RCRC

Representative Gary Miller has sponsored legislation titled the Sunshine on Conflicts Act (H.R. 2765) to revise outdated provisions of the Clean Water Act and replace the percent of income test now applied under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulation (anyone deriving 10 percent or more income from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permittees).  The regulation is used to appoint persons to water quality permitting authorities, including state and regional water boards and H.R. 2765 would bolster California’s ability to appoint qualified experts to its various water resources-related bodies.  While Representatives Ken Calvert and Dana Rohrabacher are co-sponsors of the measure, Representative Miller is seeking additional co-sponsors for H.R. 2765. RCRC urges member rural counties to contact your Member of Congress, by letter or phone, and request that he/she contact Representative Miller and agree to co-sponsor the bill.  Absent enactment of this legislation, California will continue to be deprived of persons with expertise in the process of deciding how water pollution control mandates and other water resources issues are developed, implemented and enforced.  A joint RCRC/CSAC letter to the California Delegation that describes the problem with the existing federal regulations and the purpose of the legislation may be accessed here.

Please send a copy of your letter to your representative to kmannion@rcrcnet.org and please feel free to call Kathy Mannion at (916) 447-4806 with any questions.