Member Benefits

Membership in FWQC

The Federal Water Quality Coalition (FWQC) is a group of industrial companies, municipalities, agricultural entities and trade associations.  The Coalition’s members are directly affected by, or have members that are directly affected by, regulatory requirements imposed under the Clean Water Act.

The Coalition participates in federal and regional water quality rulemakings, initiatives and guidance development, through negotiation and written comments.  These activities are managed by the Coalition’s Coordinator, Fred Andes of the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg.  The Coalition’s goal is to ensure that water quality programs are focused, flexible and founded on sound science.

Current and Planned FWQC Activities

The FWQC’s list of projects is constantly changing as projects are completed and new projects identified.  The most current list and summary of FWQC activities is contained in the attached matrix.

The FWQC organizes teams of members to address specific interest areas.  Individuals from our member organizations may join as many teams as they would like.  Teams and activities are currently addressing the following issues:

Ammonia Criteria

Antidegradation Review

Bioaccumulation Factors (BAFs)

Climate Change & Water Quality

Contaminated Sediments

Construction & Development Controls

Listing of Impaired Waters

Mercury Criteria & Implementation

Mixing Zone Restrictions

NPDES Permitting Issues

NPDES Permit Fees

Nutrient Criteria & Control Requirements

PCB Test Methods

Selenium Criteria & Implementation

Storm Water Permits

TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads)

Use Attainability Analyses (UAAs)

Water Quality Standards

Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET)

The Coalition comments on many EPA and state activities concerning water quality issues, and Barnes & Thornburg hosts frequent conference calls for the various teams to discuss recent developments on those issues.

If an issue is of particular concern to a group of members, Barnes & Thornburg often arranges meetings between members and agency personnel.  In addition, Barnes & Thornburg sends regular e-mails to notify members of agency activities, meetings, comment deadlines, and other relevant events as they arise.

Dues Structure

FWQC members pay dues once each year; invoices are usually issued in January.  The dues entitle members to participate in all FWQC activities, and benefit from all of the services described above, except for litigation, which is funded separately by those members that decide to participate in the specific case.

Dues amounts are set by category; the four categories of members for dues purposes are large trade associations, small trade associations, individual companies, and municipal entities.

If your organization is interested in joining the FWQC, you should contact Fred Andes at 312-214-8310, and at fandes@btlaw.com. You can also complete our contact form.

Current Members

Alcoa Corporation
The Aluminum Association
American Chemistry Council
American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute
American Forest & Paper Association
American Iron and Steel Institute
American Petroleum Institute
Arconic Inc.
Association of Idaho Cities
Auto Industry Water Quality Coalition
Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (CA)
City of Superior (WI)
Edison Electric Institute
Eli Lilly and Company
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.
Hecla Mining Company
Indiana Coal Council

Kennecott Utah Copper LLC
Koch Industries, Inc.
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Mid America CropLife Association
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
National Association of Home Builders
National Oilseed Processors Association
Orange County (CA) Sanitation District
Pavement Coatings Technology Council
Portland Cement Association
Shell
Treated Wood Council
Utility Water Act Group
U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association
Western Coalition of Arid States
Western States Petroleum Association