[Mintwood-place] My Committee Work

[Jim Graham]

Dear Friends:



Thanks to Chairman Gray, I will again chair the Council Committee on Public
Works and Transportation.



Our committee oversees the following agencies: Department of Public Works,
Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, Alcoholic
Beverage Regulation Administration, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority, D.C. Taxicab Commission, Water and Sewer Authority, Soil and
Water Conservation District, Bicycle Advisory Council, Washington
Aqueduct, Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Commission.



Also, it is anticipated that I will become Chairman of the Metro/WMATA board
this month. Considering the time demand of this position, I will no longer
have oversight of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE).



However, I am proud of what we achieved on environmental issues, all in just
the past two years.  Working with a broad array of advocates, I authored
some of the most progressive environmental laws in the country.



   - *Green Buildings*- The law requires new D.C. owned buildings and
   private construction projects to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental
   Design (LEED) certified.  This creates incentives for developers and
   construction companies to embrace environmentally friendly building
   practices.  It also creates regulations to require environmentally
   friendly construction in the future, reducing the negative impact on the
   environment.



   - *Lead Paint Hazards*- The law requires landlords to clear lead paint
   hazards before renting to families with children or pregnant women.  This
   bill is similar to the first bill I introduced as a new Councilmember in
   1999.  It has been praised by public health advocates locally and
   nationally.



   - *Stormwater Management*- I authored laws that changed the way both
   DCWASA and DDOE assess rates and fees.  Both are directed to have a fee
   structure based on the amount of impervious surfaces. This directs both
   agencies to target properties – including those owned by the federal
   government – that contribute most to stormwater pollution.  Property
   owners receive incentives and grants to use environmentally friendly
   building practices.  The laws have been hailed as a model for other local
   jurisdictions.



   - *Clean Cars*- Beginning in model year 2011, cars must meet lower
   guidelines for emissions to reduce pollution.  This aligns the District
   with California, which has the strictest laws in the country.



Bests,
Councilmember Jim Graham

-- 

I typically answer emails before 9 AM on weekdays. If you email me after
that, it is likely that you will hear from me the next weekday. If there is
a need to communicate prior to that, you may wish to call me.

Jim Graham, Councilmember, Ward One, 1350 Pa. Ave., NW, #105, Washington, DC
20004. 202-724-8181; 202-724-8109 (fax).

Chairman, Committee on Public Works and the Environment (including alcohol
regulation). Main Committee Number: 202-724-8195. 1350 Pa. Ave., NW, #116,
Washington, DC 20004.

Website: www.grahamwone.com
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