News
EPA Releases Lead and Copper Rule Update
Late last 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 at this link: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-10/documents/lcrr_prepub_frn_0.pdf.
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: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/proposed-revisions-lead-and-copper-rule.
EPA Holds Water Quality Trading Call for States
This week, EPA’s Amelia Letnes held a call for ACWA members on EPA’s recently released Water Quality Trading for NPDES Programs notification. Amelia went through the various concepts regarding water quality trading and went into detail on the recent notification. She also requested that states comment on what other clarifications on EPA’s trading policies would help states.
For background, on September 19, EPA’s notification and request for comment, Water Quality Trading Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Program, was published in the Federal Register. Comments are due November 18, 2019. There will be a public listening session both in-person (at EPA HQ in Washington, DC) and online on October 21, 2019.
Regarding comments, the notification and request for comment asks for comment on ten (from my count) specific issues. If you feel that ACWA should comment on one or more of these, please let Mark Patrick McGuire (mpmcguire@acwa-us.org) know ASAP. If states feel it important to comment, ACWA will put together a workgroup to begin the drafting process.
NOAA Announces a Federal Action Plan for Improving the Forecasts of Water Availability
An October 18 release states the NOAA, along with DOI will be working towards a federal action plan focused on improving water prediction for Western U.S.. This comes following a Presidential Memorandum on Promoting the Reliable Supply and Delivery of Water in the West that was issued last year. In that memo, the President directed that the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) develop this plan in coordination with water experts and resource managers, to improve forecasts of water availability. A link to the plan may be found here.
Senate Appropriations Bill
Congress is back in session and will be discussing key appropriations bills. The House previously passed its version of the FY20 Interior & Environment Appropriations to fund the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and key clean water programs, including $9.01 billion in overall funding for the EPA, $161 million more that current levels and $2.79 billion more than the President’s budget request, and the now await the Senate’s version, which passed out of committee and will go to the full vote in the upcoming weeks. The federal government is currently operating under a short term continuing resolution that will fund the government at current levels until November 21.
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
WaterReuse Association
The WaterReuse Association is seeking to fill two full-time positions: a Business Operations Manager and a Program and Policy Manager.
The Business Operations Manager will work with a small office staff to manage critical business and administrative functions. This position reports to the Executive Director, and works closely with other members of the Association leadership team. Qualified candidates will have a minimum of 5 years’ experience working in an administrative capacity and have strong skills with accounting software systems, including Quickbooks, Excel, and general Association Management software. An Associates or Bachelor’s degree and good writing skills required. Occasional travel may be required. For more information, go here.
The Program and Policy Manager is a full-time position that reports to the Director of Strategic Operations. The Program and Policy Manager is responsible for assisting with program content, policy and advocacy-related activities, and communications tasks. Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree or higher with a preference for a degree in science, engineering, environmental policy or other subject matter relevant to water resources; exemplary writing and communications skills (ability to write quickly under deadlines); experience organizing meetings or small events; and experience working with volunteers and coalitions. Successful candidate will enjoy working with a small team of professionals in a high-pace office environment. For more information, go here.
Application deadline for both is November 15th.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s jobs page.
Coming Soon…
ACWA MSA Committee Call: EPA Citizen Science Vision Document
Tuesday, October 22, 2019 3:00 PM-4:00 PM EST
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
