ACWA Submits Comments on EPA’s Draft Strategic Plan

ACWA submitted comments July 30 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s draft strategic plan for fiscal years 2011-2015.

The draft plan, released June 18, discusses EPA's plans to begin focusing on drinking water contaminants as groups instead of individually, and the importance of ensuring compliance by small and rural communities. The document focuses on five strategic goals: taking action on climate change and improving air quality, protecting America’s waters, cleaning up our communities, ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing pollution, and enforcing environmental laws.

In its comment letter, ACWA conceptually supports the shift away from the “chemical-by-chemical” approach to addressing contaminants in drinking water, but says more details are needed. The association also supports EPA’s intent to meet climate change objectives with cost-effective, voluntary programs, and urges the agency to implement voluntary, market-based initiatives to reduce emissions of green house gases.

EPA will submit the final plan to Congress on Sept. 30.