Washington Observer.

This article reports that the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies is drafting a bill that could raise as much as $5 billion a year by taxing bottled beverages to fund water infrastructure improvements. But the preliminary proposal will have a long, tough road ahead to garner enough industry and congressional support. For now, it calls for a 5 percent; tax on water and soft drinks. But the American Water Works Association will "adamantly oppose" any water tax contained in any bill. The Environmental Protection Agency will delay until next year its proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule, which aims to curb emissions of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. Industry sources believe the administration will wait to unveil the interstate regulation until March, when EPA also is expected to issue final rules to regulate mercury emissions for the first time.