March 20 briefing to focus on regulatory issues
(Alexandria, Va.) - The Water Environment Federation's (WEF) Washington Briefing 2001, "New Administration, New Challenges," will be held March 20, 2001, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., at the Hotel Washington, 515 15th Street, Washington, D.C., and will feature U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Diane Regas as a keynote speaker.
The briefing will focus on the latest regulatory and legislative initiatives affecting wastewater management. WEF President Joe Stowe, Jr. and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) President Conrad Keyes will open the program. ASCE is a co-sponsor of the Briefing. "It is vital for anyone who works to improve the quality of the nation's water supply to be up to speed on the thoughts and perspectives of federal policymakers," said Stowe. "The Federation's Washington Briefing is an excellent forum to have a dialogue with the leaders who shape our field's regulations."
The first morning session, "The View from the Hill: Congressional Priorities for Water Quality," will feature Jo Ellen Darcy, minority counsel, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Ken Kopocis, senior counsel, House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment.
Next, David Westerling of the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General and Kenneth Reckhow, chair of the National Academy of Sciences TMDL project, will anchor a panel entitled "Perspectives on TMDLs and other Water Quality Priorities."
Following lunch, Regas will deliver a keynote address on "The Bush Administration and Water Quality Regulations."
The third second panel will give an overview of current regulatory initiatives affecting water quality professionals. It will feature Geoff Grubbs, director, EPA Office of Science and Technology; Robert Wayland, director, EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds; and Jeff Lape, acting director, Permits Division, EPA Office of Wastewater Management.
The day's final panel, "Sound Science and Decision-Making: Bridging the Gap," will feature Robert Hirsch, associate director for water, U.S. Geological Survey, and Gordon Garner, chair, Water Environment Research Foundation Board of Directors.
The WEF Capitol Contacts Breakfast and the WEF Government Affairs Committee meeting will follow the one-day briefing on March 21. Peter Kimm, executive director, United States-Asia Environmental Partnership, will be the guest speaker at the Committee meeting.
The cost for the program is $100. For a full program and registration information call WEF's Lisa Scott at 1(703)684-2400 ext. 7741 or e-mail [email protected]
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 more than 100,000 water quality professionals from 77 Member Associations in 31 countries.
