News
Senate Holds Hearing on HONEST Act
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing this week on S. 1794 and the EPA proposed rule, titled “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science”. These proposals would allow federal agencies to only rely on studies for which the underlying research data are publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent validation. S. 1794 is a companion bill to H.R. 1430 sponsored by House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith.
Congress Reauthorizes Federal Aviation Administration which Restricts the Use of Aqueous Fire Fighting Foam
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill passed Congress on Wednesday October 3rd. The reauthorization bill (H.R. 302) included language that would allow commercial airports to stop using Aqueous Fire Fighting Foam (AFFF). Previously, commercial airports were subject to the military specification that required the use of AFFF. However, this language doesn’t prevent airports from using AFFF, but give them the option to seek alternatives.
Save our Seas Act Passes House and Senate
Congress passed the Save Our Seas Act (S. 3508). This bill reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program. The act also begins to address the global nature of marine debris and calls of the State Department to work with countries to curb marine debris.
USGS Updates Tool for Tracking River and Stream Water Quality
The USGS National Water Quality Assessment Project (NAWQA) has updated their web tool for tracking water quality of the Nation’s rivers and streams. This tool tracks water quality at the National Water Quality Network Sites. The tool now contains the most up to date data from 2017. The tool is available here.
National Academies of Science to Hold Webinar of Future Priorities for the Nation
The National Academies of Sciences will hold a webinar on their report entitled Future Water Priorities for the Nation: Directions for the U.S. Geological Survey Water Mission Area. This report identifies the nation’s highest-priority water science and resources challenges over the next 25 years. This report was created at the request of USGS’s Water Mission Area. The webinar will be held on October 9th at 1pm EST. For more information please see the webinar registration page.
Meetings
November Nutrients Permitting Workshop
The next 2018 Nutrients Permitting Workshop will be held Tuesday, November 6 to Thursday, November 8, 2018 in Gulfport, Mississippi at the Courtyard Marriott Gulfport Beachfront, 1600 East Beach Blvd., Gulfport, Mississippi. Secure your lodging now using this link, or you can call the hotel direct at 228-864-4310. To register and for more information, go here.
The draft agenda is available here. It is subject to change.
For more information on the meeting, please contact Mark Patrick McGuire.
Job Opportunities
The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin is looking for a new Executive Director. The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating all technical and administrative activities of the Commission’s staff to effectively carry out Compact responsibilities and Commission objectives. The ED promotes ICPRB’s mission to other agencies/organizations through interactions with high level officials and leadership of other organizations. Send resume and salary requirements by October 29, 2018 to: Executive Search Committee, ICPRB, 30 W Gude Drive, Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20850, or by email to Jobs@icprb.org.
For more information, see the job announcement here.
And be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s jobs page.
