The Water Environment Federation's (WEF) Washington Briefing 2003, "Continued Progress and New Perspectives," will be held April 8 - 9, 9 a.m.to 4:30 p.m., at the Hotel Washington, 515 15th Street, Washington, D.C.
The Briefing begins with a one-day seminar designed to provide attendees with the latest information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Capitol Hill regarding water quality issues. The WEF Government Affairs Committee meeting follows on the morning of April 9 with WEF member visits to Capitol Hill in the afternoon.
The program will open with a welcome from WEF President, Robert McMillon, followed by presentations focused on Capitol Hill and the new perspectives shaping legislative priorities. Representative Don Young (R-AK), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Democratic Whip and member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, are the morning speakers. A panel discussing the priorities of the 108th Congress will follow. The luncheon speaker, Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), will discuss wastewater funding issues and new legislation.
The second panel will shift the focus of the briefing to achieving water quality improvements on the ground. Identifying, minimizing, and controlling nonpoint source pollution is critical to continuing progress towards our nation's clean water goals. A panel including both regulators and members of the regulated community will discuss new opportunities and ongoing initiatives that address nonpoint source pollution from agricultural sources.
Following the luncheon address, Tracy Mehan, U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, will kick-off an afternoon of discussion with EPA Office of Water Directors on regulatory initiatives and challenges including the total maximum daily load program, progress on national regulations for sanitary sewer overflows, permitting under the stormwater phase II program and the new animal feeding operations rule, water quality standards, enforcement priorities, and more.
In conjunction with the Washington Briefing, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) is hosting the Excellence in Environmental Engineering Awards Luncheon at noon on April 9 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Tickets and information can be obtained by calling 410-266-3311.
For additional information on Washington Briefing 2003 and to register, please visit www.wef.org/GovtAffairs/Events/washingtonbriefing2003.jhtml.
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 79 Member Associations in 32 countries.
Source: WEF
