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Mark Your Calendars!
FSA 2017 Annual Conference
June 14-16, 2017
Sanibel Harbour Marriott, Ft. Myers
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FSA Fogarty
Training Center
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2017 Session Starting
Stay Tuned!
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Missed FSA's
last Webinar?
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A Message from Your
Membership Committee Chair
Liz Perez, Collective Water Resources
So many times we've discussed how interconnections are powerful. Interconnections are where true work is accomplished - and where the most exciting breakthroughs are happening. Sometimes, a stormwater issue can seem singular but inevitably when we investigate further, we find the issue is connected to many others. This is how I feel about FSA as membership chair. At first glance, FSA membership may seem singularly focused, but it is a powerful and efficient way to create and leverage interconnections. I'd argue that these interconnections are now more critical than ever.
The benefits of membership and participation in FSA are numerous and varied. Regardless of why we joined, the power of our collective action is critical - as it has been since the creation of the Association in 1993. I believe that FSA has become part of the history of water resources management in Florida - from the beginning of TMDLs to our current involvement in challenging WOTUS. FSA is the organization that exists to serve the unique and varied needs of stormwater managers in Florida; no other organization exists for this purpose.
These days, we may worry that our circle of responsibility is ever-widening while funding and support for stormwater becomes more challenging (or more complex, at a minimum). FSA is enthusiastically prepared to meet the future needs of stormwater management in Florida. Our history and expertise is deep. Alone, this widening circle can seem like too much to manage. Together it is manageable - and on many days (as I sit amongst my FSA colleagues) even enjoyable.
By growing our resources together, I know that FSA will have the answers to address our future - just as we have done so in the past.
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2017 Annual Conference - Registration Opening Soon!
Registration opens in early March for
FSA's 2017 Annual Conference! Stormwater professionals from throughout Florida will be in Sanibel once again. Why? The FSA Annual Conference is the best-of-the-best in stormwater training, education and networking in Florida! It's the only Conference that connects the dots between legislative/regulatory policy and implementation strategies. There'll be great Keynote Speakers, outstanding workshop topics, the best networking and a great (soon to be sold out!) Exhibit Hall. Continuing the initiative from last year, we're keeping (and actually expanding!) the third "track" of workshop sessions for FSA's 24th Annual Conference. The extra track lets FSA offer more workshops, gives you greater flexibility in picking those sessions that you REALLY want to attend! Make plans now to attend the Annual Conference this June 14-16 at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott. Watch your inbox - Registration information is coming soon!
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FSA continuously reviews and improve the services we provide to our members. For the past several months we have been working on a comprehensive upgrade of our integrated website/database system that allows us to offer many improved services and features. The new system is now up and running, and we encourage you to login and take a look at the new site - you'll find that it is much more user friendly! It's fully functional using your smart phone, has a Directory with a listing of employees within each member organization, and invoicing will be fully automated! Please take some time to
review the website and your profile. Let us know if you have any ideas for future improvements! Remember that each employee in your organization has their own unique login. Forgot your password? Just
click here!
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The 2017 Florida Legislative Session begins March 7th and the
Legislative (members only) Page of the FSA website includes information on the impacts of a bill, its location in the legislative process, contact information on the bill's sponsor and the membership of its next committee of reference, etc. It's a great way for FSA members to track where key stormwater legislation "is" in "the process!"
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2017 Legislation of Special Interest
FSA members should pay particular attention to HB 17 and HB 751. If passed, either bill would have significant (negative) impacts on your ability to protect water quality and discharge the requirements of your NPDES permits.
HB 17 pre-empts most regulatory authority of local governments, including local environmental initiatives/programs unless there has been a specific authorization to implement the program granted by the Legislature. Somewhat less broad-based in its approach but nonetheless of great concern to stormwater managers,
HB 751 prohibits local governments from adopting any local program requiring more stringent standards or criteria for stormwater discharges than those required under
403.0891, FS. More information may be found on the
FSA Legislative Page.
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WOTUS Update
As anticipated, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeal has granted motions to delay matters on the
WOTUS litigation until the Supreme Court of the US rules on
an Appeal concerning the issue of whether the Circuit or District court was the proper venue for review of WOTUS and similar rules. The Appeal was filed by several groups representing regulated interests (including FSA) after the Sixth Circuit ruled that they had jurisdiction on such matters. SCOTUS will not hear matters on the appeal until at least October 2017, allowing the Trump Administration more time to start the process to withdraw the rule. The WOTUS rules have
significant, negative impacts on local governments and water quality improvement programs - hence the challenge by FSA.
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New EPA Administrator
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has been
confirmed and sworn in as the 14th Administrator of EPA. When addressing EPA staff, Administrator Pruitt said "I seek to listen, learn, and lead with you to address the issues we face as a nation. You can't lead unless you listen. Civility is something I believe in very much. We ought to be able to get together and wrestle through some very difficult issues and do so in a civil manner." As Administrator, Mr. Pruitt has pledged to lead EPA in a way that future generations inherit a better and healthier environment while advancing America's economic interests.
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FSAEF Scholarship Award
The FSA Educational Foundation's 2017 Scholarship Program awards financial assistance to qualified students attending Florida colleges and universities whose educational interest is in stormwater research, management or finance. Applications are accepted annually from graduate students in colleges or schools of engineering, natural science, public administration (or closely related fields) that have an interest in stormwater quality, management or finance. Qualified applicants should submit an Application Form along with supporting materials by than August 4, 2017.
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We appreciate your feedback! Please don't hesitate to contact us if have any questions about FSA.
Sincerely,
Florida Stormwater Association
Website: www.florida-stormwater.org
Toll-Free Phone: 888-221-3124
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