News
EPA Publishes Analytical Methods for PFAS: Method 1633 and Method 1621
Last week, EPA published two analytical methods for PFAS: Method 1633 and Method 1621, as part of the PFAS Strategic Roadmap. As per EPA:
“The agency collaborated closely with the Department of Defense to validate Method 1633, which measures 40 PFAS compounds and is suitable for use in various applications, including compliance monitoring. Method 1621 measures adsorbable organic fluorine in wastewater, a surrogate for measuring the total amount of PFAS, which will also help detect fluorine-containing pesticides and pharmaceuticals. These methods are a significant step forward in efforts to identify what PFAS are present in environmental samples, and at what levels, enabling EPA, states and Tribes, wastewater facilities, and other entities to monitor a range of different effluents and media for PFAS, including under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program. As a next step, EPA expects to propose both methods for adoption in the Code of Federal Regulations, a necessary step for them to be nationally required for Clean Water Act use. “
For more information, please click here.
ECOS Publishes Risk Management Framework
The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) has published an Environmental Permitting Risk Management Framework for States to reduce risk of Civil Rights Violations and address Environmental Justice.
“This Risk Management Framework presents strategies to assist ECOS members in understanding state compliance with civil rights laws and Title VI as they relate to environmental permitting, recognizing potential risks of both civil rights violations and industry litigation. The Framework identifies key actions across five subject areas, assigning them risk values based on an assessment of U.S. EPA publications and state experience.”
See more about the Framework here.
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! Today is the last day for the Early Bird Rate!
Check back here for more updates.
2024 National CAFO Roundtable – Registration Now Live!
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 by February 9, 2024.
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.
You may Register here!
View the draft agenda here.
Lodging is now available at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North. ACWA has procured the local gov’t per diem rate of $141/night. Reserve your hotel room with this link.
Meetings and Webinars
Upcoming Intro to ECHO Webinar
Date: February 13, 2024
Time: 1:30-2:30 PM ET
Register: HERE
Join U.S. EPA for its next Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) webinar on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 1:30-2:30 PM Eastern Time. This Intro to ECHO webinar explores how to use the EPA/State Dashboards and other dashboards available through ECHO. The EPA/State dashboards show a visual depiction of enforcement and compliance data as it relates to agency performance. We will cover examples of using the dashboards for several programs, including Benzene Fenceline Monitoring and PFAS Analytic Tools.
If you can’t make it, don’t worry, ECHO tutorials and recorded webinars are available at any time.
Thank you for your interest in ECHO (https://echo.epa.gov)!
Nutrient Losses from Agricultural Fields
Date: February 28, 2024
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
Register: HERE
On Feb. 28, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET, the EPA Office of Research and Development will host a Water Research webinar, “Effectiveness of Nutrient Management for Reducing Nutrient Losses from Agricultural Fields.”
This presentation will discuss two investigations focused on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and emphasizes the need for government agencies to work together to address potential economic losses due to implementation of lower fertilizer rates for water quality improvement.
EPA/USACE Waters of the United States Listening Sessions
On February 13 and 14, 2024, from 1:00 to 3:30 pm ET, EPA and USACE will host listening sessions for state and tribal officials on identifying issues relating implementation of CWA programs and the definition of “Waters of the United States” in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett and EPA’s recently finalized “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’ Rule”. The listening sessions will take place:
- Feb. 13, 2024, from 1:00 to 3:30 pm ET: Register Here
- Feb. 14, 2024, from 1:00 to 3:30 pm ET: Register Here
Attendees may sign up for a three-minute time slot to provide verbal input. Please note that there is no guarantee that attendees will have an opportunity to speak. Pre-registration to speak is on a first come first served basis and will end when capacity has been reached. Please do not sign up to speak at more than one listening session. Note that if you select ‘yes’ within the registration form and are confirmed for registration, you will be called upon by name during the listening session. Confirmed speakers will receive an invitation to join the session as a Panelist with additional information. Requests to speak may also be taken during the listening session, pending availability. Registration will end by noon the day prior to each session.
Participants can register to listen rather than speak. Additionally, once the speaking slots are filled, participants can continue to register to listen to the session. There is, however, a capacity limit to these listening sessions, and once that capacity has been met, registration will be closed.
The agencies have recorded a video overview of the pre-2015 regulatory regime and the 2023 rule as amended, which is available on the EPA website here.
Please reach out to wotus-outreach@epa.gov with any questions about this event. Please visit https://www.epa.gov/wotus for additional information about “waters of the United States.”
EFAB Water Affordability Public Listening Session
Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register: HERE
EPA’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board will hold a public listening session via a webcast for its Water Affordability Workgroup on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern. The purpose of the listening session will be for the EFAB to solicit public comment on research, data, and case examples that demonstrate approaches to reduce the capital intensity of meeting communities’ water and wastewater service needs. These could include technological innovations that reduce the required scale of capital projects, innovative procurement models that reduce overall capital costs, or policy innovations that enable communities to meet regulatory requirements more efficiently. The listening session will be conducted fully virtual via webcast.
Click here to learn more about EFAB
Creating the Water Workforce of the Future: Webinar Series – Veterans in the Water Workforce
Date: February 29, 2024
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Register: HERE
As part of EPA’s commitment to helping build a diverse and sustainable water workforce, today’s veterans can provide a very important set of skills as well as benefit from a range of programs designed to help them build a meaningful career in water. Please join us on February 29th to hear from organizations that are reaching out to and training these veterans so they can play a key role in protecting our nation’s critical water infrastructure.
This webinar is part of an ongoing webinar series hosted by EPA, in partnership with leading water sector organizations around the country. More information on this webinar series can be found here.
EPA Healthy Watersheds Learning Exchange – Webinar Series and Listserv
EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Program has announced a new quarterly Healthy Watersheds Learning Exchange webinar series, aimed at highlighting watershed protection approaches and facilitating discussions among healthy watersheds practitioners to promote the sharing of experiences, lessons learned, and tools. State, Territory and Tribal water quality programs; other government agencies; non-profit organizations; colleges/universities; and those interested in joining a community of practice focused on healthy watersheds protection are invited to join.
Click here for more information including the Zoom registration link for the first webinar on Tuesday, February 27, at 1:00 pm ET, Introduction to Healthy Watersheds Protection, featuring presentations from:
- Ali Dunn, CA Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program
- Pamela Toshner, WI Department of Natural Resources
- Sophie Waterman, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program
Additionally, EPA announced the return of its the Healthy Watersheds Protection email listserv, HWP_info. To receive more updates from the Healthy Watersheds Program, please subscribe here.
Job Opportunities
Eastern Region Administrator
Location: Bend, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, or The Dalles, Oregon (finalist may choose work location)
Closing Date: February 25, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
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.
Water Reuse Program Developer
Location: Portland, Oregon
Closing Date: February 25, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
TMDL Writer (Water Resource Professional II)
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Closing Date: February 12, 2024
Job ID #140782
NMED #12186
The Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) preserves, protects, and improves New Mexico’s surface water quality for present and future generations. This position will support the mission of the SWQB by developing the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) planning documents, assisting with assessment of surface water quality data to develop the Clean Water Act List of Impaired Waters and developing other water quality planning documents. This position is responsible for developing TMDL planning documents, managing water quality data, running moderately complex water quality models, and presenting technical documents to the public. This position also assists with periodic water quality monitoring surveys and water quality assessments.
If you are interested in applying, please visit NM’s Job Opportunities website to review the job posting and complete your application!
Environmental Compliance Inspector
Location: Helena, MT
Closing Date: February 27, 2024
The Environmental Compliance Inspector performs scientific and technical analyses, calculations, assessments and determinations essential to the implementation of water quality programs in the State of Montana. Responsibilities include: Providing compliance assistance, training, and support to facilities to comply with water quality rules and permit requirements; Conducting inspections of various industrial, commercial, residential, and municipal wastewater treatment facilities; Responding to alleged Water Quality Act complaints and violations for permitted facilities; Determining whether facilities are operating in compliance with water quality rules and permit requirements; Composing clear, concise, and legally defensible documents that support DEQ’s mission and the program goals, objectives, and priorities; and Acting as a liaison for the Department to the public and industry on water quality compliance; and Initiating enforcement action and managing the subsequent action for facilities outside of compliance.
For more information and to apply, visit State of Montana Careers.
Environmental Analyst – Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Specialist
Location: Warrensburg, NY
Closing Date: February 28, 2024
Submit your cover letter and resume by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by February 28, 2024. Please
reference #24-LCBP-003 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.
Forest Practices Specialist
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
General Permit Manager/Permit Data Specialist
Location: Spokane, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s jobs page.
