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Briefing Tomorrow:
Lead, PFCs and Other Threats
to Safe Drinking Water
Tuesday, December 5, 1:30 PM
122 Cannon House Office Building
The Northeast-Midwest Institute will hold a briefing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, December 5, featuring experts on safe drinking water policy and management.
Please join the Northeast-Midwest Institute, in coordination with Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), for a Congressional briefing on the threats posed by lead and perflurochemicals (PFCs) to our region's drinking water, public health, and the economy. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) and Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-05) will deliver brief remarks.
Safe drinking water is under threat across the U.S. from legacy contaminants, found both within the water system itself and in the surrounding environment. Older infrastructure and denser communities make the Northeast and the Midwest especially vulnerable. For example, the Flint water crisis exposed a community to the toxic effects of lead in water, and resulted in other cities around the region discovering the extent of the problem in their own communities. The recent discovery of PFCs leaching out of industrial sites and military bases highlights the need for constant protection against threats to public health.
The panelists in this briefing will elaborate on the various threats to safe drinking water in the region, the extent of the issue, response from the government and affected communities, and changes needed in our policy to prevent future occurrences. Panelists will also discuss the issue of affordability as it relates to mitigation of these contaminants.
The list of speakers includes:
- Claire Barnett, Founder and Executive Director, Healthy Schools Network
- Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director, Environmental Defense Fund
- Alan Roberson, Executive Director, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators
Moderating the panel will be Dr. Sridhar Vedachalam, Director of the Safe Drinking Water Research and Policy Program at NEMWI. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session with the panel.
For more information, please contact Sri Vedachalam, Director of the Safe Drinking Water Research and Policy Program, or
Matthew McKenna
, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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Briefing Wednesday:
Upper Mississippi Water Quality
Water Quality in the Upper Mississippi Basin:
Nitrates, Treatment Costs, and the Role of Agriculture
Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 10:00 AM
202 Senate Visitor Center
The Northeast-Midwest Institute will hold a Capitol Hill briefing in collaboration with
Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) on Wednesday, December 6, featuring national, state, and local experts on the impacts of agriculture on water quality.
The increasing costs of treatment associated with nitrate removal were brought to national attention in early 2015 when Des Moines Water Works (IA) filed suit to recover these costs from three upstream counties. The case was eventually dismissed in federal court, but it highlighted the relationship between farming practices and drinking water quality. The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEWMI) is conducting a study to identify connections between source water quality in the Mississippi River Basin and treatment costs at drinking water treatment facilities. This study will enable targeted solutions to keep water treatment costs low, promote sustainable agriculture, and maintain clean water in the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
This briefing will elaborate on the presence of nutrients in the Mississippi Basin, sustainable farming practices adopted by farmers, and the impact of excess nutrients on water treatment and water treatment costs. Panelists will examine the relationship between nutrients and water treatment, and NEWMI staff will provide an overview of the project, list study locations being considered, and solicit feedback from briefing participants.
The list of speakers includes:
- Alyssa Charney, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
- Jeff Boeckler, Northwater Consulting International
- Kelly Warner, Illinois-Iowa Water Science Center,
U.S. Geological Survey
In addition, Dr. Sri Vedachalam, Joe Vukovich, and Ankita Mandelia of NEMWI will give an overview of the study and possible legislative impacts
For more information, please contact Sri Vedachalam, Director of the Safe Drinking Water Research and Policy Program, or Joe Vukovich, Senior Policy Analyst for the Mississippi River Basin Program.
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Briefing Planned on
Great Lakes Maritime Issues
Thursday, December 14, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
209-08 Senate Visitor Center
The Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers will host a Congressional briefing highlighting the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Maritime Day on Thursday, December 14. Speakers will focus on critical maritime issues impacting the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region that include the Soo Locks, autonomous vessels, and cruising/customs issues.
For more information, please contact
Matthew McKenna
, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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NOAA Nominee Says He Accepts Humans Are Main Cause of Climate Change
In
contrast
to
past
statements by numerous Trump administration officials, Barry Myers, who has been nominated to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
stated
in his nomination hearing on November 29
that he accepts that humans are the primary contributors to climate change. In response to a question regarding whether he would seek to suppress any climate-related research if he was confirmed, Myers stated that he would not seek to suppress any peer-reviewed research.
Some senators had lingering concerns, however. Some of these stem from his involvement with Accuweather, a company founded by
Joel Myers, his brother. Some of the senators were
skeptical that Barry Myers could fully separate himself from his time at Accuweather, during which he often pushed for greater privatization of NOAA's work. However, Myers did promise that if confirmed he would resign from any position and sell any interest that could represent a conflict of interest.
The full hearing is available at the Senate Science Committee's
website
.
For more information, please contact Joe Vukovich, Senior Policy Analyst for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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This Week on Capitol Hill
The House and Senate will go to conference this week on H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Additionally, the September continuing resolution--which keeps the federal government funded under FY17 levels--will expire on December 8.
A full list of key Congressional committee activity that impacts the region can be viewed below:
Tuesday, December 5
Thursday, December 7
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NEMWI: Strengthening the Region that Sustains the Nation
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