jsheahan

About Judy Sheahan

Judy Sheahan is the Assistant Executive Director for the Environment for the Conference. She covers issues related to environmental protection, clean air, water, wastewater, and various infrastructure issues.

EPA Unfunded Mandates: Priority Issues for Local Governments

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been moving forward with new and upcoming policies intended to protect public health and the environment, and they will likely impact municipal services like drinking and wastewater utilities, clean air regulations and solid waste management. EPA has a long list of new rules and policies. These EPA

By |2023-03-25T10:24:03-04:00March 14, 2023|Environment, Mayors Water Council|

Joint Comment Letters Related to EPA Water and Environmental Rules and Regulations

The Council is actively engaged in monitoring and responding to federal regulatory proposals affecting the delivery of municipal water services. View our letters below on a wide range of water and wastewater issues impacting local governments.  Water System Restructuring Assessment Rule, July 2024 NPDES CSO Permitting Comment Letter, March 2024 National Primary Drinking

By |2024-07-29T23:25:30-04:00December 5, 2022|Environment, Mayors Water Council|

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and recently signed by President Biden, will help prepare the Nation and our city/metro economies for the 21st Century. The $1.2 trillion package, including $550 billion of new spending over multiple years, was strongly supported by The U.S.

By |2022-02-10T15:20:57-05:00November 24, 2021|Environment|

Condon Testifies on the Importance of Funding and Flexibilty for the Clean Water Act

Testifying on behalf of the Conference of Mayors, Spokane Mayor David Condon spoke about the importance of Wastewater Infrastructure funding and regulatory flexibility and described Spokane's experience with complying with the Clean Water Act. Condon (center) testified on March 7, 2019 before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment and

By |2019-04-23T16:54:17-04:00April 23, 2019|Environment, Mayors Water Council|

Benjamin, Brainard, and Biskupski Tout Climate Actions, Want Renewed Funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) 

Conference President Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard and Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski Conference President Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, joined by Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard and Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, discussed their local climate strategies before a key House Subcommittee yesterday afternoon, urging the panel Members and Congress broadly to invest

EPA and Army Corps Release Waters of the United States Rule

EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers Issued a Federal Register Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) addressing protective status of Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The action is intended to clarify provisions in, and repeal, an Obama-era rulemaking that defined what water bodies would be covered by provisions in the Clean Water Act.

By |2018-12-17T15:33:35-05:00December 17, 2018|Environment|

Bipartisan Brownfields Bill Overwhelmingly Passes House by a Vote of 409-8 USCM Recommendations Included in Final Bill

The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan, H.R. 3017, the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017, on November 30 by an impressive vote of 409-8. Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized properties whose redevelopment in hindered by real or perceived contamination. The Conference of Mayors worked with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in

By |2017-12-01T13:28:25-05:00December 1, 2017|Brownfields, Environment, Updates|

American Mayors and Businesses: Building Partnerships for a Low-Carbon Future

American Mayors and Businesses: Building Partnerships for a Low-Carbon Future is a joint report by the United States Conference of Mayors and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (CC2ES). It was released during Climate Week NYC in September of 2017. Download The Report: American Mayors and Businesses: Building Partnerships for a Low-Carbon Future

By |2017-10-05T12:30:15-04:00September 17, 2017|Alliance for a Sustainable Future, Environment, Reports|

Mayors Buttigieg and Dupree Testify on Wastewater and Stormwater Costs Request to Congress – Pass Integrated Planning and Affordability Legislation

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg testified on behalf of The US Conference of Mayors and Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree testified on behalf of the National League of Cities before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment, on the high costs of Clean Water Act (CWA) mandates and the need to

By |2017-05-22T22:52:39-04:00May 19, 2017|Environment, Mayors Water Council, Updates|

Mayors Bollwage and Panto Provide Initial Comments on Draft Legislation, Testify on Brownfileds Reauthorization

Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage testified for the second time in two weeks regarding the importance of reauthorizing the brownfields law and providing initial comments on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s draft legislation. Mayor Bollwage testified on behalf of the Conference of Mayors while another USCM member, Easton (PA) Mayor Sal Panto testified on behalf of

By |2017-04-04T16:37:33-04:00April 4, 2017|Brownfields, Environment, News, Updates|

Testimony of Mayor J. Christian Bollwage on “Discussion Draft: Brownfields Reauthorization”

Testimony of Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage for The U.S. Conference of Mayors Before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment on “Discussion Draft: Brownfields Reauthorization” INTRODUCTION My name is Chris Bollwage, I am the Mayor of Elizabeth, NJ and have served as Mayor since 1993. I’m a Trustee for The U.S. Conference of Mayors and I have

By |2017-04-04T10:31:19-04:00April 3, 2017|Energy, Environment, Testimony|

Mayors Testify Today on Environmental Priorities, Push for Brownfields and Integrated Planning Legislation

Conference of Mayors Brownfields Chair Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray and Rialto (CA) Mayor Deborah Robertson testified on March 28, regarding Conference of Mayors environmental priorities. Mayors Bollwage and Robertson testified on reauthorizing the brownfields law on the House side while Mayor Gray encouraged the Senate to pass new legislation that

By |2017-03-28T16:03:20-04:00March 28, 2017|Environment, Mayors Water Council, Updates|

Mayor Gray’s Testimony Before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife

Introductions Good morning Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Duckworth, and members of the Committee. I thank you for this invitation to give mine and the Conference of Mayors’ perspective on water and wastewater issues in the United States. My name is Rick Gray and I am the Mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  I have spent the last

By |2017-03-28T14:19:47-04:00March 27, 2017|Environment, Testimony|

“Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Revitalizing American Communities through the Brownfields Program”

Written Testimony of Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage For The U.S. Conference of Mayors Before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on “Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Revitalizing American Communities through the Brownfields Program” INTRODUCTION My name is Chris Bollwage, I am the Mayor of Elizabeth, NJ and

By |2017-03-28T14:19:48-04:00March 27, 2017|Environment, Testimony|
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