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ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. X, Issue 44 (Week of December 16, 2019)

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News

EPA Extends Deadline for Lead and Copper Rule Comments

EPA has extended the comment deadline for National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.  The new comment deadline is February 12, 2020.  You can view the notice here.  For more information on this effort, go here.

ACWA is planning to submit comments on the rule with regard to corrosion control technologies and their potential effects on phosphorus levels.  If you would like to assist in this effort, please contact Mark Patrick McGuire.

Environmental and Animal Rights Groups Provide Litigation Notice RE: EPA’s ELG Plan

Back in late October ACWA summarized and reported out on EPA’s Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 14. This week several groups, including the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Cape Fear River Watch, Center for Biological Diversity, Comite Civico del Valle, Earthjustice, Environment America, Environmental Integrity Project, Food and Water Watch, Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, The Humane Society of the United States, Waterkeeper Alliance, and Waterkeepers Chesapeake filed the suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit requesting the court review EPA’s conclusion that “revision of the effluent limitation guidelines, revision of associated effluent limitations, and promulgation of pretreatment standards for the Meat and Poultry Products industrial point source category (40 C.F.R. Part 432) is not appropriate at this time.” The groups believe the ELG for slaughterhouses in particular need to be updated to reflect a changing industry and changing technology. A copy of EPA’s ELG Plan can be found here.

Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals Permitting Program

EPA is proposing a new federal permitting program for the disposal of CCRs in surface impoundments and landfills. The proposal includes requirements for federal CCR permit applications, details regarding permit content, effect, and duration, along with procedural requirements. The proposal also discussed general permits, permit by rule, and electronic permitting. EPA would issue permits to facilities in Indian country and in states that do not have an approved CCR permit program. EPA will be soliciting comments for 60 days. A prepublication version of this rule can be found here.

Senate Approves Spending Bills

Yesterday, the Senate approved bills that will allocate $1.4 trillion for every agency in the federal government and provide most of them with a significant funding boost, avoiding a government shutdown. President Trump is expected to sign them into law ahead of a Friday night deadline when the current continuing resolution keeping government open is set to expire.

E-Enterprise for the Environment Webinar: NPDES Permitting Applications and Workflows.

In May 2019, the E-Enterprise folks hosted an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Applications and Workflows webinar, which was recorded and is now available to stream. A copy of the webinar can now be found here. Presenters from that webinar included:

  • Andrew Dixon (NV) and Gursharan Gill (NV), who provided an overview of Nevada’s Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) state-developed E-Permitting system and NetDMR system.
  • Kevin Weiss (EPA HQ) and Pravin Rana (EPA HQ), who provided an overview of the revised EPA OW NPDES Individual Permit Application forms and new work that would enable users to fill, sign, and submit the revised forms electronically.
  • Randy Hill (EPA HQ) and Joe Haberek (RI), who reviewed EPA OECA’s NeT reporting tool for NPDES general permits and program reports such as the Construction General Permit and Multi-Sector General Permit.

Association Updates

No Wrap Until 01/06/20

ACWA Staff will be out of office in observance of the holiday season. Happy New Year!!

ACWA and ASDWA Submit Comment Letter to EPA on the draft National Water Reuse Action Plan

On December 16, ACWA and ASDWA submitted a joint comment letter to EPA on the draft National Water Reuse Action Plan.

In the letter, ACWA and ASDWA express their intent to lead and collaborate on select actions, provide comments on the draft Plan that EPA made public in September, and revisit key comments from ASDWA and ACWA’s initial comments (July 2019) on water reuse. ACWA/ASDWA specifically request continued supportive, not prescriptive, actions by federal agencies as states move on reuse at their own pace, and EPA’s long-term commitment to facilitate the Plan to ensure public and private collaborators remain aligned with the central mission of public health and environmental protection. ACWA/ASDWA also identify priority actions that would be most useful to states exploring new types of water reuse or navigating potential reuse regulations for the first time.

You can view the letter here. Other comments are available for review on the public docket.

Meetings

2020 National SNC NCI Symposium – January 2020 – Limited Availability 

The 2020 National SNC NCI Symposium, taking place January 22-24, 2020 in Dallas, Texas, has limited seats left. Please review details about this meeting on ACWA’s website and register by no later than December 18, 2019.

2020 National Stormwater Roundtable – February 2020 

The 2020 National Stormwater Roundtable will be held in San Antonio, Texas on February 4 – 6, 2020, supports implementation of federal and state municipal, industrial, and construction stormwater programs nationwide by sharing best management practices, showcasing innovative state programs and initiatives, highlighting new technologies, facilitating discussion on national program enhancements and improvements, identifying state resource needs including tools, training and guidance, and proposing solutions to challenges and barriers faced by the regulators and other stakeholders. The Stormwater Roundtable is a national meeting specifically organized by state and federal regulators for EPA and state program staff representatives. Attendees include state managers, permit writers, inspectors, compliance staff involved in regulating stormwater, EPA Headquarter and Regional staff involved in stormwater regulation, and partnering state and federal agency staff that provide technical and/or regulatory assistance to the stormwater program. Future updates for this meeting can be found on ACWA’s webpage – https://www.acwa-us.org/event/2020-national-stormwater-roundtable/

2020 ACWA Mid-Year Meeting – March 2020

Reserve your lodging for Mid-Year Meeting using the group code MWC; Reserve online here.

2020 National Pretreatment Meeting – May 2020

The 2020 National Pretreatment Meeting will take place May 11-13 in Nashville, Tennessee.  Though the agenda is currently in development, tentatively, Monday, May 11 will be a series of training sessions from 1-5; Tuesday, May 12 will be an all-day states and EPA-only meeting; and Wednesday, May 13 will be an all-day meeting partnered with NACWA at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University.  ACWA is currently recruiting folks to joined a planning committee to help craft the meeting agenda.  Contact Mark Patrick McGuire if you are interested.