News
White House Hosts Water Summit
This week the White House brought together state, Tribal, and local leaders from across the country for a White House Water Summit where the Administration announced a new national goal and partnership to conserve and restore freshwater resources. The America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge: A Partnership to Conserve and Restore America’s Rivers, Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands sets a bold, new national goal to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s rivers and streams.
To achieve the new national freshwater protection goal and to ensure that our freshwater resources are protected for current and future generations as part of the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge, the Administration also launched a new initiative that calls on all states and other governments and entities, including Tribes, interstate organizations, cities, and local communities to advance their own policies and strategies for conserving and restoring America’s freshwater systems.
EPA Announces Online Collection of Environmental Justice Resources
EPA released the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse, a first-of-its-kind online collection of resources related to environmental justice. Directed by President Biden’s Executive Order on Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse will help the public access federal and non-federal resources online as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious environmental justice agenda. The preliminary resources listed on the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse were submitted by agencies from across the federal government, including funding opportunities, screening and mapping tools, and technical assistance. The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse features searchable categories to simplify results for the public to ensure a more efficient and accessible process for accessing information related to environmental justice. EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights will continue to add information to the clearinghouse on a rolling basis and welcomes input and any submissions from the public for review and potential inclusion.
EPA Releases Draft National Program Guidance for FY 25-26
On Monday, U.S. EPA released drafts of the FY 25-26 National Program Guidance (NPG) for all programs, including the draft NPG for the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR). The NPG is a key EPA planning document that sets forth the strategies and actions that EPA and its state and tribal partners will undertake to protect human health and the environment. The guidance documents will include measures that support EPA’s annual and long term performance goals, with additional context available here.
NWIS-Based State Layers Added to the Metals Aquatic Life Criteria and Chemistry Map
The MetALiCC MAP for water chemistry and metals aquatic life criteria has been updated to provide state-specific values for water chemistry and some metals criteria, at different percentiles of protectiveness, as an addition to the currently-provided ecoregion and site specific values. The map is a GIS-based interactive database to support states, tribes, and stakeholders with the derivation of bioavailability-based freshwater aquatic life criteria for metals when site-specific water chemistry data are lacking. Users can access the MetALiCC Map application via the following link: Metals Aquatic Life Criteria and Chemistry Map (MetALiCC-MAP)
Steam Electric Power Generating Effluent Guidelines
This week EPA announced finalization of the Steam Electric Power Generating Effluent Guidelines rule which addresses wastewater discharge standards that apply to coal-fired power plants. EPA has stated “When implemented, this action will annually prevent more than 660 million pounds of pollution per year from being discharged to our nation’s waters—protecting freshwater resources that provide sources of drinking water for communities, support economic development, enhance outdoor recreation, and sustain vibrant ecosystems.” This rule specifically focuses on four types of wastewater:
- Flue gas desulfurization wastewater
- Bottom ash transport water
- Combustion residual leachate
- “Legacy wastewater” that is stored in surface impoundments (for example, coal ash ponds)
EPA claims this rule will have minimal effects on electricity prices and provide billions of dollars in health and environmental benefits each year. To view the fact sheet and text for this rule, visit EPA’s Steam Electric Power Generating Effluent Guidelines webpage. ACWA will add a link once published in the Federal Register.
‘Trash Free Waters’ Begin With You!
This week EPA, in partnership with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) highlighted a new ad campaign, ‘Trash Free Waters Begin with YOU!’ appearing throughout Philadelphia. This campaign focuses on the importance of keeping trash and litter off streets and out of waters, confirming the big impact of small actions, and the role that everyone plays in protecting our shared environment. It has long been documented that most of the trash that pollutes lakes, rivers, estuaries, and oceans comes from land sources. EPA’s Trash Free Waters program looks for ways to prevent that trash from getting into waterways and ways to remove trash that is already in the environment. For an EPA Press Release on this effort please click here.
Association Updates
2024 Cross-Program Workshop – Registration Now Available!
Registration: Please reach out directly to Ward Scott for the meeting registration link. Workshop registration will be limited to state and federal officials.
Dates/Venue: June 6-7, 2024 at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV
Objective: ACWA’s CWA Cross-Program Workshops are intended to bring together state and federal Clean Water Act (CWA) program administrators to discuss and share ways in which cross-program coordination and collaboration can be strengthened to more effectively and efficiently restore and protect the nation’s waters. The 2024 Workshop will focus on opportunities and challenges for state administrators of CWA Section 303(c), 303(d), and 402 in coordinating the planning and implementation of efforts to restore and protect the nation’s waters.
State and federal clean water leaders will identify cross-program challenges and barriers to CWA implementation; work toward solutions to cross cutting water quality topics; identify ways to improve technical capabilities; highlight opportunities for cross-program planning, implementation, and co-operation; and clarify linkages, roles, and responsibilities among CWA programs. Workshop discussions will center around states’ cross-program coordination to address issues including temperature pollution, nutrient reduction, environmental justice, and the prioritization and implementation of protection and restoration efforts.
Venue: We are excited that this year’s Workshop will be held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV, in conjunction with the Environmental Law Institute’s 2024 National Training Workshop on Water Quality Assessment and Plans. The Cross-Program Workshop will begin on the morning of June 6 and run through the morning of Friday, June 7. Workshop attendees are invited and encouraged to arrive on Wednesday, June 5 to participate in ELI’s Workshop sessions and events on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Participants: The Workshop target audience will be state regulators from around the country with practical experience and responsibilities in supporting and managing CWA Section 303(c), 303(d), and/or 402 programs, as well as EPA representatives for each of the programs. Attendees should come prepared to discuss ways in which cross-program coordination has been an important aspect of successful program and/or restoration plan implementation, as well as cross-program challenges and needs.
Travel Support: ACWA plans to provide limited state travel support in the form of a post-Workshop reimbursement. Please contact Ward Scott directly if you know you will require travel support to attend the Workshop.
Travel Logistics: Coming from Dulles International Airport, attendees will be provided with free shuttle transportation to the NCTC on Wednesday, June 5, and back to Dulles at the conclusion of the Workshop on Friday, June 7.
Website: Future updates for the 2024 Cross-Program Workshop will be available on ACWA’s website Events page.
Save The Date: 2024 National Stormwater Roundtable
Dates: October 22 – 24, 2024
City: Washington, DC
Meeting Space: EPA HQ Meeting Space
Hotel: Grand Hyatt Washington
Website: 2024 National Stormwater Roundtable
This week ACWA sent out emails regarding agenda topics, potential presenters, volunteers for the Agenda Planning Committee, and travel support. If you did not receive a related email, please contact Sean Rolland at srolland@acwa-us.org.
EPA Request for State Clean 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 clean water and 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.
Meetings and Webinars
ACWA Legal Affairs Committee Meeting – April 30, 2024
On April 30 at 2:00 pm ET, ACWA’s Legal Affairs Committee will host a meeting to discuss the recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion in Idaho Conservation League v. Poe, in which a private party was found to have violated the CWA when he dumped suction dredge mining waste into WOTUS without a required NPDES permit. We will be joined by Bryan Hurlbutt with Advocates for the West, who represented Idaho Conservation League in the case, and will lead the discussion.
Please register for the meeting by clicking here.
For more information about Idaho Conservation League v. Poe, please click here.
Introduction to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Date: Wednesday, May 15th
Time: 2:00 pm ET
Register: Here
Learn the basics of the U.S. EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), your key to one of the most robust sources of low-cost financing available for wastewater, stormwater, and many other infrastructure projects that help protect water quality. In addition to the CWSRF’s baseline funding, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has invested $12.7 billion into the program, a significant portion of which is provided as loan forgiveness to disadvantaged communities or projects addressing emerging contaminants. In this webinar, you will learn:
How the CWSRF program works.
· What types of projects the CWSRF program can fund.
· How to successfully apply for financing.
· Real world examples and experiences from community recipients.
· What resources are available for information and technical assistance.
· Where to go for more information and breaking news about future opportunities!
The webinar will include an opportunity to submit questions. This presentation will be recorded and EPA will post a link to the recording and slides after the webinar.
EPA ORD Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and Nutrients Research Webinar: Using Wetlands to Reduce Nutrient Loadings to Rivers and the Coast
Date: May 22, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm ET
Register: Here
Speakers will include Heather Golden and Chris Nietch from the EPA ORD Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling. More information coming soon.
Redefining “Disadvantaged Communities” in a New Water Infrastructure Era
Date: May 30, 2024
Time: 2:30 – 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Register: Here
BIL created a number of opportunities for equitable outcomes for disadvantaged communities in the financing of water infrastructure. The law now requires SRF programs to provide 49% of BIL money to disadvantaged communities as principal forgiveness loans or grants. This allows additional communities that have struggled to access water infrastructure funding to receive the support they need. This webinar will share:
- How the SRF programs are given authority to determine what constitutes a “disadvantaged community” and this varies greatly across the country.
- How states have ensured their definitions bring about the most equitable outcome possible.
- The role public participation requirements had in modifying their definitions.
- Challenges states have had in implementing the funding.
- What clean water advocates can do to help states achieve the most equitable process possible for source water protection in their programs.
The webinar is targeted to states, water utilities, source water protection staff, state BIL funding program staff, source water collaboratives, federal agencies, and other water stakeholders.
Sign up here to receive notification about future BIL-related information and other news from the national Source Water Collaborative.
EPA Infrastructure Finance Webinar: Opportunities to Advance Water Reuse – June 26, 2024
Date: June 26, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm ET
Register: Here
On June 26, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET, EPA will host an Infrastructure Finance Webinar: Opportunities to Advance Water Reuse. The webinar will highlight different federal infrastructure financing programs available for water reuse projects – including EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Title XVI Program, and USDA’s Rural Development. Representatives from the federal agencies will briefly discuss their funding programs, application requirements, and examples of previous water reuse projects funded under those programs.
June 2024 In-person NPDES Permit Writers Course Announcement
Dates: June 10-14, 2014
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Cost: Free
Registration: EPA NPDES Permit Writers Course – Baltimore, MD Mon, Jun 10, 2024 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite
The objective of this course is to provide the basic regulatory framework and technical considerations that support the development of wastewater discharge permits required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The course was designed for permit writers with six months to one year of experience in the NPDES program, but experienced permit writers wanting a refresher course and other water program staff wanting to learn more about the NPDES program also are welcome. Microsoft Teams will be utilized to provide electronic course materials and can be accessed through the desktop application or a web browser. Course materials will be provided on the Microsoft Teams classroom site for download by the participants prior to the start date. As a foundational course, the training does not address in detail specialized topics such as industrial and municipal stormwater, concentrated animal feeding operations and pesticide discharges. For more information on these specialized topics, please visit EPA’s NPDES Web site at www.epa.gov/npdes. If you have questions regarding the course, please contact Sean Ramach at npdestraining@epa.gov or call him directly at (202) 564-2865.
Job Opportunities
Oversight Bureau’s Stormwater Monitoring Program
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Closing Date: May 1, 2024
For more information and to apply, click here.
Utilities Division Manager
Location: Corvallis, OR
Closing Date: May 10th, 2024
For more information and to apply, click here.
Information Officer – Contracts Administration
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: May 12, 2024
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by May 12. Please reference #24-Lowell-005 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Water Reuse Program Developer
Location: Portland, OR
Closing Date: May 12, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Municipal Stormwater Permit Implementation Planner (Environmental Planner 3)
Location: Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit State of Washington Job Opportunities.
Nonpoint Inspector and Compliance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3)
Location: Yakima County – Union Gap, 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 Job Opportunities page.
