News
Governor Little Issues Clean Water Appreciation Week Proclamation
Idaho Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation declaring August 7-11, 2023 as “Clean Water Appreciation Week” in the state. The proclamation recognizes ACWA for hosting our Annual Meeting in Boise and encourages all citizens of the state to come together to appreciate and protect clean water as a critical resource for our state.
Senate FY 2024 Interior, Environment Appropriations
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved appropriations for the Interior Department, EPA, and other agencies. The appropriation bill provides $9.9 billion for EPA’s budget, approximately $2.1 billion less than the administration’s $12 billion request. The Senate cuts are more modest than those proposed by House appropriators in its funding bill. The bill increases the Environmental Programs and Management (EPM) account by approximately $35 million from FY 23 enacted levels and boosts the state and tribal assistance grants (STAG) account by approximately $40 million as compared to FY 23 enacted levels. While it seems as if the EPM and STAG programs saw increases from last year’s enacted levels, they also reflect the largest decreases from the administration’s request for FY 24, respectively seeing a decrease of $1.1 billion and $1.3 billion. The bill also provides $35 million above fiscal year 2023 for geographic restoration programs. This funding will help protect local ecosystems and communities from climate change, habitat loss, and pollution in places like the Great Lakes, Long Island Sound, Puget Sound, and Southern New England Estuaries.
New Water Systems Community Lifeline for Disaster Response
On August 1, FEMA modified their existing Community Lifelines construct to include an eighth Lifeline called ‘Water Systems’. Previously, drinking water and wastewater had been included in the ‘Food, Water, and Shelter’ Lifeline. The Community Lifelines are designed to increase effectiveness in disaster operations and better position the response to catastrophic incidents. Lifelines allows emergency managers to characterize the incident and identify the root causes of priority issue areas, and to distinguish the highest priorities and most complex issues from other incident information. EPA and other water sector partners have advocated for this type of structural change to better identify and represent the water sector in existing emergency response procedures, protocols, and frameworks. EPA worked closely with FEMA to develop this new lifeline and emphasize how critical restoration of drinking water and wastewater services is for community recovery. More information is available on the FEMA public website.
IG Compendium of Open and Unresolved Recommendations
On July 27, 2023 the Office of Inspector General released an updated compendium of open and unresolved recommendations. The Inspector General has an ongoing obligation to produce this report semi-annually so that Congress and the public are aware of progress that has been made. Open recommendations are those on which EPA and the OIG agree, but the agreed-upon corrective actions have not yet been completed. Unresolved recommendations are those that the EPA disagrees with; has not provided a formal, complete, written response to; or has proposed corrective actions for that the Agency and the OIG have not agreed upon. Current open and/or unresolved recommendations within the Office of Water include:
Report #21-E-0264: Scientists predict that harmful algal bloom occurrences in recreational waters and drinking water sources will increase as excess nutrients continue to flow into water bodies, temperatures warm, and extreme. EPA needs an agencywide Strategic Action Plan to address harmful algal blooms. Report: EPA Needs an Agencywide Strategic Action Plan to Address Harmful Algal Blooms | US EPA
Report #21-P-0130: EPA and states can reduce the volume of trash, including plastics, in U.S. waterways by evaluating barriers to implementing the Clean Water Act, or CWA, and developing strategies to overcome those barriers. Report: EPA Helps States Reduce Trash, Including Plastic, in U.S. Waterways but Needs to Identify Obstacles and Develop Strategies for Further Progress | US EPA
Report #10-P-0224: The state of the memorandums of agreement between states and EPA means that the EPA cannot ensure that it has effective management control over state programs that assures the public that CWA objectives are being achieved. EPA should revise outdated or inconsistent EPA-State Clean Water Memoranda of Agreement. Report: EPA Should Revise Outdated or Inconsistent EPA-State Clean Water Act Memoranda of Agreement | US EPA
Free Integrated Planning Technical Assistance until August 31, 2023
State permitting authority technical assistance is available to states regardless of their experience with the integrated planning process. EPA’s technical assistance can include:
- Walking through EPA’s Integrated Planning Toolkit with your staff
- Strategic planning to incorporate integrated planning into the permitting process
- Prioritizing prime candidate permittees based on state-specified criteria
- Facilitating an in-person or virtual “Getting Started” workshop with permittees
- Reviewing submitted integrated plans to help with completeness check
- Developing specific permit language to consider incorporating integrated planning
- Assisting permittees who have indicated to the permitting authority they intend to develop an integrated plan
Municipalities can also request technical assistance through a state receiving technical assistance or individual permittee technical assistance. EPA can provide municipalities assistance with:
- Researching and Summarizing Clean Water Act Drivers and Requirements
- Developing a Stakeholder Outreach Plan
- Developing criteria to use in a Contractor Scope of Work
- Exploring Funding Options
- Facilitating meetings to identify goals, objectives, and/or metrics
- Developing an Integrated Planning Workgroup and Schedule of Milestones
- Facilitating External Stakeholder Meetings
To learn more about this technical assistance opportunity please visit the Integrated Planning Technical Assistance webpage (www.epa.gov/npdes/integrated-planning-technical-assistance). For more information, please email Heather Huddle (huddle.heather@epa.gov) by August 31, 2023.
ACWA Comments in response to EPA Proposed Rule, “Federal Baseline WQS for Indian Reservations“
On August 3rd, ACWA submitted comments on the proposed Baseline WQS rule. In the letter, ACWA outlines support in concept for WQS to apply to currently-unprotected Tribal waters, but does not take a position on finalizing the rule and outlines significant implementation concerns among state Co-Regulators. ACWA highlighted questions about EPA Regions’ capacity to carry out the rule; the unclear dispute resolution procedures among Regions, Headquarters, Tribes, and States; and, EPA’s WQS responsibilities in the rule not mirroring those of states and Tribes. ACWA requested greater state-EPA engagement and state-Tribe-EPA Co-Regulator engagement in the early stages of future rulemakings on WQS. ACWA also recommended several rule revisions and topics that warrant robust implementation guidance for states and Tribes, including:
- Early Co-Regulator review of draft numeric criteria (“binding translators” of narratives in the rule)
- Designating Public Water Supply Uses where desired by Tribes, rather than universally
- Default use of upstream/downstream state WQS when they support applicable Baseline WQS’ uses
- EPA conduct triennial reviews of the Baseline WQS to be consistent with state and Tribal WQS processes and achieve consistency with Environmental Justice
- Consulting with states and Tribes to develop guidance on narrative translation methodologies, factors for consideration during ONRW nomination and dispute resolutions, maintaining Tribal confidentiality while also enabling upstream states to protect downstream Tribal waters with minimal burden among all parties involved, and integrating downstream Baseline WQS when there is no permitted discharger to applicable waters
- A national communication system and implementation tools to ensure Co-Regulator awareness of all applicable draft permits, updated WQS and/or narrative translators, and other relevant CWA actions.
You can review the letter here.
EPA Releases Preliminary Data for 2022 Toxics Release Inventory Reporting Year
Today, EPA published preliminary Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data about chemical waste management, including releases, and pollution prevention activities that occurred during 2022 at more than 20,000 industrial and federal facilities across the country.
The 2022 preliminary data were reported by facilities in covered industries that manufactured, processed or otherwise used substances on the TRI chemical list above certain threshold quantities during 2022. The preliminary data include quantities of these chemicals that facilities released into the environment or otherwise managed as waste and also include details about pollution prevention activities initiated by individual facilities during 2022. The public can use the preliminary data to identify facilities that reported to TRI (for example, to locate facilities in a certain ZIP code locality) and learn which chemicals those facilities manage as waste and in what quantities.
The dataset released today contains the data as submitted by facilities and does not include any summary or trend analysis. While the preliminary data have not yet been through the complete TRI data quality process, the reporting software that facilities used to submit these data (TRI-MEweb) includes many automated quality checks that help prevent common mistakes during data entry. EPA is conducting additional quality checks to identify suspected reporting errors and follow up with facilities if data quality issues are identified. For details about the TRI data quality process, see the TRI Data Quality webpage.
The 2022 preliminary data will be updated periodically to reflect revisions to previously submitted data and late submissions. EPA plans to publish a revised version of the dataset in October 2023, which will include late submissions and revisions submitted by facilities. EPA will then use the revised dataset to develop the 2022 TRI National Analysis which the Agency expects to publish in early 2024.
You can explore the preliminary data by going to EPA’s Envirofacts website and searching for a specific location, industry sector or facility. You can also download the data files for your own use.
New Information from Natural Gas Processing and Contract Sterilization Facilities from the 2022 Preliminary Data
This is the first year that TRI data include reporting from natural gas processing facilities. In November 2021, EPA added natural gas processing facilities to the scope of the industrial sectors covered by the TRI. The rule expands coverage to include all natural gas processing facilities that receive and refine natural gas. Natural gas processing facilities that primarily recover sulfur from natural gas were already covered by TRI. For 2022, EPA has received 1,152 TRI reporting forms from 230 natural gas processing facilities.
This is also the first year that TRI data include reporting of ethylene oxide (EtO), a chemical that has been on the TRI chemical list since 1986, from certain contract sterilization facilities that previously had not been subject to TRI reporting requirements. These facilities release EtO or otherwise manage the chemical as waste. In December 2021, EPA issued a decision extending TRI reporting requirements to 29 sterilization facilities that were likely to exceed the 10,000 pounds per year “otherwise used” TRI reporting threshold for ethylene oxide.
As of July 12, 2023, EPA has received TRI reporting forms for EtO from 24 of the 29 contract sterilization facilities. EPA is following-up with the five contract sterilization facilities that did not submit TRI forms for EtO. The 24 contract sterilization facilities reported managing over 6 million pounds of production-related waste of EtO of which 8,863 pounds were released on-site to air during 2022.
PFAS-Related Information from the 2022 Preliminary Data
This is the third year that TRI data include reporting on PFAS added to the TRI list of chemicals under requirements established by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). EPA has received 120 TRI reporting forms for 46 discrete PFAS from 44 facilities. The preliminary data indicate facilities managed over 1,151,000 pounds of production-related waste of PFAS during 2022. EPA anticipates additional reporting on the quantities of PFAS released or otherwise managed as waste to begin to be made after the rule to remove applicability of the de minimis exemption for PFAS – which allows reporting on PFAS to be avoided – is finalized later this year.
Association Updates
Annual Meeting 2023- Virtual Option Added!
We have added an option for virtual participation that is open to states, interstates, and EPA partners only. Pre-registration will be required. The virtual registration fee will be $150. States, interstates, and EPA partners are able to register on ACWA’s member portal.
Virtual attendance access will be shared closer to the event.
Please contact Lexy Bailey with any questions regarding registration.
ACWA Leadership Elections – VOTING ENDS SOON!
Voting is currently open for ACWA’s Executive Leadership and Board of Directors.
Along with the Executive Officers, this year it is the even Regions that are up for election. Please cast your vote no later than Noon ET on August 7, 2023.
All “members in good standing” may participate in these elections. The “member in good standing” is the formal or primary ACWA representative for the state/interstate agency that paid dues for the previous fiscal year (FY2023). If you are unsure whether your FY2023 dues are paid, feel free to reach out to Julia Anastasio or Annette Ivey, and we can let you know. Only one vote per state/interstate.
Thank you for your continued support of ACWA! If you cannot find the email message with the link to the ballot, please contact Julia Anastasio.
Notice – No Wrap The Week of August 7th
During the week of our 62nd Annual Meeting, ACWA will not publish a Weekly Wrap. Look out for our next issue the week of August 14.
Meetings and Webinars
ACWA Water Quality Modeling Workshop: October 23-27, Salt Lake City, UT
Registration is now open for our upcoming Surface Water Quality Modeling Workshop in Salt Lake City, UT! This workshop will run October 23-27, with an optional pre-conference “Modeling 101” session on October 23.
This workshop will be an in-person event, in partnership with USEPA. This event will take place at the Utah DEQ Offices. This year, we will be offering three tracks: (1) HSPF (2) CE-QUAL-W2 (3) Modeling for Nutrients. We have a great planning team of state and EPA representatives working hard to finalize the agenda. Attached are one-page summaries on some of the topics covered this year.
Below, you will find information on how to register, where to book a room at the hotel, and travel support.
To register, you will need access to ACWA’s member portal. If you are EPA staff, please reach out Lexy Bailey (abailey@acwa-us.org) for help getting set up. This workshop has 3 distinct tracks – including two hands-on trainings. Hands on trainings will be offered for HSPF and CE-QUAL-W2.
Space is limited for the HSPF and CE-QUAL-W2 tracks – once you register, you will automatically be placed on the wait list. You will receive a confirmation email at a later date.
If you are a new staff-person, or if you would like a refresher, please indicate that you will be attending the pre-conference “Modeling 101” session, set for the afternoon of October 23.
Lodging will be available at the Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel, in Salt Lake City, UT. ACWA has procured the local gov’t per diem rate of $128/night from Saturday, October 21 – Friday, October 27, 2023. You may reserve your hotel room here. The limited room block will be open through October 1, 2023. We recommend you secure your room as soon as possible to ensure your stay at this hotel.
CWA National Targeting Center EPA/State Joint Community of Practice Meeting
Date: Thursday, September 7, 2023
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm eastern
Meeting Info: Please use the meeting information below to attend this meeting.
No registration required; however, this meeting is only for EPA Regional and state NPDES permitting, enforcement, and information technology staff.
This will be the second meeting between EPA Regional and state staff to share best practices and ideas for inspection and enforcement targeting. At the first meeting, which was held on 2 November 2022, Kentucky Division of Water and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality gave presentations on “DMR Compliance Automation Efforts and Trend Analysis” and “GIS Targeting Platform, DMR Evaluation, Low SNC Rates,” respectively.
We invite states to share their insights on inspection and enforcement targeting for the upcoming September 7th meeting. Please send an email to Carey Johnston (johnston.carey@epa.gov) if you are interested in participating or giving a presentation. Please use this link to add your email to our EPA-state NTC CWA CoP distribution list. We will use this distribution list to share updates to the agenda and for future meetings.
We hope to schedule these 1-hour meetings on a more regular basis and suggest a quarterly frequency. This will allow EPA Regional and state staff to exchange insights and updates on inspection and enforcement targeting. We will use the September 7th meeting to solicit your input on this proposal.
NPDES Basic Permit Writers’ Course
Virtual Guided Learning
August 24, 2023 – September 28, 2023
The 5-week course will begin on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Participants should anticipate a time commitment of approximately 8-10 hours per week and should seek supervisor approval before signing up. The course is scheduled to conclude on September 28th, however a “rain date” of October 5th should be reserved by the participants in case of technical issues.
There is no cost for the course. Registration is limited and available at:
NPDES Permit Writers’ Course – Virtual Guided Learning August 2023 (AM)
NPDES Permit Writers’ Course – Virtual Guided Learning August 2023 (PM)
Each week, participants will have assigned “homework” consisting of NPDES online modules and permit writing exercises. These modules and exercises will then be discussed in a live virtual classroom setting on Tuesday and Thursday of each week. Participants will have the opportunity to join live office hour discussions with instructors and other participants each Tuesday as well. Microsoft Teams will be utilized for the virtual classroom and can be accessed through the desktop application or a web browser. Course materials will be provided electronically on the Microsoft Teams classroom site for download by the participants prior to the start date. If you have questions regarding the course, please contact Sean Ramach at: npdestraining@epa.gov or call him directly at (202) 564-2865.
EPA Technical Assistance Webinar Series – Primary Clarifier Operations
Thursday, August 24, 2023, 1:00 – 2:30pm (Eastern Time)
This presentation will focus on primary treatment of municipal wastewater, specifically primary clarifier operation. Discussion of the unit operations performance characteristics will be provided along with potential operating problems. Pictures of actual treatment units will be shown. In addition, troubleshooting will be covered at the end of the presentation.
Registration: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_qlMbUg-cRe–D5uTmmAGFQ
Webinar series schedule and recordings: https://www.epa.gov/compliance/technical-assistancewebinar-series-improving-cwa-npdes-permit-compliance
For additional webinar info, contact: water.compliance@epa.gov
Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) Webinar Series: CWA and Biosolids
Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 1:30-2:30 PM Eastern Time
Join U.S. EPA for its next Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) webinar on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 1:30-2:30 PM Eastern Time. This webinar will explore wastewater tools and reports available on ECHO, such as:
- Wastewater/Stormwater/Biosolids Facility Search
- Biosolids Facility Report
- Effluent Charts
- Water Pollutant Loading Tool
- Data Downloads
These ECHO tools allow users to access and analyze EPA data for water pollutant discharges and facility compliance related to the Clean Water Act including biosolids-specific program data. The case studies demonstrate how to conduct advanced analyses of permitted water features and interpret information.
Register at https://echo.epa.gov/help/training#upcoming to save your spot. If you can’t make it, don’t worry, ECHO tutorials and recorded webinars are available at any time.
EPA Tools & Resources Webinar: Cumulative Impacts: EPA’s Environmental Quality Index (EQI)
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | 3-4 pm ET
EPA’s Environmental Quality Index (EQI) is an estimate of U.S. county ambient environmental quality across five domains: air, water, land, sociodemographic, and built environment. The EQI helps researchers better understand how health outcomes relate to cumulative environmental exposures that typically are viewed in isolation. Because the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the buildings around us all play a part in our overall well-being, researchers can use the EQI to investigate and highlight associations between environmental quality and a given health concern. This webinar will provide an overview of the EQI methodology, including information on rural/urban differences, as well as a summary of the health outcome research that has been conducted to date.
Register for the Cumulative Impacts: EPA’s Environmental Quality Index webinar!
EPA Air, Climate & Energy Research Webinar: Tools for Helping State and Municipal Decision-Makers Meet Air Quality, Climate and Energy Objectives: Glimpse and COMET
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | 3-4:15 pm ET
Local, state, and regional authorities are facing many challenges, including those caused by climate change, urbanization, limited natural resources, and aging infrastructure. In developing management strategies, these authorities also have the objectives of promoting economic development, protecting the environment, and providing clean and affordable energy. The result is a complex decision-making landscape. Decision makers would benefit from tools that help them quantify the impacts of potential management strategies, identify the tradeoffs of planning objectives, and develop win-win solutions. EPA has been building two such tools: GLIMPSE and COMET. GLIMPSE is a decision support tool that assists long-term environmental, climate, and energy planning. City-based Optimization Model for Energy Technologies (COMET) is an energy-environment-economic optimization model. This presentation will describe how these frameworks can be used to support state and municipal planning.
EPA Tools & Resources Training Webinar: Data Management Tools for Emergency Response
August 10, 2023 | 3pm EST
This webinar will explore the critical role of effective data management in disaster response, particularly in the context of environmental sampling and contamination incidents. By providing a comprehensive overview of data management processes, tools and best practices, we will showcase the application of these principles to an environmental field study—the Operational Testing and Evaluation of Chemical Remediation Activities (OTECRA) Demonstration. Through the examination of the OTECRA Demonstration, we’ll emphasize the need for accurate, accessible and organized data, as well as effective Data Management Plans (DMPs), to facilitate informed decision-making, coordination and cleanup efforts.
Register for the Data Management Tools for Emergency Response webinar!
Job Opportunities
Environmental Analyst – Source Water Protection
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: August 13, 2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, you will work alongside internal and external partners as well as the public to support the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2). In this role, you will provide guidance, leadership, and input on the use of the program’s framework and associated resources. You will assist with the management of consultant contracts and monitor the progress of workplans; develop and update source water program guidance and resources; collect, organize and analyze water quality and related data, ensuring data consistency and accuracy; and prepare technical and programmatic summary reports regarding decisions, recommendations, and findings for working groups, strategy teams, departmental audiences, and stakeholders.
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by August 13, 2023. Please reference #23-NYS-SW-DEC-005 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description and benefits listing may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Engineer – Permit Writer
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: August 13, 2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Engineer, you will become an essential member of the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2). You will work with permittees, their representatives, engineers and various members of the public on municipal and industrial wastewater discharge SPDES permits within Source Water Protection areas to ensure SPDES permits are up-to-date and include effluent limitations necessary to protect public water supplies. You will assist with SPDES permit development and permit renewals and will conduct water quality and effluent evaluations at wastewater treatment facilities. You will review engineering reports, plans, and specifications for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment systems and facilities and recommend these plans for approval. You will also assist in development of guidance around emerging contaminants data collection and reporting, and assessment of data for incorporation into permitting strategies.
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by August 13, 2023. Please reference #23-NYS-SW-DEC-003 in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description and benefits listing may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Analyst – Road Stream Crossing Implementation Specialist
Location: New Paltz, NY
Closing Date: August 20, 2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, you will use data from road stream crossing (RSX) assessments and
management plans to proactively assist local highway departments implement and construct replacements for RSX that are undersized and are barriers to aquatic organism passage (AOP). You will identify local priorities and advance them to construction, advance dam removal by working with dam owners and partners, and track project metrics. You will also become a trained leader in AOP assessments to meet emerging RSX needs, maintain a strong understanding of RSX funding opportunities to advance aquatic resource priorities, and assist with riparian restoration and water quality monitoring in the lower Hudson River Watershed.
Submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by August 20, 2023.
Please reference #23-HREP-002 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled.
A full position description and benefits listing may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Biologist/Physical Scientist: National Aquatic Resource Surveys and Water Quality Monitoring, EPA Office of Water
Location: Washington, DC (part-time telework: yes | fully-remote eligible: no)
Closing Date: August 9, 2023
The Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds’ Monitoring and Analysis Branch is seeking a candidate for the National Aquatic Resource Surveys and other water quality monitoring and assessment priorities including harmful algal blooms, participatory science, etc. The successful candidate will bring experience implementing ambient water quality monitoring projects involving chemical, physical, and biological indicators; conducting quality assurance and quality control activities; compiling, integrating and curating data as well as performing data analysis and interpretation of large and complex datasets; synthesizing and presenting complex information to a range of audiences; and contributing to the enhancement of state and tribal monitoring programs.
Our work culture is service driven, working as a team to seek diverse perspectives to deliver the most effective support to our partners and stakeholders. The successful hire will start at a GS11 level and proceed to GS12 and then GS13 with two years of successful performance. If you are interested in exploring this Washington DC-based position and have relevant experience, please be among the first 200 people to apply. Note that applying for this vacancy announcement could make you eligible for a range of positions across the EPA over the coming months.
For details on applying for this position, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/739825100
