Mayors met with EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, Chuck Fox, on Monday to discuss issues relating to the delivery of water and wastewater services and the protection of America’s water bodies. Fox cited the importance of EPA’s work with cities saying, "mayors are on the front line of environmental protection." Creating livable cities by preserving open space, redeveloping brownfields, and decreasing traffic congestion tops many mayors’ agendas. Fox told mayors that the role of the federal government is not about control but to provide local governments with new tools, money, and flexibility. Fox added that EPA understands it needs to have a closer working relationship with mayors and in that spirit has established a Mayor’s Desk staffed by Richard Dickerson who also joined the mayors at the Urban Water Council. EPA Administrator Carol Browner has charged the program managers within EPA to have a more collaborative relationship with mayors. Upcoming areas for collaboration include addressing sources of pollution to bring the 40 percent of America’s waters still not meeting water standards into compliance with federal regulations. Sources of such pollution include polluted urban and agricultural runoff, industrial point sources and sanitary sewer problems.

President Clinton has acknowledged the need to address water issues and announced the Clean Water Action Plan devised by EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Key concepts in the plan include the need for cooperation within the federal government and the need for a watershed approach to water quality protection - both of which are called for in the Mayors’ Action Plan for Sustainable Watershed Management adopted at the Conference’s 1998 Annual Meeting.