News
Senate Appropriations Committee Passes EPA FY 2025 Appropriations
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation for the Interior Environment and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2025 spending. The bill provides $9.29 billion for EPA in Fiscal Year 2025 and funds the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds at the fiscal year 2024 levels. The bill also includes $64 billion for the WIFIA program. It also makes modest increases above fiscal year 2024 funding for geographic restoration and national estuary programs—helping protect local ecosystems and communities from climate change, habitat loss, and pollution in places like the Columbia River, Great Lakes, Long Island Sound, Puget Sound, and Southern New England Estuaries. A section by-section summary of the bill is available here.
U.S. EPA Issues FY25-26 National Program Guidances
EPA released the National Program Guidances (NPGs) for FY25-26. The NPGs are used to communicate planning priorities, strategies, and key activities for advancing EPA’s Strategic Plan. This year’s Guidances cover EPA’s Offices of Air & Radiation, Water, Land & Emergency Management, Chemical Safety & Pollution Prevention, Enforcement & Compliance Assurance, Environmental Justice & External Civil Rights, Congressional & Intergovernmental Relations, and International & Tribal Affairs. ACWA provided informal feedback to the agency as they were developing the FY 25-26 guidances.
2024 NPDES Whole Effluent Toxicity Permit Writers’ Manual
EPA has finalized the National Pollutant Elimination System (NPDES) Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Permit Writers’ Manual. This manual provides NPDES permit writers with information and resources that support writing WET requirements in NPDES permits. The manual was designed for the NPDES permit writer and/or anyone else interested in learning about the regulatory, programmatic, and technical aspects of developing and implementing WET provisions in a NPDES permit. The manual summarizes recommendations and requirements for developing NPDES WET permit requirements based on EPA guidance, policy, and regulations, as well as the Clean Water Act. More details can be found at the link below.
NPDES WET Programmatic Documents | US EPA
NPDES Permit Writers Manual July 2024| US EPA
If you have questions, please contact Laura Phillips (phillips.laura@epa.gov) and/or Jackie Clark (clark.jackie@epa.gov).
Association Updates
ACWA Leadership Elections – LAST CHANCE!
The ACWA Leadership Election ballot is open.
ACWA’s Leadership Election ballot is currently open and all ACWA members should have received an email with a link to the ballot from the Executive Director. If you did not receive a link to the ballot, contact Julia Anastasio. The odd Regions are up for election this year along with the Executive Officers. Please vote no later than Noon ET on August 1, 2024. All “members in good standing” may participate in these elections, but cast only one vote per state/interstate. 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 (FY2024). If you are unsure whether your FY2024 dues are paid, contact Julia Anastasio or Annette Ivey.
2024 Annual Meeting – Hotel Room Block Extended to August 5th!
View the draft agenda here.
Reserve Your Lodging at Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette French Quarter Area. The block is filling quickly and the room rate is not guaranteed after August 5th, 2024.
Register here. Registration will end on August 5th, 2024. Please reach out to Lexy Bailey, Environmental Analyst, for assistance.
More information can be found here on ACWA’s website.
2024 Water Quality Modeling Workshop – Registration Now Open!
Dates: September 16 – 20, 2024
City: Philadelphia, PA
ACWA, in partnership with USEPA, will be holding the 2024 Water Quality Modeling Workshop in Philadelphia, PA, the week of September 16, 2024. The 2024 Water Quality Modeling Workshop supports implementation of state programs by continuing to build a community of practice among state agency staff who use or want to use water quality modeling in state water quality programs.
This year we will be offering hands-on trainings on WASP, SWAT+, and a Modeling 201: Demystifying your Modeling Project course which will feature presentations, case studies, and discussions.
This workshop is for state program managers and staff involved in water quality modeling, as well as for both Regional and Headquarters-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managers and staff.
You may register for the workshop here.
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 WASP and SWAT+. A third track – Modeling 201 – will feature some hands-on work along with lectures and discussions.
Space is limited, so once you register, you will automatically be placed on the wait list. You will receive a confirmation email at a later date. This is to ensure an equal opportunity for some states that may need a few weeks to ensure they are able to participate.
Lodging is available at the Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square at the local per diem rate. The workshop will also take place in the hotel’s event space. You may Reserve your hotel room here.
ACWA does anticipate having some travel support for airfare and lodging.
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.
Updated Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Chart
ACWA has updated its funding chart to reflect the latest numbers from the Fiscal Year 2025 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and the Fiscal Year 2025 Senate Committee on Appropriations Act.
Meetings and Webinars
ACWA to Host EPA Online Briefing on Nutrient Dialogue Story Map
On August 8, at 3:00 pm ET, ACWA will host a briefing for states from EPA during which EPA officials will present a summary of EPA’s new Nutrient Dialogue Story Map that will serve to summarize and highlight state nutrient reduction efforts.
Please register for the briefing by clicking here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please reach out to Ward Scott with any questions.
How to Participate in Clean Water Act Permits to Protect Drinking Water Sources
Date: August 5, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm ET
Register: HERE
The Source Water Collaborative is hosting a webinar on August 5th at 2:00pm ET about a new tool – Using Clean Water Act Discharge Permits to Protect Drinking Water Sources – a guide to engaging in the water pollution discharge permitting process. The guide is designed to help drinking water utilities, local government entities, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders understand and provide meaningful comments on Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for facilities that discharge PFAS chemicals and other pollutants that impact drinking water sources.
Job Opportunities
Hydrologist
Location: St. Paul, MN
Closing Date: July 31, 2024
For more information and to apply, click here.
Hydrologist 3
Location: Duluth, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, St. Paul, Rochester, Mankato, Marshall, MN
Closing Date: August 7, 2024
Job ID # 78537
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director
Location: Hartford, CT
Closing Date: August 8, 2024
The State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), is seeking an exceptional individual to join us as an Environmental Protection Assistant Division Director for the Water Permitting & Enforcement Division (WPED). In this role, you will play a key part in our mission to protect Connecticut’s public health, safety, water resources, and the environment from pollution. As the Assistant Division Director, you will provide managerial support and direction to a team of dedicated professionals working on water pollution control programs.
For more information and to apply, visit State of Connecticut Jobs.
Large-scale Project TMDL Lead (Environmental Specialist 5)
Location: Thurston County- Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Science Specialist 2-4
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
For more information and to apply, click here.
Chemical of Emerging Concern Coordinator
Location: Thurston County- Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Municipal Facility Management Engineer
Location: King County – Shoreline, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Reclaimed Water Engineer (Environmental Engineer 5)
Location: Spokane, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Shoreland, Wetland, Aquatic Resource Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)
Location: Yakima County – Union Gap, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Natural Resources Analyst (Nonpoint Source Program)
Location: Various Locations, WY
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Ecosystem Restoration Unit Supervisor (WMS Band 1)
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Hydrogeologist/Permit Manager (Hydrogeologist 2)
Location: Yakima County – Union Gap, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Large-scale Project TMDL Lead (Environmental Specialist 5)
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
