Resolution 1-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA work with the legislature to enact comprehensive and cost effective purchasing reform for municipal authority procurement practices including design build contracts, competitive sealed bidding and proposals, and other bidding practices found in the Commonwealth Procurement Code.

Resolution 2-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA support legislation which would also include the same state pension funding for authorities that was created for municipalities established under the Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act.

 

Resolution 3-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA support legislation that includes authorities and their employees in the creation of any deferred retirement option plan.
 
Resolution 4-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA support legislation that would permit PENNVEST to provide loans and/or grants to existing homeowners required to connect to public water and sewer systems and/or to existing homeowners required to repair or replace their water or sewer laterals.

 

Resolution 5-07
Resolved, That PMAA take the position that any state or federal environmental legislation, regulation, or policy has a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis that identifies environmental benefits and economic impacts.  Dedicated funding sources for these initiatives shall be created within the authorizing agency or budgetary legislation associated with the initiative.  

 

Resolution 6-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA continue to work with the legislature and the PA Department of Environmental Protection to address the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy, including implementation of a viable nutrient reduction credit trading program that significantly reduces the financial burden of municipal dischargers.
 
Resolution 7-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA support a state and/or federal funding program to offset the expected $1 billion cost for municipal dischargers to reduce nutrient contributions to the Chesapeake Bay within the Susquehanna and Potomac watersheds.

 

Resolution 8-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA encourage the state and federal government to provide funding for Pennsylvania water and wastewater infrastructure in response to the large increases noted in the 2004 Needs Survey released by EPA ($10 billion for water, $12 billion for sewer).

Resolution 9-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA continue its efforts to find environmentally sound and economically feasible solutions to combined and sanitary sewer overflow problems impacting sewer authorities in Pennsylvania and encourage and support state and federal legislative efforts to provide funding to help correct these problems.

 

Resolution 10-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA continue to support land application of biosolids as a beneficial re-use of treated sewage sludge.

 

Resolution 11-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA, on behalf of its member solid waste authorities, continue to work with the PA Department of Environmental Protection and the legislature on issues dealing with restrictions on individual landfill capacity or expansions, statewide capacity issues, and the restructuring and extension of Act 101 funding.

 

Resolution 12-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA support legislation to preclude the release of vulnerability assessment information and other information pertaining to the security of water and wastewater systems including the broadcasting of geographic system information on web pages or through Freedom of Information requests.

 

Resolution 13-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA continue its work with the legislative task force and advisory committee on wastewater treatment established by HR 88-2005.

 

Resolution 14-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA work with the PA Department of Environmental Protection and interest groups to effectively implement regulations under Act 25-2002 requiring accreditation of environmental testing laboratories and oppose any federal regulations or legislation imposing a single laboratory standard.
 
Resolution 15-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA work with the PA Department of Environmental Protection and interest groups to provide opportunities for continuing education of water and wastewater operators required by Act 11-2002.

 

Resolution 16-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA request the PA Department of Environmental Protection to process and return operator test results in an expeditious manner to minimize impacts to personnel at treatment plants including employee retainage, scheduling, salary and contract issues.

 

Resolution 17-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA encourage the state and federal government to ban the use of the gasoline additive methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in order to protect the environment from the contamination of groundwater and potential risk to drinking water supplies and the health of the citizens of the Commonwealth and oppose any legislation granting immunity to any such producers from liability.

Resolution 18-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA work with the legislature to amend Act 11-2002 to remove the provision holding certified operators of an authority or other facility liable for permit violations, without proof of negligence, willful misconduct or beyond their control, i.e., natural disasters or equipment failure.

 

Resolution 19-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA encourage the PA Department of General Services to secure contracts for the purchase of hybrid vehicles so that all levels of government in the Commonwealth can purchase these environmentally efficient vehicles at a savings.

 

Resolution 20-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA encourage the legislature and the PA Public Utility Commission to address the upcoming expiration date for electric utilities rate caps.

 

Resolution 21-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA encourage further international, national, and statewide studies that would determine the impact on sustainable water supplies by issues such as global warming.

 

Resolution 22-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA support the PA Department of Environmental Protection in its continued efforts to develop, implement, and provide financial assistance for clean advanced energy including renewable energy as it applies to water and sewer treatment and solid waste disposal facilities in order to improve energy efficiency, the environment, and reduce energy costs.

 

Resolution 23-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA encourage the legislature to oppose HB 1649 requiring fluoride to be added to public water supplies statewide and support PMAA’s policy position that the addition of fluoride to drinking water is a local decision and a local choice. 

 

Resolution 24-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA work with the legislature to enact HB 588 amending the Municipality Authorities Act to clarify the enforcement provision dealing with customer compliance with authority rules and regulations, i.e., requiring maintenance of private laterals to maintain integrity of the sewer system, a key component of an inflow and infiltration maintenance program.  

 

Resolution 25-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA work with the legislature to ensure that alternative energy credits, under the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, generated from waste-to-energy facilities such as waste incinerators remain with the original owner/producer of the alternative energy.

 

Resolution 26-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA raise awareness among the legislature that the purchase of electricity is typically one of the largest expenditures by water and sewer utilities, and further, ensure that HB 1201 requiring additional retail electricity surcharge on usage either be capped or eliminated for authorities and local governments.

Resolution 27-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA oppose the proposed amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Chapter 109 Public Notification regulations published on September 22, 2007 for imminent threat violations and situations.  Further, that PMAA work with the PA Department of Environmental Protection to ensure that reasonable, cost effective solutions are sought for delivery of public notices, one hour reporting, and other requirements of drinking water systems.

 

Resolution 28-07
RESOLVED, That PMAA, on behalf of our solid waste authorities, oppose any increase to solid waste tipping fees if the proceeds from the fees are not used for programs associated with solid waste management or recycling.

 

Resolution 29-07

RESOLVED, That PMAA work with the PA Department of Environmental Protection, other state agencies, professional organizations, and higher education facilities to promote workforce development efforts specifically in the area of water and wastewater utilities.