EPA Holds Listening Session on WIFIA
On July 22nd, EPA convened a “listening session” in Chicago for interested stakeholders to gather input on eventual implementation of the new statutory provisions of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovations Act of 2014 (WIFIA). The session was attended by stakeholders representing water and wastewater utilities, EPA (the Chicago Regional office, Office of Wastewater Management, and Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water), technical assistance providers, financiers, engineering firms, and state drinking water programs (from Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana, as well as ASDWA staff).
Although no funds have yet been appropriated for WIFIA implementation, the EPA officials explained that they wished to be ready to expeditiously move to issuance of implementation guidance and eventual regulations when funds become available. The format for the meeting consisted of a recapitulation, by EPA officials, of the principal WIFIA statutory provisions; an opportunity for the audience members to pose clarifying questions; and an open discussion by the attendees — including speculation about the types of projects that are likely to seek WIFIA funding as well as identification of potential implementation challenges. The Powerpoint presentation that supported the meeting is attached.
Future listening sessions (dates TBD) are tentatively planned for Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. over the next several months.
ATTACHMENT: ChicagoListeningSessionWithQuestions
