News
**UPDATE** Maui Proposed Guidance Comment Period Extension Denied
Today EPA announced they would not be extending the public comment period for the draft guidance titled Applying the Supreme Court’s County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund Decision in the Clean Water Act Section 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program to Discharges through Groundwater. “[T]he Agency has determined that the 30-day comment period provides sufficient time for the public to evaluate the guidance and submit comments. Therefore, the comment period will close on December 27, 2023, as provided in the November 27, 2023 Federal Register Notice.” On Monday, December 18, 2023 the ACWA Board of Directors will be reviewing an updated version of the draft ACWA letter circulated last week, with hopes of approving and submitting by December 27, 2023.
ACWA Joins Coalition Urging President to Fully Fund CW/DW SRF in FY 2025
ACWA joined a letter spearheaded by CIFA urging the President to fully fund the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) in his proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget request. The broad-based coalition included groups like NACWA, AWWA, ASDWA, ECOS, Water Reuse Association, WEF and the Western States Water Council. The letter calls for $3.25 billion for each program to address the growing demand for SRF-subsidized loans, which has skyrocketed due to the increased cost of planning, design, construction, and financing.
Proposed Meat and Poultry Effluent Limit Guidelines
This week EPA made available the pre-publication copy of the proposed updates to the Meat and Poultry Products ELGs, which cover discharges by slaughterhouses, further processors, independent renderers, and poultry processors. The proposed ELG includes three possible options:
Option 1 (EPA’s Preferred Option): For existing direct dischargers, this option establishes more stringent limits for nitrogen and, for the first time, limits for phosphorus. This option would also establish pretreatment standards for oil and grease, total suspended solids, and biochemical oxygen demand for indirect dischargers. This option would apply to 844 facilities nationwide. The preferred option is has an estimated total annualized after-tax cost of ~$210 million.
Option 2: This option would include all of the same requirements in Option 1, plus add nitrogen and phosphorus limits for the specific indirect dischargers. Option 2 would still only impact the original 844 facilities, but the costs would increase to an estimated total annualized after-tax costs of ~$590 million.
Option 3: This option is identical to Option 2 but would apply the direct and indirect discharge limits to a lower threshold, increasing the universe of facilities impacted to 1,618 facilities and estimated total annualized after-tax costs of ~$996 million.
In addition to the three options, EPA is requesting comment on a provision that would require segregation and management of high-salt waste streams that are produced at some facilities, as well as the addition of E. coli bacteria as a regulated parameter for direct dischargers. The addition of chlorides/bacteria management increases regulatory costs by ~40%.
EPA is planning to hold two public hearings: January 24, 2024 and January 31, 2024. Once published in the Federal Register (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2021- 0736), the public will be given 60 days to comment. If you have questions regarding this proposed rulemaking, you can direct them to Steve Whitlock at Whitlock.Steve@epa.gov or 202-566-1541.
EPA Releases National Estuary Program Accomplishments Report
EPA has released the National Estuary Program 2022 Accomplishments report, highlighting the great work completed by NEPs across the country.
In fiscal year 2022, the 28 NEPs implemented projects that improved environmental conditions and bolstered human well-being. Last year, NEPs made impressive accomplishments in sustainability and restoration.
The Accomplishments Report presents the NEP’s national metrics for 2022 alongside success stories from local NEPs demonstrating why their work is important for the health of estuaries and communities that depend on them. The report also highlights each of the 28 NEPs individually, allowing readers to learn more about their study areas, priorities, accomplishments and future initiatives.
EPA Proposes Rule to Update Water Quality Standards in the Delaware River
The Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed rule to update the water quality standards for aquatic life in the urban stretch of the Delaware River estuary (approximately from Philadelphia, PA to Wilmington, DE). The EPA’s rule proposes to upgrade the designated use and establish dissolved oxygen criteria to protect aquatic life in the river, including the critically endangered Atlantic Sturgeon. Following publication in the Federal Register, the EPA will hold two online public hearings and will accept public comments for 60 days.
You can find the rule and press release here:
https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/water-quality-standards-delaware-river
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-water-quality-standards-protect-aquatic-life-certain-sections-delaware
ASDWA White Paper on the Impacts of Congressionally Directed Spending
This week ASDWA announced the release of a new white paper, Hidden Consequences: How Congressionally Directed Spending Impacts State Drinking Water Programs which highlights how dependent state programs have become on SRF set-asides, primarily due to the Public Water System Supervision grants program only seeing two small increases in the past decade. The white paper goes on to also emphasize that state programs rely on the DWSRF funding to support their drinking water systems, and those systems in turn rely heavily on states for technical assistance and other funding to ensure the water systems comply with all applicable federal requirements. The white paper notes that states need “sufficient funding to sustain efforts that protect public health and maintain the economic health of communities.” A copy of the white paper can be found here.
EPA Request for State Water Climate Success Stories
EPA is collecting success stories, BMPs, SOPs, case studies, templates, and other examples of instances where states have successfully incorporated climate considerations, requirements, or elements into their water management programs. ACWA and ASDWA are assisting in the collection of these examples so that states and stakeholders may share, learn, and implement proven techniques into their own programs. EPA will post state success stories to its ARC-X website. States and territories interested in helping with this effort should contact Ward Scott for a template to submit information or for any questions. Thank you for your help with this effort.
Association Updates
2024 Mid-Year Meeting Registration
Dates: March 26 & 27, 2024
Venue: The Washington Marriott Metro Center DC
Registration is live for the upcoming 2024 ACWA Mid-Year Meeting. This year’s meeting will take place on March 26 & 27, 2024, in Washington, D.C. This will be a closed meeting intended for state members and federal guests. The agenda is in development and will be updated as appropriate. Make your room reservations today!
Register now for the Early Bird Rate!
Check back here for more updates.
SAVE THE DATE! 2024 National CAFO Roundtable
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Date: April 30 – May 3, 2024
Purpose: The 2024 National CAFO Roundtable supports the implementation of animal agriculture programs nationwide by helping support states and EPA to further identify challenges & barriers to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) program implementation, sharing new technologies, best management practices, showcasing innovative state programs and initiatives, 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 agriculture industry and other stakeholders.
Attendees: The CAFO Roundtable is a meeting of state AFO/CAFO regulators and EPA regional and headquarters representatives. Attendees generally include:
- State program managers, permit writers and inspectors involved in regulating AFOs/CAFOs
- EPA Headquarter and Regional staff involved in AFO/CAFO regulation
- Partnering state and federal agency staff that provide technical and/or regulatory assistance to AFOs/CAFOs
- Invited Guests
ACWA Meeting Webpage: 2024 National CAFO Roundtable – Association of Clean Water Administrators (acwa-us.org)
Meetings and Webinars
CWA Sec. 319 Revisions: EPA Open Office Hours
EPA has scheduled a series of optional office hours to discuss its efforts to update NPS Grants Guidelines for states and territories. EPA is currently accepting comments on a revised draft of Section 319 Grant Guidelines until December 31, 2023.
EPA’s informal office hour sessions are intended to allow states and territories to ask questions about the draft guidelines. Each office hour session will focus on specific chapters of the draft guidelines. Here is a schedule of the three remaining sessions:
- Dec. 19, 3:00- 4:15 pm ET: Preface, Appendices, and Glossary (click to attend)
Please contact Ward Scott for additional information about these engagement opportunities.
How EPA’s Water Infrastructure Planning Tool Can Help Utilities Engage Community & Make Cost-Effective Multi-Benefit Investments
January 11th, 12:30-4:30pm Eastern
EPA’s capital project decision-making process, referred to as Augmented Alternatives Analysis (AAA), was developed to address the opportunities and challenges of modern-day project decision-making.
You should attend this workshop if you are facing a large capital investment and want to learn how to engage your community and evaluate the full range of potential economic, environmental, and social benefits for your project.
This workshop will walk through the ten steps in the AAA process, so utilities leave equipped to implement AAA at their own utility. This workshop emphasizes peer to peer discussion and attendees will have ample opportunity to learn from utility peers about their challenges, successes, and plans for implementing AAA when they return home.
To download the PDF flyer, click here
Job Opportunities
Environmental Engineer – Wastewater
Job Number: 24-01918
Location: Des Moines, IA
Closing Date: January 2, 2024 11:59 PM
For more information, click Wastewater Engineer.
Aquatic Invasive Species Boat Launch Stewards
Location: Lake Champlain, NY and VT
Closing Date: February 1, 2024
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org; please reference #24-LCBP-001
in the email subject line. Application review will begin on February 1, 2024, and will continue on a
rolling basis until all positions are filled. A full position description may be viewed at:
https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Analyst – Wetlands & Long Island Sound
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: January 5, 2024
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please
reference #24-Lowell-002 in the email subject line. Application review will begin on January 5, 2024
and will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. A full position description may be
viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Water Resources Administrative Assistant
Location: Union Gap, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, please click here.
Program Specialist II
Location: Austin, TX
Closing Date: January 3, 2024
For more information and to apply, please click here.
Natural Resources Specialist II
Location: Houston, TX
Closing Date: December 23, 2023
For more information and to apply, please click here.
Aquatic Scientist III
Location: Austin, TX
Closing Date: December 21, 2023
For more information and to apply, click here.
Hydropower Projects Manager
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Capital Budget and Finance Officer
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Water Quality Monitoring Technician (71770)
Location: St. Paul, MN; Brainerd, MN
Closing date: January 17, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit The Official Site of the State of Minnesota Careers.
Water Quality Monitoring Assistant (71754)
Location: St. Paul, MN
Closing date: January 17, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit The Official Site of the State of Minnesota Careers.
South Biological Monitoring Technician (71748)
Location: St. Paul, MN
Closing date: January 17, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit The Official Site of the State of Minnesota Careers.
South Biological Monitoring Assistant (71752)
Location: St. Paul, MN
Closing date: January 17, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit The Official Site of the State of Minnesota Careers.
Stream Crew Leader (71737)
Location: Brainerd, MN
Closing date: January 17, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit The Official Site of the State of Minnesota Careers.
North Biological Seasonal Technician (71750)
Location: Brainerd, MN
Closing date: January 17, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit The Official Site of the State of Minnesota Careers.
North Biological Monitoring Assistant (71772)
Location: Brainerd, MN
Closing date: January 17, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit The Official Site of the State of Minnesota Careers.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s jobs page.
