News
EPA Discusses NPDES Application Updates
This week EPA hosted a call to discuss the NPDES program application forms that were recently completed and will be made available via EPA’s website. Updates to these forms were the result of EPA’s finalized revisions to the application requirements found at 40 CFR 122.21. The application forms were updated to improve clarity, consistency, and usability. The final rule becomes effective June 12, 2019, at which point the new applications forms will be required for all federal permit applicants. States authorized to administer the NPDES program will have up to 1 year (until June 12, 2020) to make conforming programmatic and regulatory changes, and up to 2 years (until June 12, 2021) if statutory changes are required. If any states directly link from their webpage to EPA’ webpage, those links will no longer work after the effective date. If you have questions please contact Dave Hair (Hair.David@epa.gov) or Susanna Bains (Bains.Susanna@epa.gov).
EPA Holds Information Webinar on Groundwater/Hydrologic Connection Issue
On Wednesday, May 8, EPA held an informational webinar on EPA’s recent Interpretive Statement on Application of the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program to Releases of Pollutants from a Point Source to Groundwater. EPA General Counsel Matthew Leopold explained that EPA used various sources to determine that the Clean Water Act only applies to lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water on the surface, not groundwater, even if pollution is discharged into groundwater and then migrates into a surface water. Leopold also explained that the statement does not apply in states in the Fourth Circuit (Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia) or in the Ninth Circuit (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) due to Circuit Court rulings in the Kinder Morgan and County of Maui cases.
EPA is currently taking comment on “anything relevant” and “any details missed” regarding the interpretative statement. Comments are due June 7, 2019.
EPA Holds Informational Webinar on 401 Certification Revamp Effort
On Wednesday, May 8, EPA held an informational webinar on their recent efforts to clarify Section 401 of the Clean Water Act and related federal regulations and guidance. The effort stems from the President’s April 10, 2019 Executive Order on Promoting Energy Infrastructure and Economic Growth. To view the webinar slides, go here. For more information on EPA’s efforts, go here.
EPA is currently taking pre-proposal recommendations on the Agency’s forthcoming Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification rulemaking. Comments are due May 24, 2019. You can view the docket here.
National Decentralized Wastewater Workforce Meeting
The EPA Office of Wastewater Management and the Decentralized Wastewater MOU partners are hosting a National Decentralized Wastewater Workforce Meeting to be held in advance of the NEHA 2019 Annual Educational Conference in Nashville, Tennessee on July 9th.
Please RSVP by responding to this link: http://bit.ly/DecentralizedWF by no later than June 7th, 2019. Feel free to reach out to Zach Lowenstein with any questions.
Association Updates
2019 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Symposium
This week, ACWA staff attended WEF’s 2019 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This meeting featured sessions on topics ranging from coastal resiliency strategies to green infrastructure operation and maintenance, from community engagement and municipal case studies to funding and financing, from products and practices to risks and rewards. The event also included an exhibition area where vendors showcased new innovations and technologies in the stormwater sector. ACWA also participated in a ½ day meeting of the Stormwater Testing and Evaluation for Products and Practices (STEPP) Workgroup. More information about the 2019 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Symposium can be found here.
Meetings
2019 National NPDES Permit Writers Workshop – September 2019
The State/EPA 2019 National NPDES Permit Writers Workshop will be held September 17-19, 2019 in Washington, DC. This meeting is intended to help support states and EPA to showcase permit writer innovations, assist with analysis of training, guidance, tools, and other support material needs, improve administrative efficiencies, clarify roles and responsibilities, build stronger linkages to WQS & TMDLs, modernize permit terms and data management, discuss program performance measures, and identify program areas where targeted technical assistance would be most beneficial. For more information, contact Sean Rolland or see our website.
ACWA Nutrients Permitting Workshop – November 2019
Registration for the November 2019 Nutrients Permitting Workshop located in Alexandria, Virginia at the AlexRenew facility November 5-7, 2019 is live. To register, go here. The workshop will focus on identifying challenges and building solutions regarding water quality standards and permitting for nutrients. To view a draft agenda, go here.
Lodging is available at the Embassy Suites Alexandria Hotel. To reserve your lodging, call direct 703-684-7900 or 1-800-EMBASSY and ask for the Association of Clean Water Administrators group of rooms, or reserve online here.
Job Opportunities
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water is recruiting for an Environmental Program Specialist III position in the Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program in Juneau, Alaska. You will work with a team of experienced environmental and engineering professionals to make a difference in protecting water quality, human health and the environmental in America’s Last Frontier. This is a full-time, professional level position with the Department. Under general direction of the Domestic & Industrial Utilities Section Manager, this position works independently to develop and issue wastewater permits (individual and general permits); discharge authorizations under general permits in effect; maintains existing permits; and provides professional technical expertise and assistance to upper management, permittees, consultants, the general public, and junior staff primarily related to domestic and industrial discharges in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. For more information, click here.
Washington Department of Ecology
The Water Resources (WR) program is looking to fill a Water Resources Program Process Management Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 2) position. This position will be located in the Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) in Bellevue, WA. The Water Resources Program Process Management Coordinator position will provide critical process support to the Northwest Region Water Resources Section. In this capacity, the position will work closely with the Water Resources Streamflow Restoration Unit and Technical Unit to ensure the success of the Section’s core work. Qualified candidates will possess excellent people skills, the ability to quickly assess a situation and make a decision, and the ability to adapt daily to the needs of a new program.
We are also looking to fill a Construction Stormwater Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4) position serves as a senior environmental specialist, ensuring that construction sites comply with water quality requirements. We are looking for applicants who want to combine their strong communication skills with technical knowledge in order to work collaboratively with private industry, other government agencies, tribes, and the public to achieve Ecology’s mission of protecting, preserving and enhancing Washington’s environment for future generations. As an agency, we invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability. First screening May 20, 2019. Go here to apply.
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center (WRC) is seeking a talented educator with outreach and research experience. This position is responsible for providing research-based education and technical assistance to a variety of individuals regarding subsurface sewage treatment systems. This position provides training, development, and delivery of the nationally recognized Onsite Sewage Treatment Program (OSTP) for certification of onsite sewage treatment professionals in the State of Minnesota. This position also assists the OSTP research program through data collection, analysis, literature review, and report writing on decentralized wastewater management. A successful candidate will possess excellent oral and written communication skills, a passion for incorporating new technology into teaching and learning environments, a knack for program management, and be a collaborative member of the OSTP/WRC team.For more information on the position and instructions for applying, please visit https://z.umn.edu/waterjobs and search for Job ID 330087. The initial deadline for applications is May 28, 2019.
NEIWPCC
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Bureau of Water Supply Protection (BWSP) are seeking highly organized and detail-oriented candidates for an Environmental Analyst – Drinking Water Specialist to conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as source water assessment and protection, water storage, treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment and discharge, point-source and non-point source pollution, permitting, or other compliance and regulatory issues. The incumbent will develop and update source water assessment plans (SWAPs), collect, or oversee the collection of environmental samples for analysis, and summarize, evaluate, and present environmental information and data. Will develop written materials to provide guidance and training for local municipalities, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and local health departments (LHDs) on source water protection strategies and implementation. Will provide support for associated programs by implementing procedures and performing sampling and testing to ensure compliance and will develop concise and coherent multi-media documents for communicating program activities and accomplishments. Apply by May 31, 2019. Go here to apply.
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) is also seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented candidate to serve as a Project Manager to coordinate the Massachusetts Wastewater Certification and Renewal Program for new wastewater operator licensees and coordinate the Massachusetts Title 5 Certification Renewal and Training Program. Will also coordinate NEIWPCC’s Regional Wastewater Certification and Onsite Wastewater Workgroups and participate in the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) and NYWEA’s Governance council. Serve as clearinghouse for information on and prepare workgroup updates for Executive Committee and Commission meetings. Serve as project manager for conferences and training such as soil evaluator training and Regional Wastewater Onsite Conference. Apply by May 31, 2019. Go here to apply.
