News
Federal Register : Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category
This week EPA formally published in the Federal Register 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%.
Comments must be received on or before March 25, 2024.
EPA Publishes FY2025-FY2026 NPG Early Engagement Summaries
EPA has published summaries of the early engagement efforts with state media associations, states, territories, and tribes. These summaries reflect comments provided to EPA on priorities found in the draft FY 2025-2026 National Program Guidances. Program summaries from EPA include air, compliance, EJ, intergovernmental and congressional relations, land, pollution prevention, water, and tribal offices.
Example water program highlights include:
- Regularly scheduled meetings between the Office of Water (OW) leadership, beyond the once-a-year discussion, would ensure that all parties are working in synch towards the mutual goal of protecting public health.
- States and Tribes need additional resources for engagement and funding to support climate resiliency needs.
- The NPG should consider PFAS source reduction and remediation as priority areas. Stakeholders need recommendations for difficult to treat pollutants (i.e., salts) and direction/guidance on PFAS in biosolids.
- The current approach by the Agency to continue to add regulatory and non-regulatory requirements without additional resources and without guidance on disinvesting in lower-priority issues is not sustainable.
Copies of the summaries can be found here: National Program Guidances (NPGs) | US EPA
EPA Stormwater Centers of Excellence Grant Announcement $3 Million
On January 19, 2024, EPA announced the availability of $3 million in grant funding through the new Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technologies Grant Program, made possible by BIL. The Centers of Excellence will play an important role in conducting research and providing technical assistance to state, Tribal, and local governments to support stormwater infrastructure improvements that protect public health, safeguard the environment, and increase climate resilience. The ~$3 million in grant funding will support 3-5 awards to establish and maintain regional Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Infrastructure Technologies. Eligible applicants for the funding include institutions of higher education, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
- Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-I-OW-OWM-23-04
- Closing Date: March 18, 2024
https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-centers-excellence-grant
2024 State Asset Management Initiatives (Drinking Water)
On January 5, EPA released the 2024 State Asset Management Initiatives document, which summarizes the state asset management activities as described in their revised capacity development strategies. With these initiatives, public water systems (PWSs) can improve their financial health and reliability to provide safe drinking water, as well as address infrastructure needs in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The asset management activities were organized according to categories: regulatory, assistance, funding, and internal activities. You can also learn more about the 2012 and 2018 State Asset Management Initiatives documents.
State Asset Management Initiatives Documents | US EPA
OCS Releases the LIHWAP Implementation and Impact Report, Part 1
The Office of Community Services (OCS) is proud to release the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Implementation and Impact Report, Part 1 (June 2021 – June 2023). As the first-ever federal water assistance program, OCS wanted the report to include the full life cycle of LIHWAP, from its inception through the first two years of implementation. To achieve this, we have included data from all LIHWAP programs through June 30, 2023.
Background
LIHWAP provides funds for assisting low-income households with water and wastewater bills. LIHWAP grants were made available to states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and federally and state-recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations that received fiscal year 2021 Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grants.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law No.: 116-260) signed on December 27, 2020, included $638 million in funding with instructions for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to administer these grants. Additionally, on March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law No.: 117-2) appropriated an additional $500 million to the new LIHWAP effort.
Report at a Glance
Readers have an opportunity to review the report online in an interactive environment or download a printable PDF version of the report. As you navigate the report, you will learn about the water landscape in the U.S., LIHWAP program design, the impact on the households served, how grant recipients and water utilities created and implemented the program, best practices and challenges, and next steps for LIHWAP.
Court Concludes LA has Standing to Challenge Civil Rights Law and Disparate Impacts
This week, a Louisiana federal judge ruled to temporarily block the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing disparate impact requirements under the Civil Rights Act that requires recipients of federal funding, such as state agencies, to demonstrate that the projects they approve will not inadvertently discriminate against minority communities. The decision prevents EPA and Department of Justice from imposing or enforcing such requirements against the state or any state agency under Title VI of the act and from imposing or enforcing any Title VI-based conditions not ratified by the president or based on the EPA’s disparate-impact regulations.
The dispute between LA and EPA began in May 2023, when the state filed a suit claiming the EPA utilized Title VI to veto any permitting decisions that opposed its goal of environmental justice and equity. Louisiana’s case stems from the federal government’s investigations into complaints that certain state agencies violated Title VI by discriminating against Black residents through the agencies’ oversight of an area known as “Cancer Alley.” The judge sided with the state’s argument that the requirements amounted to government overreach, writing that the defendants “constructed Title VI to allow it to regulate beyond the Statute’s plain text and by doing so, invade the purview of the State’s domain.”
The state’s lawsuit came in the wake of the Biden administration’s effort to end racial discrimination in environmental permitting as a part of a broader push to address environmental injustice.
EPA Announces NPS Funding Opportunities for States
The National EPA Nonpoint Source Program has announced that it has capacity on a contract to support additional, relatively short-term state/territory/Tribal NPS-focused projects in the categories below:
- Reduce Pollution from Agriculture NPS Activities
- Mitigate NPS Impacts of Natural Hazards
- Improve Equity of NPS Program Benefits and Outcomes
- Provide Technical Assistance to State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs to Advance Nonpoint Source or Source Water Protection Priorities
Please share this news with your states/territories/Tribes and send any project ideas/proposals to EPA by Wednesday, February 7.
Any new project selected by HQ would be able to start by mid-February, and would ideally be wrapped up by this June 29. However, if a project is likely to go beyond June 29, that is not a deal-breaker, as EPA can potentially continue the new project under the next contract option period beginning June 30. Individual project funding levels will depend upon the project type(s) and level of interest; for planning purposes, assume ~$15-40K/project for categories 1-3 above and ~$50K for category 4.
Please contact Ward Scott with any questions. And please feel free to forward this to others; thank you for spreading the word about this new opportunity.
EPA is Updating the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants FAQ
EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) is updating the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-Emerging Contaminants (CWSRF-EC) eligibility FAQ. Going forward, the FAQ clarifies how applicants may qualitatively identify an EC to make a project eligible for funding. It will also denote circumstances where pretreatment projects are eligible. When the update is complete, it will be posted on the CWSRF-EC webpage.
OWM felt it was important to highlight the piece regarding EC qualitative identification – Although EC funds still may not be used to identify ECs, qualitative observation that PFAS are present would demonstrate project eligibility. For example: a state is concerned about PFAS in a watershed/community/POTW. The state and/or POTW lacks sampling data, but wants to initiate a capital project (or planning and design) to address it. The applicant may identify an upstream discharger that is or is highly likely to be discharging PFAS (e.g., an active discharger falling within the ELG industry categories that formulate the PFAS analyte) to qualitatively identify the EC of interest, making the project eligible for CWSRF-EC funding. Similarly, for stormwater, an observed Harmful Algal Bloom in a potential project’s drainage/management area would demonstrate eligibility, just as sampling to verify the presence of cyanotoxins would demonstrate eligibility.
Identification of emerging contaminants can be done through:
- Traditional sampling and analysis.
- For PFAS, qualitative assessments that upstream presence of facilities known or suspected to discharge PFAS interest, e.g., confirmation of an active discharger falling within the ELG industry categories that likely formulate PFAS.
- For stormwater, the emerging contaminant(s) must be identified within the drainage area or the management area. The evaluation of the identification can be quantitative or qualitative assessments. The quantitative assessment is the traditional sampling and analysis from either the drainage area or the waterbody where discharge is collected. Qualitative assessments can include observation and identification of the emerging contaminant within the drainage area or management area. For example, identification of harmful algal blooms that produce cyanotoxins. This type of assessment can also be published information or data that identifies the emerging contaminant within that drainage area.
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! The reservation group room rate ends March 1st, 2024.
Register now for the Early Bird Rate! The Early Bird Rate will be ending on January 31st, 2024!
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)
2024 State Summit on Water Reuse – Registration Open
Registration is now open for the 2024 State Summit on Water Reuse. This year’s Summit will occur on March 11, 2024, in conjunction with the annual WateReuse Association Symposium (March 11-14) at the Hilton Denver City Center in Denver, CO.
The primary goal of the State Summit is to provide a place for state regulators to share and learn about a range of water reuse issues, network with state colleagues, and coordinate with representatives from select federal agencies. The Summit will feature perspectives from many states and provide an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts and key questions with colleagues from around the country.
There is no registration fee for the State Summit, but registration will be limited to state officials. However, space and reimbursement funds are limited. Please register for the Summit by contacting Ward Scott with ACWA or Ashley Voskuhl with ASDWA as soon as possible.
Discounted (Presenter) Registration to the WateReuse 2024 Symposium: Additionally, State Summit participants can receive discounted registration for the full WateReuse Association WateReuse Symposium and its many technical sessions. State Summit participants registering for the WateReuse 2024 Symposium should register by February 9 as “Presenters” to receive the discounted ($850.00) rate. Please click here for more information and to register for the WateReuse 2024 Symposium.
2024 Water Quality Standards Workshop
Dates: April 16-18, 2024
Venue: Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North, Albuquerque, NM
ACWA will be holding the 2024 Water Quality Standards Workshop April 16-18, 2024, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This workshop is a national meeting for State program managers and staff involved in water quality standards, as well as for both Regional and Headquarters-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managers and staff. This workshop will primarily feature case studies and presentations on how states have worked towards developing water quality standards for complex criteria.
More information on lodging will be shared later. ACWA does anticipate having travel support for state staff.
Register here!
View the draft agenda here.
Meetings and Webinars
Communities with Combined Sewers Adapting to a Changing Climate: Webcast Series
January 30, 2024 and February 6, 2024
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
The U.S. EPA is hosting a webcast series on CSO communities adapting to a changing climate. The impacts of climate change, such as changes in annual precipitation, storm intensity, storm surge, and/or sea level rise, are anticipated to impact the performance of many combined sewer systems and influence the volume and frequency of combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, and basement backups. Several CSO communities will share their stories of how they are impacted by and have adapted to climate change.
January 30, 2024 (Register Here)
Presenters:
· Scott Schreiber, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, NJ
· Marlene Feist, City of Spokane, WA
February 6, 2024 (Register Here)
Presenters:
· Todd King, Great Lakes Water Authority and Samuel Smalley, Detroit Water and Sewage Department, MI
· James Stitt, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, PA
Additional Information and Registration
Tools, Training and Technical Assistance to Increase Water Resilience Webinar
Date: January 30, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Register: HERE
View the webinar flyer HERE
To reduce the risks associated with climate-related hazards, EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) initiative provides training, tools, and technical assistance designed to educate the water sector on climate science and adaptation options. This presentation will highlight the Resilient Strategies Guide, an application that guides water utility owners and operators through identifying adaptation strategies to address their climate resilience priorities. It will also preview other CRWU resources including the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool, Climate and Weather Data Maps, and Environmental Justice StoryMap.
In partnership with Sandia National Laboratories, EPA developed the Water Network Tool for Resilience (WNTR), an open-source Python package, to integrate critical aspects of resilience modeling for water distribution networks into a single software framework. The software estimates potential damages from disaster scenarios; predicts how damage to infrastructure would occur over time; evaluates preparedness strategies; prioritizes response actions; and identifies worse case scenarios, efficient repair strategies, and best practices for maintenance and operations. This presentation will provide an overview of WNTR along with a few case study applications.
Water Infrastructure Funding Decision Making Tools and Resources Webinar
Date: February 7, 2024
Time: 12:30 PM ET
Register: HERE
Across America, water utilities act as anchor institutions safeguarding public health, protecting the environment, and sustaining critical water infrastructure investments for their communities. In today’s rapidly evolving and challenging project decision-making environment, traditional project alternative analysis can sometimes fall short. The Augmented Alternative Analysis (AAA) incorporates past utility experiences and lessons learned to provide you with a simple, sound, easily explainable and transparent way to incorporate community values and best meet utility needs as you evaluate and select infrastructure investments.
This webinar will also provide a high-level overview of four new learning modules posted to the Water Finance Clearinghouse. The purpose of these learning modules is to provide an interactive learning experience for users who are interested in exploring specific water finance topics.
Addressing Emerging Contaminants in Source Water Using BIL Grants and Forgivable Loans Webinar
Date: February 8, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Register: HERE
The national Source Water Collaborative (SWC) is hosting this webinar to showcase the ways in which Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding can support source water protection by addressing emerging contaminants in drinking water sources. The webinar is open to the public and designed for states, water utilities, source water protection staff, state BIL funding program staff, local SWCs, federal agencies, and other water stakeholders.
This webinar is part of a larger BIL Learning Exchange made up of a set of several webinars and related resources to help water stakeholders use the new BIL funding for source water protection. Future webinar series topics will include the role of Environmental Finance Centers and other technical assistance opportunities, the environmental justice implications of BIL, and the role of forests and BIL funding through U.S. Forest Service. Sign up here to receive notifications about future BIL-related webinars and other news from the national SWC.
Job Opportunities
Environmental Engineer – Wastewater
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Closing Date: February 6, 2024 11:59 PM CST
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources presents an exciting opening for a wastewater engineer who embodies technical proficiency, a strong customer-centric approach, and a keen eye for detail. We invite you to join our Wastewater Engineering team in the role of an Environmental Engineer to contribute to the preservation of water quality. This position is situated within the Wastewater Engineering Section of the Environmental Services Division’s Water Quality Bureau. As a wastewater engineer, you will play a pivotal role in our engineering team, dedicated to safeguarding the environment and public health. Your responsibilities will encompass the critical tasks of reviewing construction permit applications, managing wastewater treatment and collection system infrastructure projects, which include approving engineering planning reports, antidegradation alternatives analyses, plans and specifications. You will also be responsible for granting construction permits primarily for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) funded wastewater projects and some non-funded wastewater projects.
For more information, visit Wastewater Engineer.
Environmental Scientist III
Location: Frankfort, KY
Closing Date: February 9, 2024
The Kentucky Division of Water, Water Quality Branch is seeking an individual to work across monitoring, assessment, TMDL, and standards programs to develop and maintain tools for water quality data compilation, review, analysis, and reporting.
For more information and to apply, visit https://personnel.ky.gov/Pages/Careers.aspx.
Project Officer (Water Resource Professional III)
Location: Silver City, NM
Closing Date: February 2, 2024
Job ID #140315
NMED #38202
The Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) preserves, protects, and improves New Mexico’s surface water quality for present and future generations. To support the SWQB Mission, this position will manage multiple watershed planning and river restoration projects to improve water quality and riparian habitat in New Mexico. This position also serves as the New Mexico Mining Act Reclamation Program liaison and will conduct mine inspections, evaluate mine permitting actions, and draft SWQB comments to ensure protection of the state’s water resources. As a valued new employee to NMED, you will receive five (5) full days of leave in your leave balances right from your start date.
If you are interested in applying, please visit NM’s Job Opportunities website to review the job posting and complete your application!
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. A full position description may be viewed at:
https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Biologist I
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: January 29, 2024
The Aquatic Toxicology Unit is seeking an individual to join DEP’s team dedicated to monitoring and assessing toxic chemicals in Maine’s aquatic resources. The Aquatic Toxicology Unit focuses on fish, water, and sediment samples and coordinates with other DEP staff, the Maine Center of Disease Control and Prevention, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This individual will share in overall program operations including field work to collect samples, working with labs, evaluating data quality, entering data, querying data, analyzing data, and communicating results. The individual will use advanced computer skills to modernize and improve recording data in the field, check data quality, create maps, analyze sampling results, and analyze spatial data.
For more information, contact Tom Danielson at (207) 441-7430 or thomas.j.danielson@maine.gov. Application deadline is January 29th. For more information, click here.
Permit Administrator / General Permit Data Specialist
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Federal Permit Manager
Location: Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Water Quality Management Unit Supervisor
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Onsite Program Preparedness and Training Specialist
Location: Bend, Eugene, or Salem, Oregon (finalist may choose work location)
Closing Date: January 28, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Water Quality Modeler
Location: Helena, MT
Closing Date: February 4, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit State of Montana Careers webpage.
Water Quality Specialist
Location: Helena, MT
Closing Date: January 31, 2024
This position performs scientific and technical analyses, calculations, assessments and determinations essential to the implementation of the water quality program in the State of Montana. Responsibilities of this position include:
- Promoting and supporting voluntary water pollution reduction planning and projects by local groups or other entities;
- Assisting local groups, landowners, or others in acquiring resources to prevent pollution and restore State waters;
- Working towards no overall net loss of the State’s remaining wetland resources and increase in the quality and quantity of wetlands in Montana;
- Supporting wetland and project effectiveness monitoring
- Serving as a technical resource to local, state, and federal entities in pollution prevention and restoration of State waters;
- Supporting total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation and monitoring and assessment of waterbodies for success stories.
For more information and to apply, visit State of Montana Careers.
Water Quality Monitoring Technician
Location: Helena, MT
Closing Date: February 8, 2024
The Water Quality Monitoring Technician is responsible for assisting pre-field work, such as calibration and maintenance of devices, inventory and requisition of field season equipment; field work, such as assisting in various chemical, biological and physical sampling procedures; and non-field work efforts such as data entry, transporting samples, and gathering supplies. This position requires travel across the state of Montana to various watersheds. Training on sampling methods will be provided to the successful candidates; however, knowledge of surface water sampling methods is a plus. Successful candidates will collect nutrient, metals, sediment, E.coli, algae, and macroinvertebrate samples as well as monitor flow and the current conditions of wetlands. Project opportunities include water quality and pollution source assessments, harmful algal bloom response monitoring, wetland effectiveness monitoring, and restoration project effectiveness monitoring. The Water Quality Monitoring Technician may also assist with education and outreach related to monitoring results and promoting voluntary water quality improvement practices.
For more information and to apply, visit State of Montana Careers.
Stormwater Quality Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3)
Location: Eugene, Medford, or Salem, Oregon (finalist may choose work location)
Closing Date: February 12, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s jobs page.