News
House Passes Continuing Resolution to Avert Shutdown
The House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 11, 2020. The CR maintains current spending levels and includes numerous reauthorizations for programs that would otherwise lapse at the end of September, such as the National Flood Insurance Program and surface transportation spending. The Senate is likely to pass the CR before adjourning this week. Congress will have to pass a FY 21 appropriations bill during a lame duck session after the election.
ACWA Renews Commitment to Decentralized Wastewater Management MOU
ACWA joined with 19 other organizations, including groups like ASDWA, GWPC, RCAP and WRF, in renewing our commitment to work together to encourage proper management of decentralized systems and increase collaboration among EPA, state and local governments, and decentralized system practitioners and providers. The Decentralized Wastewater Management MOU includes many objectives such as improving decentralized wastewater treatment system performance through better practitioner competency, management practices, research and technology transfer; improving accountability, control, and oversight through enhanced state, tribal and local program implementation; improving local decision-making through improved public awareness, education programs, and information materials; and expanding mechanisms to address workforce, education, training, and research needs related to the decentralized wastewater industry to improve future sustainability.
Final 401 Implementation Webinar: Responding to Questions Received During the 401 Training Series
On June 1, 2020, EPA finalized the Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule to implement the water quality certification process consistent with the text and structure of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The final rule became effective on September 11, 2020.
In August and September 2020, EPA hosted training webinars for states, tribes, and federal agencies to learn about the final rule and implementation considerations. EPA is hosting a follow-up webinar on October 8, 2020, from 2:30-4:30 PM Eastern Time to answer questions that previously have been raised during these trainings. This webinar is open to states, tribes, and federal agency staff only.
Registration for the webinar is available here.
Association Updates
2020 National CAFO Roundtable Virtual Event Summary
With cooperative agreement support from EPA, states, territories, EPA HQ, and EPA Regions participated in a 3-day virtual meeting (September 22-24, 2020) to discuss animal agriculture issues. Topics discussed at this virtual event included an overview of the North Dakota AFO/CAFO programs, tile drains, minimizing nutrient transport, nutrient management tools to protect water quality, expanding manure application restrictions in permits, large storm impacts on animal feeding operations, issues identified at animal agriculture facility inspections, compliance assistance tools, environmental justice implications, impacts of COVID-19 on the animal agriculture industry, use of precision agriculture, digesters, and nutrient recapture. ACWA also hosted a discussion with several agriculture groups, including the National Pork Producers Council, the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the National Milk Producers Federation, with facilitation provided by the Bayard Ridge Group. This year’s CAFO Roundtable had 308 participants representing 39 states, 8 EPA Regions, EPA HQ, local/regional NRCS, USDA HQ, 4 universities, and several agriculture groups. Presentations and a copy of the final agenda are available upon completion of a post meeting survey. For a copy of the survey, please contact Rosie Kay.
Coming Soon…
EPA Webinar: Wildfires and Resulting Impacts to Water Bodies Used as Drinking Water Sources
Date: September 29, 2020 | 2-3 PM Eastern Time
Registration: Click here
This presentation will provide information on the impacts of high- and low-severity wildfires on dissolved organic matter concentrations in water bodies used as drinking water sources and disinfection by-products formation during treatment.
EPA Webinar: SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater Monitoring: Linking Research and Application to Meet Immediate Needs
Date: September 30, 2020 | 2-3 PM Eastern Time
Registration: Click here
This webinar will focus on collaborative efforts of EPA’s SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring research team to reduce uncertainties around method development within the lab, application in sewersheds with distinctive levels of industrial and stormwater impacts (in coordination with Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District) and development of a wastewater surveillance systems in Ohio (in support of the Ohio Department of Health).
EPA Webinar: Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS)
Date: October 8, 2020 | 3-4 PM Eastern Time
Registration: Click here
This webinar will provide an overview of CADDIS—the Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System—an on-line application designed to help users conduct these causal assessments, primarily in stream ecosystems.
EPA Webinar:Lead Action Plan Research Update
Date: October 21, 2020 | 3-4 PM Eastern Time
Registration: Click here
This webinar will highlight EPA research to support actions to reduce lead exposures and related health risks as part of the Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts.
