene Green (Texas) has introduced the Long-Term Energy Assurance and Security Enhancement (LEASE) Act of 2008. The bill would modify laws related to leasing of mineral extraction rights in the oceans (more).

House Passes National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act
The House of Representatives has passed the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2008, which would modify laws related to the inventory and inspection of bridges on federally assisted highways (more).

Bridge Corrosion Bill Introduced
Sen. Sherrod Brown introduced the Bridge Life Extension Act of 2008 to require corrosion prevention for some federally funded new bridge construction (more).

Federal Commissions Seek Nominations, Schedule Meetings

Corp of Engineers Seeking Nominees for Missouri River Advisory Committee, Levee Safety Committee

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is seeking nominees for the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee. The committee will advise the Corp and other agencies on a study of the Missouri River and its tributaries to native and endangered species (more).

They are also seeking two nominees from the private sector for the Committee on Levee Safety. The committee will develop a national levee safety program (more).

Forest Service Seeks Nominees for Advisory Council

The U.S. Forest Services is seeking three members for the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council. They are seeking:

-A person that is not an officer or employee of any government body living in a city with a population of more than 50,000 and who has experience and has been active in urban and community forestry.
-A person representing academic institutions with an expertise in urban and community forestry activities.
-A person representing forest products, nursery, or related industries (more).

Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee to Meet

The Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee will meet on September 17, 2008, beginning at 9 am in Washington, DC. The committee advises the Surface Transportation Board on rail transportation of energy resources (more).

Energy Advisory Committees Meeting

The Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee will be meeting in Alexandria, VA on September 9-10, 2008. The committee advises the Secretary of Energy on the development of ultra-deepwater natural gas and other petroleum resources (more).

The Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee will be meeting in Alexandria, VA on September 11-2, 2008The committee advises the Secretary of Energy on onshore unconventional natural gas and petroleum resources (more).

Missouri Disaster Declarations and Modifications

Agency: Small Business Administration (SBA)
Description: Extension of disaster MO-00030
Announcement: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-17538.htm

Agency: SBA
Description: Amendments to disaster MO-00029
Announcement: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-17548.htm, http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-17765.htm

Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Description: Amends major disaster declaration FEMA-1773-DR
Affected Counties: Audrain, Carroll, Chariton, Christian, Howard, Macon, Miller, Morgan, Pettis, Ray, Shelby, and Sullivan Counties for Public Assistance; Linn, Stone, Taney, and Vernon Counties for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); Nodaway County for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance and emergency protective measures [Category B], limited direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program); Cape Girardeau County for Public Assistance (already designated for emergency protective measures [Category B], limited direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program)
Announcement: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-17691.htm, http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-17692.htm

Previous disaster related posts:
Additional Missouri Disaster Declarations
Register for Disaster Assistance Online
Federal Disaster Declaration Related to Flooding
Flooding Prompts Disaster Declaration for 22 Counties
Recent Missouri Disaster Declarations and Amendments
Assistance Available to Individual Affected by Recent Severe Storms and Floods
Assistance Available to Missouri Communities Effected by January Storms

Additional disaster information:
State Emergency Management Agency
-June 2008 flooding information
Federal Emergency Management Agency
-Region 7
-Missouri disaster declarations
-Missouri severe storms and floods
-Aid programs for Missouri recovery
-Presidential declaration of major disaster

Corp of Engineers Seeking Nominees for Missouri River Advisory Committee

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is seeking nominees for the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee. The committee will advise the Corp and other agencies on a study of the Missouri River and its tributaries to determine the actions required to mitigate losses of aquatic and terrestrial habitat, to recover federally listed species protected under the Endangered Species Act, and to restore the river's ecosystem to prevent further declines among other native species. Each committee member and alternate must be a stakeholder as defined by the committee’s charter. Applications must be received by August 2, 2008. You can find more about the nomination process here.

Additional Missouri Disaster Declarations

Agency: Small Business Administration
Deadline for Assistance: 8/25/2008Counties: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Cape Girardeau, Clark, Holt, Jefferson, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Mississippi, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Perry, Pike, Platte, Ralls, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, Saint Louis City, Sainte Genevieve, Scott, Polk, Gentry, Livingston, Bates, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Mercer, Webster
Announcement: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-15453.htm, http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-16575.htm

Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Effective Date: 6/11/2008Counties: Linn County for individual assistance; Gentry and Livingston Counties for individual assistance and public assistance; Bates, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Mercer, Polk, and Webster Counties for public assistanceAnnouncement: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-16549.htm

Agency: Small Business Administration
Deadline for Assistance: 8/27/2008Counties: Primary counties(eligible for Physical Damage and Economic Injury Loans) are Gentry, Linn, Livingston; contiguous counties (eligible for Economic Injury Loans Only) are Adair, Andrew, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Daviess, Dekalb, Grundy, Harrison, Macon, Nodaway, Sullivan, Worth
Announcement: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-16451.htm

Recent Federal Activity

Library of Congress Releases Reading List on Water Cycle and Climate Change

The Library of Congress has released a reading list on the water cycle and climate change. The books listed seem to lean toward the scientific aspects, but include some history and policy related titles (more).

Department of Interior Taking Action on Offshore Renewable Energy

The Department of Interior has established an Office of Offshore Alternative Energy Programs that will be responsible for policy development and analysis, and management of offshore alternative energy leasing, operation and compliance (more).

G8 Commits to 50% Reduction in Greenhouse Gases by 2050

The recent G8 summit in Japan resulted in resolutions related to several subjects, including climate change which may become the basis for more formal global climate policy (more).

Geosequestration of Carbon Dioxide Faces Opposition

In recent hearings before a committed of the U.S. House of Representatives, the American Water Works Association raised concern about the effects geosequestration may have on groundwater. The activity has the potential to change groundwater chemistry (more).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Opts Not to Regulate Studied Contaminants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has decided not to regulated 11 compounds in drinking water. The agency determined that “Occurrence information indicates that these 11 contaminants either appear to be nonexistent or have low levels of occurrence at health levels of concern in public water systems and regulating these contaminants does not present a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction” (more).

Nominees Sought for Inland Waterways Users Board

The U.S Department of the Army is seeking six nominees for the Inland Waterways Users Board. The Board makes recommendations to Congress and the Secretary of the Army on the priorities and spending from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund for construction and rehabilitation projects on the fuel-taxed system. Nominations are due by September 15, 2008 (more).

Free Asset Management Software Available

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released free asset management software for small drinking water and wastewater systems. The program, entitled Check Up Program for Small Systems, is available here.

Register for Disaster Assistance Online

If you’ve been effected by one of the recent disasters in Missouri, you can apply for aid at the FEMA web site. You can find out more here.

Additional disaster information:
State Emergency Management Agency
-June 2008 flooding information
Federal Emergency Management Agency
-Region 7
-Missouri disaster declarations
-Missouri severe storms and floods
-Aid programs for Missouri recovery
-Presidential declaration of major disaster

Previous related posts:
Federal Disaster Declaration Related to Flooding
Flooding Prompts Disaster Declaration for 22 Counties
Recent Missouri Disaster Declarations and Amendments
Assistance Available to Individual Affected by Recent Severe Storms and Floods
Assistance Available to Missouri Communities Effected by January Storms
Notice of Federal Disaster Relief in Selected Missouri Counties
Disaster Declaration for Missouri Ice Storms Last Month

Asset Management Article Available form Infra Consulting LC

An article on getting started on an asset management program is available from Infra Consulting LC. It explains some basic concepts for keeping the seemingly huge task of starting an asset management program manageable. You can find the article here.

Recent Action in Congress

Bill Introduced in House of Representatives to Study Pharmaceutical Disposal

U.S. Rep. Candice Miller (Michigan) has introduced a bill would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to convene a task force to recommend proper methods for disposal of unused pharmaceuticals and methods of publicize them (more).

Bill Introduced in House of Representatives to Establish, Lower National Speed Limits

U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (California) has introduced a bill to lower the speed limit to 60 miles per hour on many highways and 65 miles per hour on highways in non-urban areas (more).

Move Made to Eliminate Transportation Earmarks

U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake (Arizona) has introduced a bill to eliminate funding where there are unobligated balances for earmark projects under SAFETEA-LU, the present transportation funding law. The bill would also prohibit transfers from the General Fund of the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund (more).

Show-Me Green Tax Holiday Enacted

Gov. Matt Blunt recently signed a bill that will eliminate state sales taxes on new Energy Star certified appliance for a specified period. The tax is dropped for sales of up to $1500. The tax holiday begins April 19 and ends April 25. More information is available here.

Brownfields Reauthorization Bill Introduced in Congress

Leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced the Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 5336). The bill would extend authorization for and modify brownfields grants programs. You can find more information, including links, at this post on Infrastructure Watch.

Alternative Fuels Articles and Links

A list of alternative fuels articles and links is available at Infrastructure Watch. It’s a short list at the moment, but additional resources will be added to it.

Federal Drinking Water Advisory Committee to Hold Public Teleconference

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board Committee on Drinking Water will hold a public teleconference on August 13, 2008, for 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm Eastern Time (11:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Central Time). The committee will discuss the third drinking water contaminant candidate list (CCL3). Information on participating in this teleconference is available here.

Federal Disaster Declaration Related to Flooding

The following disaster declaration recently appeared in the Federal Register. You can find the full notice here.

Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated June 25, 2008, the President declared a major disaster under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5206 (the Stafford Act), as follows:

I have determined that the damage in certain areas of the State of Missouri resulting from severe storms and flooding beginning on June 1, 2008, and continuing, is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5206 (the Stafford Act). Therefore, I declare that such a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri.

In order to provide Federal assistance, you are herebyauthorized to allocate from funds available for these purposes such amounts as you find necessary for Federal disaster assistance and administrative expenses.

You are authorized to provide assistance for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program in the designated areas and any other forms of assistance under the Stafford Act that you deem appropriate subject to completion of Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs), unless you determine that the incident is of such unusual severity and magnitude that PDAs are not required to determine the need for supplemental Federal assistance pursuant to 44 CFR 206.33(d).

Consistent with the requirement that Federal assistance be supplemental, any Federal funds provided under the Stafford Act for Public Assistance will be limited to 75 percent of the total eligible costs, except for any particular projects that are eligible for a higher Federal cost-sharing percentage under the FEMA PublicAssistance Pilot Program instituted pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 777. If Other Needs Assistance and Hazard Mitigation are later warranted, Federal funding under these programs will also be limited to 75 percent of the total eligible costs.

Further, you are authorized to make changes to this declaration to the extent allowable under the Stafford Act.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, Department of Homeland Security, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Michael L. Karl, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this declared disaster.

I do hereby determine the following areas of the State of Missouri to have been affected adversely by this declared major disaster: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Cape Girardeau, Clark, Holt, Jefferson, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Mississippi, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Perry, Pike, Platte, Ralls, St. Charles, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, and Scott and the Independent City of St. Louis for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.

Previous posts related to disaster declarations:
Flooding Prompts Disaster Declaration for 22 Counties
Recent Missouri Disaster Declarations and Amendments
Assistance Available to Individual Affected by Recent Severe Storms and Floods
Assistance Available to Missouri Communities Effected by January Storms
Notice of Federal Disaster Relief in Selected Missouri Counties
Disaster Declaration for Missouri Ice Storms Last Month

Additional Information:
State Emergency Management Agency
-June 2008 flooding information
Federal Emergency Management Agency
-Region 7
-Missouri disaster declarations
-Missouri severe storms and floods
-Aid programs for Missouri recovery
-Presidential declaration of major disaster

Library of Congress Compiles List of Infrastructure and Public Works References

The Library of Congress has provided a list of infrastructure and public works resources. The list includes a bibliography of relevant books and internet resources. The list is available here.

Housing Aid, Foreclosure Relief Available in Storm-Ravaged Counties

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has made financial assistance related to housing and infrastructure, including foreclosure relief, available in seven Missouri counties hit by recent storms. The affected counties are Clark, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Ralls, and St. Charles Counties. You can find additional information here.

Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Plans Approved

Plans for wastewater and drinking water financial assistance for state fiscal year 2009 are available. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Intended Use Plan (IUP) and State Grant and Loan Priority List (approved by the Clean Water Commission on May 7) and the Drinking Water SRF IUP (approved by the Safe Drinking Water Commission on May 27) are available here.

Carbon Cap-and-Trade Bill Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (Texas) has introduced the Climate MATTERS Act of 2008. The bill, among other things, would establish a program for the trade of carbon emissions allowances. You can find links to this and similar proposals at this post on Infrastructure Watch.

Sewage Overflow Bill Passes U.S. House of Representatives

The Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act passed in the U.S. House of Representative. The bill would require owners of publicly owned treatment works to institute a means of sewer overflows and publicly report overflows. You can find more information on this bill, including links, at this post on Infrastructure Watch.