News
EPA Announces $218 Million Water Infrastructure Loan to Silicon Valley Clean Water
EPA announced a $218 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) to finance wastewater infrastructure upgrades that will protect public health and the San Francisco Bay. With EPA’s WIFIA loan, SVCW’s Regional Environmental Sewer Conveyance Upgrade (RESCU) Program will rehabilitate aging wastewater infrastructure and construct new facilities to improve the system’s safety and reliability and protect the San Francisco Bay. The program will construct a 3.3-mile gravity pipeline, replace four pump stations, and build a new preliminary treatment facility. The program will also add capacity to manage stormwater. When completed, SVCW will be able to handle future wastewater wet weather flows of up to 108 million gallons per day.The RESCU Program will cost $495 million in capital dollars. The EPA’s WIFIA loan is funding eligible project costs, plus capitalized interest, which combined is valued at $517 million. EPA’s WIFIA loan will finance a significant amount-up to $218 million. The WIFIA loan will save SVCW an estimated $43 million compared to typical bond financing. Project construction and operation are expected to create 400 jobs. Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. WIFIA’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term and low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. EPA’s WIFIA program plays an important part in President Trump’s infrastructure plan, which calls for expanding project eligibility. To date EPA has issued nine loans totaling over $2 billion in WIFIA credit assistance to help finance over $5 billion for water infrastructure projects and create over 6,000 jobs. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications and projects that will lead to billions of dollars invested in additional construction and create thousands of jobs. For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia.
EPA to Hold Water Modeling Workshop in Dallas, TX : October 29 – November 1, 2019
EPA’s Water Modeling Workgroup has announced a workshop on exploring and applying surface water modeling tools. This four-day workshop is for program staff from EPA, states, tribes, and territories who want to learn more about surface water quality modeling and how these tools can be used to support their program activities.
The workshop format includes a pre-workshop hands-on training (Monday, October 28 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm), morning plenary sessions, and four afternoon break-out session tracks (HSPF hands-on training track, WASP hands-on training track, model overview track, and model managers track). The workshop agenda is available here.
All workshop sessions will take place at the EPA Region 6 Office (Renaissance Tower, 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, TX). https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/visiting-epas-region-6-office-dallas
To attend, please register here.
If you have questions about the workshop, please contact Kellie DuBay: kellie.dubay@tetratech.com
OECA Publishes Memo to Enhance Partnerships with States
The final guidance, signed by Assistant Administrator Susan Bodine on July 11, and published in the FR July 19, 2019 withdraws and replaces the original Interim Guidance. The policy memorandum is divided into three sections: 1) Details requirements for joint planning and effective communication between EPA and states to promote shared accountability; 2) Indicates primary role of states in implementing authorized programs, while acknowledging EPA’s responsibilities when the state does not have the economic or technical capability to take timely and appropriate action and where EPA should take direct federal action; and 3) Sets out the process by which issues that arise under the policy will be elevated.
ICIS-NPDES Training Schedule
This summer EPA has scheduled several ICIS-NPDES training sessions. Currently, the agency has six sessions scheduled but will be adding more, as more topics are identified and/or requested. Links will be provided for each session to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the webinar. If you would like to attend a session but are unable to participate, please note it is EPA’s intent to record the session and post them on the ICIS-NPDES Trainings Webpage afterward. Topics for the trainings will include: ICIS and ICIS Zendesk overview, access request, changing a password, entry of new permit facility information, introduction to program reports, EPA reports, custom reports, NetDMR, general batch upload, ECHO, compliance monitoring, violations, SNC, QNCR, compliance schedules, RNC, resolve and resolve pending, and other topics as they arise.
Association Updates
Nutrient Reduction Progress Tracker Version 2.0 Coming Soon!
The Nutrients Working Group (“NWG”), a partnership between ACWA, EPA, and ASDWA, began work in 2014 to identify a set of measures that demonstrate progress toward nutrient reduction in the nation’s waters. States recognized that while there is a national metric tracking state adoption of numeric nitrogen and phosphorus criteria for lakes, estuaries, and flowing waters, there was an opportunity to also measure the myriad of other approaches states are taking to reduce nutrient pollution.
The NWG concluded that the best way to begin to track and demonstrate progress on nutrient reduction would be a short, easy-to-complete form of agreed upon measures that states would complete on a routine basis. The Nutrient Reduction Progress Tracker Version 1.0 – 2017 (“Tracker 1.0”) was the culmination of that effort.
To be released in September 2019, the Nutrients Reduction Progress Tracker Version 2.0 – 2019 (“Tracker 2.0”) follows Tracker 1.0, seeking to both track state progress on nutrients pollution reduction efforts since 2017 and also seek more detail on state programs.
For more information on this effort, go here, or contact Mark Patrick McGuire.
ACWA Board & Leadership Elections Underway
The ACWA 2019-2020 Leadership Elections are underway. Along with the Executive Officers, this year it is the even Regions that are up for election.
All “members in good standing” may participate in these elections. The “member in good standing” is the formal or main ACWA representative for the state/interstate agency that paid dues for the previous fiscal year (FY2019). Only one vote per state/interstate. Please cast your vote no later than August 16th C.O.B. ET. If you did not receive your ballot, please contact Julia Anastasio.
303(d) and TMDLs: State of the States
In late 2018, ACWA Watershed’s Committee Co-Chairs Jeff Berckes and Traci Iott, along with ACWA staffer Julian Gonzalez, conducted interviews with state representatives covering a wide range of topics on the 303(d) / TMDL program. The results of those interviews were compiled and combined into this report.
Meetings
Annual Meeting 2019 August 27 – 29, 2019
Reserve now, your lodging at the Hyatt Regency Austin. Call direct 1-512-477-1234 or 877-803-7534 use code (GHACW), ACWA blocks of rooms to reserve, or reserve online here. Cut-off date for guaranteed rooms and rate is August 5, 2019.
Early Bird Registration ends July 31, 2019 for the Annual Meeting 2019 located in Austin, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Austin – Lady Bird Lake. To register, go here. This year’s theme is “Navigating and Targeting Water Quality Priorities.” To view the latest draft agenda, go here.
All Annual Meeting activities are included in your registration. Please remember to confirm your attendance.
2019 National NPDES Permit Writers Workshop – September 2019
Meeting SOLD OUT !! ACWA is no longer able to accept new registrations. If you have any questions, please contact Sean Rolland.
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
Washington Department of Ecology
Washington Department of Ecology is currently seeking candidates to fill two positions. A Southwest Region Water Quality Section Manager, located in Lacey, Washington and a Compliance & Technical Unit Supervisor, located in Bellevue, WA. To learn more and to apply for these positions, visit our job page, here.
Coming Soon…
Watersheds Committee Webinar: July 25th from 2:30-4:00 pm EST
There will be a Watersheds Committee Webinar on July 25th from 2:30-4:00 pm EST. This will be a repeat of the storytelling breakout held at the 2019 TMDL National Training Workshop in Shepherdstown, which was highly recommended by those who were able to attend. We will have presentations from Nesha McRae (VA), Kristy Fortman (MT), Justin Watkins (MN), Brian Barnes (NE), and Joshua Jones (RLN).
July 25th, 2:30-4:00pm EST
Call in number: 866-270-1909 554778#
Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5271026157928182029
