Smucker Introduces Bill to Help Bring 21st Century Water Infrastructure to Local Communities

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-16) today introduced legislation to provide municipalities the flexibility to prioritize their investments in storm and wastewater infrastructure projects in order to comply with Clean Water Act (CWA) standards.

Municipalities across Pennsylvania face federal mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to comply with CWA. These mandates often give no consideration to municipalities' ability to pay for the necessary changes to their water infrastructure. Rep. Smucker's Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act would make it easier for municipalities to comply with CWA by empowering them to decide for themselves what projects need updating now, and what projects can be updated at a later date.

"We all want to maintain the safe and clean environment we enjoy in the 16th District," said Rep. Smucker. "I have a record of supporting clean water initiatives in the Pennsylvania State Senate, and I am continuing that record in the U.S. House. But we need a commonsense regulatory approach that is more collaborative than punitive. This bill is one way we can help ensure we are providing clean, safe water to our communities without putting an unnecessary burden on local governments and the taxpayers that support them."

Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray recently testified in support of the Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. "This bill is a positive step toward acknowledging that as a nation, we need to approach our water and wastewater infrastructure and compliance issues in a much more practical and sustainable manner," said Mayor Gray during his testimony. "Our communities and more importantly, our citizens, do not have unlimited funds to implement every rule and regulation in a silo, without considering what benefits might result."

According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), municipalities "spend 6-7 cents of every tax dollar on water and sewer systems, making it the third biggest expense for cities behind education and emergency personnel."

Furthermore, CRS found that many state and local governments have limited resources and financial capabilities to face the economic challenges and to meet their obligations to provide safe and clean water to their communities.

The Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act:
· Establishes an Office of Municipal Ombudsman at the EPA to help cities comply with federal environmental laws;
· Directs the EPA to promote "green infrastructure;" and
· Requires the EPA to update its guidance and expand the criteria for determining the affordability of regulations.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced bipartisan companion legislation in the Senate.

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