Page 4 - NCRWA Tarheel Pipeline Spring 2013

2 NCRWA.COM | Spring 2013
from the executive director
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To provide our water and wastewater membership with
the highest quality support services possible.
W
ON THE
LEGISLATIVE FRONT
…so help me God.”
ith those final few words, both our
nation and state saw our top leaders
take office for the next four years. As
both President Obama and Governor
McCrory busy themselves with the
work of their respective offices, we the people of the water
and wastewater industry must also busy ourselves with the
invaluable duties of protecting and serving our communities
and our environment.
What can we expect during these next four years? Will our
leaders actually work together or will it be several years of
playing partisan political games? Will we see real leadership
and demonstrated progress, or will it be four years of rhetoric
and digression as we continue adding to our children’s debt?
The answers to these questions may be as uncertain as the
end of time, which the Mayan’s demonstrated, in hindsight, is
anybody’s guess. It will be up to each of us to continue working
diligently so that our own communities can thrive and to let
our elected leaders know what our industry needs to progress
in service to our customers. The North Carolina Rural Water
Association (NCRWA) has already been busy representing you,
our members, in Washington, DC and Raleigh.
In early January, we received news from the EPA in
Washington, DC, that they had re-clarified the intent of language
in the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) rule to allow for
electronic notification to serve as “direct delivery” of the
CCR. This was a huge win for Rural Water as we had lobbied
Congress for legislation that led to EPA’s reinterpretation.
Congressman Young (FL) introduced the legislation at the
request of Florida Rural Water Association and many of the NC
Delegation, through our efforts, quickly signed on in support.
This re-clarification could mean tremendous savings to many
systems following the release of NCDENR’s position on the re-
clarification. NCRWA will be providing more information on
this improved delivery method in the coming months.
Turning our focus to the state government, North Carolina
is now governed by a Republican-majority legislative and
executive branch for the first time in many years. No matter
your political affiliations, one ideology will certainly prevail:
our state government will be focused on economic growth and
the improvement of our business community. Understanding
that fundamental stance allows us to work with them for the
best interest of our systems.
With the new governor also comes new appointments to key
positions, such as the new Secretary of DENR, John E. Skvarla
III. According to NCDENR, Secretary Skvarla’s background
includes work in environmental mitigation, waste management
and automated recycling systems, and the transportation of air
cargo. We welcome Skvarla to his new appointment and look
forward to working with him. Given that all of DWQ, DWR,
and PWSS reports to the Secretary’s Office, we can expect
some policy changes in the coming months that will affect our
industry. We will continue to keep our members informed of
these changes.
Concluding with the legislative branch, it will be a significant
year for our industry at the General Assembly. With expected
Bills addressing fracking, system mergers, per capita limits,
utility membership in NC811, water supply issues and
infrastructure funding, our industry will be affected by the
decisions made during this Session.
As always, NCRWA will be reaching out to our members to
assist us as legislative and regulatory matters surface. Please
contact us anytime that you have questions or comments
regarding these issues and please register for our e-newsletter to
stay abreast of current news from our state and national capital.
Daniel Wilson, PE, CAE, UMC
Executive Director, NCRWA