Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/482464
waterwelljournal.com 24 April 2015 WWJ Lauren: Each day I learn just how big Chris' shoes are to fill! That being said, I'm looking forward to transitioning the posi- tion into something new and different in Washington. So far in 2015, there have been several opportunities to do so. While NGWA is not new to Washington, many members of Congress are, so the welcome events I have attended help to introduce our association and its priorities to them. Many new members of Congress are elected because of their interest or background in a handful of issues, and it's our job to not only engage with them to learn about their areas of interest, but to also identify opportunities where we might be able to best work together. Given the breadth of issues NGWA has, it's great to be full time in Washington to take advantage of so many opportunities. WWJ: At any one time how many bills or committee actions are you monitoring on the groundwater industry's behalf ? Lauren: Given the depth and range of the association, I defi- nitely have a full plate in terms of issues to monitor. From annual appropriations funding to regulatory action impacting fleets of vehicles, I regularly monitor roughly 20 issues at any given time. Thankfully much of that is simply monitoring, rather than actively engaging. I often divide what I'm doing into "offense" and "de- fense." Given the breadth of issues facing the groundwater professions, playing defense by monitoring issues is a big part of the job, while also seizing opportunities to be on offense— actively influencing policy and legislation. WWJ: The NGWA Political Action Committee is part of a three-tier NGWA government affairs strategy with Washington, D.C., representation and a grass- roots contact network, the NGWA Standard Bearer Network. In what ways are you looking to use technology to network and mobilize members of the NGWA-PAC? Lauren: Technology has made reaching out to NGWA mem- bers and members of Congress easier, and I look forward to taking advantage of that. The NGWA app developed for us at the 2014 Groundwater Expo and Annual Meeting has been a great success and I hope to utilize it in the event a legislative Fly-in in Washington is revitalized. I hope to also enable greater use of NGWA's website to provide the information and action alerts needed so NGWA members have the tools to engage with their congressional delegations around important legislative initiatives. WWJ: You attended the 2014 Groundwater Expo and Annual Meeting in December in Las Vegas. What did you take away from the event and those who you met from the industry? Lauren: The Expo was a tremendous opportunity for me to dive headfirst into NGWA, having just been on board for about a month. One of the most valuable aspects for me was the time spent on the Expo floor talking to members about what their day-to-day life is like and how federal action impacts their jobs. With membership scattered across the country, it's rare to have so many groundwater professionals in one place, and I made sure to take advantage of it. Learning about how the government impacts the jobs of members is the type of invaluable interaction I rely on when meeting with Congress and explaining the effects of potential legislation. WWJ: President Barack Obama is proposing a $1 mil- lion increase over FY2015 funding for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network. If this passes, how would this affect groundwater professionals? Lauren: The National Ground-Water Monitoring Network was fortunate to receive $2.6 million in funding through Sep- tember 30, 2015, but this only begins the process of imple- menting a national network. We have to see the increase in funding maintained through the annual appropriations process. In terms of impact, having a national network to monitor groundwater levels would be a tremendous publicly available resource for all segments to draw on—whether contractors, scientists, academics, or engineers. WWJ: The Water Supply Cost Savings Act is the industry's first piece of national legislation aimed at promoting the use of water wells as an alterna- tive to traditional long-pipe, centralized drinking water systems. How do you potentially see this helping the industry? Lauren: The Savings Act would draw attention to a key prior- ity for our industry: small community water systems and the role individual wells can play in providing a safe, clean, and reliable drinking water source. The legislation would encour- age small communities to consider well-supported systems, which could help rural areas save costs. In addition, the legislation would create a Drinking Water Technology Clearinghouse, which could serve as a tool to disseminate information on drinking water delivery systems to communities nationwide. WWJ: NGWA joined a coalition of renewable energy technologies, led by the Solar Energy Industries Association, to push for a permanent extension to the investment tax credit for the installation of renewable energy technologies—such as geothermal heat pumps in commercial use. Do you see this permanent tax extension as a realistic goal? Lauren: The incentive currently in place for installation of geothermal heat pumps serves to drive demand and use of geothermal heat pumps, allowing for more energy efficient homes and commercial structures. For our industry, the merits are clear. However, each year extending existing tax credits is a fight, and I anticipate a similar battle in advance of the expiration of the tax credit in 2016. That being said, NGWA has positioned itself well in the battle, by not only having core champions in Congress, but by also engaging with larger coalitions to strengthen our message that this incentive is a key economic develop tool for our industry. SCHAPKER from page 23