MEDIA RELEASE

July 2, 2008
Contact:  Mark S. Nexsen
Mayor, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
CRRSCo Chairman

CRRSCo Message Carried to Washington, D.C.

Lake Havasu City, Arizona   --   Two full days of meetings filled a hectic trip to Washington D.C. last week for a contingent of officials representing the Colorado River Regional Sewer Coalition, or CRRSCo.  Securing federal support for the proposed Lower Colorado River Water Quality Protection Act was the prime objective for CRRSCo Chairman and Lake Havasu City Mayor, Mark Nexsen and Jack Hakim, Vice Chair and Bullhead City Mayor.  The mayors were accompanied by Dr. Doyle Wilson, Lake Havasu City Water Resources Coordinator, Brad Hiltscher representing the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Dr. Brent Blackwelder, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, and CRRSCo lobbyists Terry Bracy, Tracy Tucker and Brandon Avila.

“We had two days of successful meetings,” said CRRSCo Chair and Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen.  “We spoke to key people who can assist us in forwarding the issues facing CRRSCo communities and develop solutions with the Executive Branch and Congressional offices.”  The group met with senior level staff from the offices of Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, as well as Nevada Senator Harry Reid and several members of Congress including Representative Trent Franks. 

Mayor Nexsen was pleased with the outcome of the visit. “We were fortunate to have the opportunity to speak directly with California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who is very understanding of our needs and gave us a lot of her time on a busy day in the Senate,” said Nexsen.  “Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva was very receptive and offered some extremely valuable suggestions on how we can tailor the bill to increase its chances for success.”  Nexsen added that Grijalva indicated he would work with the relevant congressional committees to seek solutions. 

Another sign of progress was a high-level meeting with Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett, who told the group she will convene a high-level meeting with all the relevant federal agencies involved including EPA, Department of Agriculture, Health & Human Services, among others, to look at the situation holistically and present multiple solutions for funding CRRSCo needs. 

Bullhead City Mayor Jack Hakim agreed:  “Our knuckles are bleeding from knocking on doors and fortunately for us, several of them opened,” said Hakim.  “I feel we were well received and everyone we spoke with agreed the issues are valid and worthy of federal attention.  We hope that attention comes in the form of federal funding for our sewer projects that will help protect the quality of the river while keeping costs affordable for our citizens.” 
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Press inquiries concerning the draft legislation should be directed to Terry Bracy or Tracy Tucker with Bracy Tucker Brown & Valanzano at (202) 429-8855.

Additional contact:
Jack Hakim, CRRSCo Vice Chair and Mayor of Bullhead City, Arizona
Press contact: Steve Johnson at 928-763-0188