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2nd Quarter 1999 733 15th Street. Suite 700 Washington. DC 20005 DC Appleseed Proposes Lasting Solution to the
District’s Stormwater Pollution Problem DC Appleseed Proposes Lasting Solution to the District's Stormwater Pollution ProblemIn April 1999, DC Appleseed released a report — Managing Stormwater Pollution in the District of Columbia A Lasting Approach that recommends a solution to a significant environmental problem that, if not resolved, could result in significant federal fines being levied against the District of Columbia. Heavy rainfalls in the District — as in other cities throughout the United States — cause some streets to flood, and others to channel water containing garbage and other pollutants into the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers (as well as Rock Creek) that can threaten both human health and marine life. In 1990, Congress mandated that cities such as the District submit plans to the federal government to solve the stormwater pollution problem. Plans were due in 1992, and every other large city has completed a stormwater plan. The District, by contrast, has fallen far behind, subjecting it to the possibility of federal enforcement action and substantial fines. In November 1998, under pressure from EPA, the District submitted a partial stormwater plan that reflects some progress. However, some questions critical to devising a long-term program to abate stormwater pollution in the District remain unanswered, including how the program will be financed and which D.C. government entity will be in charge. DC Appleseed's report proposes specific answers to those questions. Financing. DC Appleseed proposes that the District institute a new user fee — estimated to be less than $50 per homeowner per year — that will charge all property owners for the impact their property has on the stormwater system. A user fee is better than other financing mechanisms because it best ensures that the federal government, which owns over 40% of the land in the District, and nonprofit organizations pay their fair share. Any financing system other than a user fee would drive the cost per homeowner for this federally-mandated program substantially higher. Management. Effective stormwater pollution control requires action by several government agencies, but, experts agree, a well-run stormwater program must be managed by a single government entity. DC Appleseed recommends that the Water and Sewer Authority ("WASA") be the lead agency, and be given the authority and resources to coordinate the program, because WASA, unlike the other agencies with stormwater responsibilities, has managed programs with components similar to those required for stormwater management. In the coming year, DC Appleseed will work to promote a financing and management structure to coordinate the program, because that ensures that (1) the program fulfills the central goal underlying the Clean Water Act's stormwater requirements — improving the qualify of rivers, streams, and other waterways, and (2) the District removes the specter of federal enforcement action in this arena. DC Appleseed thanks the Project Team (listed below), and The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The Spring Creek Foundation, and The Summit Fund of Washington for their contributions earmarked for this report, as well as the Fannie Mae Foundation, Philip L. Graham Fund, Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, and the Trellis Fund for their general operating contributions, which helped make this report possible. Stormwater Project Team
SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 7, 1999 DC APPLESEED/APPLESEED FOUNDATION ANNUAL DINNERScott Turow and Mayor Anthony Williams will speak at the DC Appleseed/Appleseed Foundation annual dinner, to be held at the Organization of American States Building on Thursday, October 7, 1999. Ticket and table purchase information will follow soon. Upcoming Citizens' Forum on D.C. Council ReformIn early 1999, DC Appleseed and the National Conference of State Legislatures released separate reports that found serious problems at the District of Columbia Council and recommended overhauls in the Council's operations (see 1999, 1st Quarter Update). The Council responded to the reports by enacting a few reforms in March, including revisions to the rules governing the conduct of debates at Council meetings. These reforms suggest that the Council is willing to listen, but not nearly enough has been done. On Tuesday, June 8 from 6-8 pm, D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp and 16 local organizations will cosponsor a forum on this important issue at the University of the District of Columbia. It will be moderated by WUSA's Bruce Johnson and will include a discussion of the Council's operations by a knowledgeable panel. Members of the public will have the opportunity to ask questions. Please join us to learn more about this issue, to share your concerns, and to demonstrate to the Council the importance of reforming its operations. Further details can be found in the enclosed flier. Updates on other DC Appleseed ProjectsPublic School Governance Reform As noted in the 3rd Quarter 1998 Update, DC Appleseed is studying options for improving the governance of the District's public school system, which is scheduled to be returned to the elected School Board in June 2000. Our research is well underway, and includes a literature review, interviews with local education leaders and experts in schools and school governance, and an examination of governance structures in other cities and states. DC Appleseed plans to release a report in the early fall, and will subsequently remain active, encouraging the public and policy makers to consider actively how the future governance structure can promote the best possible classroom education.
Federal Facilities DC Appleseed continues to educate the public and policy makers regarding the need to retain federal jobs in the District of Columbia. In the year since the release of DC Appleseed's federal facilities report, our proposal for new requirements toward this end has gained support. New Projects DC Appleseed will begin two new projects in June, one to evaluate the law governing public charter schools in the District of Columbia as well as the procedures used by the District to approve, evaluate, and fund these charter schools; and the other to examine the provision of legal services to the District of Columbia government by the Office of the Corporation Counsel, agency attorneys, and private attorneys hired on a fee-for-service basis. Future Updates will report on these projects as they progress. DC Appleseed Seeks Office FurnitureOn July 1, 1999, the DC Appleseed Center will move into new office space, in Suite 330 of the same building (you will receive a change of address card). We are seeking office furniture donations — particularly a conference table (and chairs) that seats 8-12 people. Please call us if you have furniture to donate. Citizens’ Forum on D. C. Council ReformTuesday, June 8th, 1999, 6-8 pm
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| D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp ACLU of the National Capital Area Committee of 100 on the Federal City DC Action for Children D.C. Affairs Section, District of Columbia Bar DC Agenda D.C. Consortium of Legal Services Providers Downtown Cluster of Congregations Fair Budget Coalition |
Federation of Citizens Associations Friends of the Earth Gay and Lesbian Activists' Alliance Greater Washington Board of Trade Latino Civil Rights Center League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO University of the District of Columbia |
For more information, contact the D. C. Affairs Section of the D. C. Bar at 626-3463
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