Katherine Baer will give her assessment of how yesterday's markup of the Sewage Community Right to Know Act (HR 2452) went later, but in a case of perfect timing, USA Today ran a story today highlighting the problem of our country's aging and failing sewer systems. Here are some of the highlights from the story:

I can't give too many details, but HR 2452, the Sewage Overflow Community Right to Know Act, is going to mark up in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee tomorrow. This was announced late on Friday. Discussions and negotiations about final bill language are being worked out. It's been a tense negotiation. We will give you updates as soon as we have them following tomorrow's mark up.

The following letter appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Think about everything that's happened in your life in the past 365 days -- a birthday, the holidays and the Fourth of July. But when it comes to fireworks, it's hard to top the revelation that sewage has been pouring into the Youghiogheny for at least that long ("Sewage Pouring Into Yough," Jan. 17).

Investigators have told our organization that a portion of the cause could date back 25 years. Think about that. Ronald Reagan was president and Dan Marino was a senior at Pitt then. Yet Pennsylvania residents didn't know about this odoriferous problem until it ran in the pages of the Post-Gazette recently.

Something about that stinks, and it's not just the sewage.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) had an amazing experience at the 2007 River Action Day. CCE and local river advocates met 15 Senate and House members and staff from the New York and Connecticut delegations.  We discussed improving sewage pollution notification, designating wild and scenic rivers, and other clean water priorities- including funding for beach water testing, Long Island Sound protection, and Great Lakes restoration.

Surfrider Foundation - Portland Chapter raised awareness of local and national water quality issues with a paddle out for clean water across the Willamette River in downtown Portland on September 8th, 2007.