News
EPA Announces $436 Million Loan to the Indiana Finance Authority to Support Water Infrastructure Projects Across the State
EPA announced a $436 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan – the largest initial disbursement under WIFIA to date – to the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA). With EPA’s WIFIA loan, IFA will be able to lend to an additional 23 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including 10 projects located in rural communities, delivering clean water and protecting public health across the state of Indiana. Drinking water projects will include efforts to improve water treatment plants, storage tanks, distribution system components, wells and pump stations as well as to construct resiliency features and implement water conservation measures. Wastewater projects will include efforts to improve and increase capacity of treatment plants and construction of tunnels to capture combined sewer overflows. As a result, Indiana residents will benefit from improved drinking water and having fewer pollutants entering their waterways.
Combining state resources, annual federal capitalization grant dollars and its WIFIA loan, Indiana’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) will be able to lend nearly $900 million to support water infrastructure projects throughout the state. EPA’s WIFIA program will finance nearly half of that figure – up to $436 million. The WIFIA loan will save IFA an estimated $20 million compared to typical bond financing. Project construction and operation are expected to create 3,034 jobs. This loan marks the first time EPA has provided WIFIA financing directly to a SRF program.
EPA Releases Pre-Publication Lead and Copper Rule Update
This week, EPA released the pre-publication version of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. You can view the 347-page document here.
EPA submitted the document to the Federal Register and will begin taking public comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication therein. For more information of this effort, go here.
President Trump – Two Executive Orders
This week President Trump signed two executive orders. The first EO titled Executive Order on Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents affirms that “it is the policy of the Executive Branch, to the extent consistent with applicable law, to require that agencies treat guidance documents as non-binding both in law and in practice…take public input into account when appropriate in formulating guidance documents, and make guidance documents readily available to the public.” This EO requires each federal agency to develop a “a single, searchable, indexed database that contains or links to all guidance documents in effect from such agency or component” and to “finalize regulations, or amend existing regulations as necessary, to set forth processes and procedures for issuing guidance documents.”
The second EO titled Executive Order on Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication requires federal agencies to “act transparently and fairly” with respect to all affected parties when engaged in civil administrative enforcement or adjudication. This Executive Order provides several limitations on guidance documents including that; guidance “not be used to impose new standards of conduct”; that noncompliance of conduct only found in guidance not be viewed as a violation statutes or regulations; that guidance should merely “articulate the agency’s understanding of how a statute or regulation applies to particular circumstances”; that federal agencies “avoid unfair surprise when it imposes penalties…and adjudges past conduct…”; and that “new or expanded jurisdiction” or “new basis for liability” must have been published in the federal register. Guidance is defined as an “agency statement of general applicability, intended to have future effect on the behavior of regulated parties, that sets forth a policy on a statutory, regulatory, or technical issue, or an interpretation of a statute or regulation.”
President Signs Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act
The Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act gives states facing a threat to public health from lead in drinking water the flexibility to make a one-time transfer of the federal funds in their Clean Water State Revolving Fund to their Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for projects that will remove lead from drinking water.
Meetings
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.
The ACWA room block at Embassy Suites Alexandria Hotel is full. If you need to make a hotel reservation, contact Mark Patrick McGuire for other hotel options in the area.
Save the Date! – 2020 National SNC NCI Symposium
The 2020 National SNC NCI Symposium will take place January 22-24, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. The goal of this meeting will be to help support states and EPA regions with their efforts to identify and implement activities and actions associated with reducing noncompliance, with particular emphasis on significant non-compliance (SNC). As most of you know, EPA is undertaking a new National Compliance Initiative with the goal of reducing the rate of SNC with an additional focus on identifying and addressing the worst SNC violators. Potential session topics at this meeting may include improving data quality, reducing DMR nonsubmittal, improved understanding of incomplete DMR data transfer, getting permit limits into ICIS, focusing in on small POTW challenges and opportunities for improvement, an overview of current resources available, identification of future training tools and needs, with a large portion of the presentations dedicated to highlighting state and regional SNC success stories. The agenda is currently under development and a draft should be available by late October. Please contact Sean Rolland if you are interested in attending this meeting. More details on availability of potential travel support will be available in the coming weeks.
2020 National Stormwater Roundtable – February 2020
The 2020 National Stormwater Roundtable will be held in San Antonio, Texas on February 4 – 6, 2020, supports implementation of federal and state municipal, industrial, and construction stormwater programs nationwide by sharing best management practices, showcasing innovative state programs and initiatives, highlighting new technologies, 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 regulators and other stakeholders. The Stormwater Roundtable is national meeting specifically organized by state and federal regulators for EPA and state program staff representatives. Attendees include state managers, permit writers, inspectors, and compliance staff involved in regulating stormwater, EPA Headquarter and Regional staff involved in stormwater regulation, and partnering state and federal agency staff that provide technical and/or regulatory assistance to the stormwater program. Future updates for this meeting can be found on ACWA’s webpage – https://www.acwa-us.org/event/2020-national-stormwater-roundtable/
2020 National Pretreatment Meeting – SAVE THE DATE!
The 2020 National Pretreatment Meeting will take place May 11-13 in Nashville, Tennessee. Though the agenda is currently in development, tentatively, Monday, May 11 will be a series of training sessions from 1-5; Tuesday, May 12 will be an all-day states and EPA-only meeting; and Wednesday, May 13 will be an all-day meeting partnered with NACWA at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University. ACWA is currently recruiting folks to joined a planning committee to help craft the meeting agenda. Contact Mark Patrick McGuire if you are interested.
Job Opportunities
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Assistant Director, Bureau of Water
Topeka, Kansas
This position Acts on behalf of the Director and the Bureau on technical and policy issues regarding application of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act in Kansas. Creates and implements initiatives for wastewater, stormwater, water quality and drinking water actions.
1) Advises and consults with Bureau Director on technical and policy matters for the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act and associated State authorities.
2) Implements Special Projects to address water quality and public water supply technical and policy issues, pursuant to respective regulations and guidance for Federal and State programs .
3) Leads coordinated efforts involving permitting and water quality programs of other BOW sections to address complex environmental and regulatory technical and policy issues.
4) Establishes and tracks performance measures and metrics for permitting activities and monitor progress toward attainment of goals and objectives, expressed through the Bureau budget, KDHE Strategic Plan, Kansas Water Plan and the Performance Partnership Grant and other agreements with EPA.
5) Prepares annual Bureau operational budget and supporting narrative in conjunction with the Bureau Director and Fiscal Analyst
6) Prepares, submits, coordinates and reports on Federal grants awarded by EPA; evaluate efficacy to Bureau programs in seeking new initiative grants from EPA
7) Meet with Section Chiefs to provide budget status for each section and set strategy for new budget requests.
8) Manages the biennial Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) with EPA which provides funding and a negotiated work plan for the PWS Supervision Program, the UIC program, the 303(c) and (d) programs and the NPDES programs, including permitting and compliance enforcement,
9) Acts as liaison between Director and staff
10) Represents Bureau on behalf of Director at public and interagency functions
Salary: $70,000 – $80,000
Position posting closes October 18, 2019
NEIWPCC
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) is seeking candidates for an Environmental Analyst (Technical Assistant) to join the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) team to work with our Vermont, New York and Quebec partners. The incumbent will assist in facilitating research and implementation projects that address challenges facing water resources in the Lake Champlain Basin. Develop and execute tasks that support projects addressing nutrient reduction, flood resilience, aquatic invasive species, and stormwater management issues. The Technical Assistant will manage grants, assist with the development of request for proposals for technical projects, and support the LCBP grant review process. Prepare technical data and interpretation for use on the LCBP website and support maintenance of the site and organize individuals with knowledge of or experience with Lake Champlain Basin resource issues a must.
The successful candidate will have a proven ability to establish effective working relationships within diverse groups and the ability to exercise considerable tact and diplomacy. Familiarity with technical data and systemic approaches to quality assurance and quality control preferred. Excellent computer skills, particularly spreadsheet and data analysis software, and geographic information systems preferred as well. Bachelor’s degree in natural science, physical geography, resource management, geographic information systems required. Interested parties can apply here by October 25, 2019.
Oregon
The City of St. Helens is seeking applications for the position of Pretreatment Coordinator for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This position is responsible for conducting and implementing requirements of the City’s industrial pretreatment program in accordance with Federal, State and local regulations to control waste water discharges of industrial users of the City sewerage system.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid state driver’s license.
- Certification as an Oregon Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator III, or ability to obtain a Treatment III certification within six (6) months or as determined by the Superintendent. (Preferred)
- Certification as an Oregon Wastewater Collection Operator II, or ability to obtain a Collection II certification within six (6) months or as determined by the Superintendent. (Preferred)
- Trained in confined space procedures and use and containment of hazardous chemicals used. Trained in the use of all safety equipment, oxygen detection meter, blower, respirator, etc.
- Must be able to use basic spreadsheet and word processing computer programs to enter data and prepare correspondence. Possess skills or have the ability to learn to operate Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) equipment and software.
Interested parties can apply here by October 25, 2019.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s jobs page.
Coming Soon…
PFAS Problem Formulation Meeting
Tuesday, October 15, 2:00-3:00 pm ET
For more information, contact Jasper Hobbs
ACWA Watersheds Committee Call: VISION 101
Thursday, October 24, 2:30-4:00 pm EST
For more information, contact Jasper Hobbs
