WEF Raises Concerns About Possible ‘Buy American’ Provisions for SRFs

September 11, 2012

Laws & Regs, WEF Resources & Efforts

The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies is considering adding “buy American” provisions for state revolving funds (SRFs) to the fiscal year 2013 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appropriations.

Because of the potential effects on state Clean Water and Drinking Water SRFs, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.), the American Water Works Association (Denver), and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (Washington, D.C.) on June 19 sent a joint letter to the subcommittee.

The letter urges careful consideration of the effects on local utilities, including

  • additional project costs,
  • delays in initiating water infrastructure projects, and
  • effects on job creation.

The letter recommends an independent review before Congress proceeds with the provisions and suggests taking another approach to promote American manufacturing through such incentives as loan discounts for utilities that use U.S. manufactured items.

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