News

EPA Releases Tools to Help Reduce Nutrients in Water

EPA released new tools and information that states, territories, and authorized Tribes can use to help protect people, animals, and aquatic life from harmful algal blooms and other adverse effects of nutrients in water.

N-STEPS Online, developed by the Nutrient Scientific Technical Exchange Partnership & Support (N-STEPS) program, is a new web-based resource for communicating scientific and technical information to support numeric nutrient criteria development. N-STEPS Online draws from existing EPA guidance, as well as examples from state and tribal nutrient criteria development experiences. It contains an abundance of relevant information including technical support, case studies, and data sources to help water quality scientists and managers in their efforts to derive numeric nutrient criteria. N-STEPS Online was built using a User-Centered Design approach, in a multi-year process of collaboration with state and tribal stakeholders to plan, design, and develop content that is specifically tailored to meet user needs. EPA looks forward to continuing this process of collaboration with states, territories, and authorized tribes as new challenges arise and science advances, to ensure that N-STEPS Online continues to meet user needs.

Development of User Perception Surveys to Protect Water Quality from Nutrient Pollution: A Primer on Common Practices and Insights, is a document that provides basic technical information on conducting user perception surveys to visually evaluate the condition of surface waters for the effects of nutrient pollution. By surveying users, states and tribes can better understand how visible effects of nutrient pollution affect the public’s opinion and use of a waterbody. States and tribes can use this insight to help develop numeric nutrient criteria to protect aesthetic and recreational uses from nutrient pollution. This document was developed in response to requests from states and tribes during EPA’s 2014 nutrient criteria technical workshops for more information on how to conduct user perception surveys. It draws on examples of state-implemented user perception surveys, peer reviewed literature, and interviews with state and federal water quality professionals who have experience with user perception surveys. This background informs discussions of survey design, implementation, and analysis methods.

EPA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox released a statement that “These actions underscore EPA’s commitment to science and achieving shared goals through strong partnerships with states, Tribes, and local leaders. Nutrients in water represent a multifaceted challenge—underscoring the necessity of holistic, ‘one water’ strategies to make sustainable progress.”

A list of these tools may be found here.

ATSDR Releases “Final Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls”

This week, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released its final toxicological profile report for PFAS. The document characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for a dozen PFAS. The document generally mirrors a draft version released in 2018.

The minimum risk levels (MRL) in ATSDR’s profile are 2×10^-6 mg/kg/day for PFOS, 3×10^-6 mg/kg/day for PFOA, 2×10^-5 mg/kg/day for PFHxS, and 3×10^-6 mg/kg/day for PFNA (note: EPA’s 2016 lifetime chronic exposure health advisory for PFOS that is based on a reference dose of 2×10^-5 mg/kg/day). Other PFAS profiled include PFBA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFDA, PFDoDA, PFBS, and FOSA.

The Profile is available here.

Release of Select NARS Data, 2015-2019

This week, the EPA NARS team released more than 70 data files to the public covering the NARS field seasons 2015-2019. The data include National Coastal Conditions Assessments 2015, National Wetlands Conditions Assessment 2016, National Lakes Assessment 2017, and National Rivers & Streams Assessment 2018/2019. This release provides chemical, physical, and biological data from thousands of sites from across the country to state and tribal partners, the public, and scientists to contribute to water quality management, policy, and scientific research. The EPA NARS team gratefully acknowledges all of the field crews, laboratory staff, data managers, analysts and others from states, tribes, EPA and other organizations without whom none of these data would be available.

The data files are available here.

EPA Announces Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge

Monitoring the increasing number of pollutants in source waters is an ongoing concern for water treatment systems and water resource managers. Pesticides, heavy metals, personal care products, natural toxins such as those from cyanobacteria, and a host of other organic and inorganic chemical pollutants and their products all can increase toxicity in water.

Current methods for detecting and identifying many of these contaminants are expensive, time-consuming, and require the use of specialized laboratories. The numbers of sensors, instruments, tests, labs, personnel, and other costs can become an economic burden for water system managers and water resource managers. If the identity of the potential contaminant is unknown, this process becomes even more complex and cost prohibitive.

The Challenge

The challenge calls on innovators to develop a sensor that can identify whether there are chemical pollutants and natural toxins in various types of water much faster and less expensively than current lab methods for detecting individual, specific chemicals.

• Challenge Start Date: April 27, 2021
• Challenge End Date: July 26, 2021
• Informational Webinar: June 8, 2021 at 2 p.m. ET – Register here.
• Winners to be announced in Fall of 2021.

Challenge Partners

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), the Greater Cincinnati Water Works, and the Water Research Foundation.

Learn more about the challenge here.

Association Updates

ACWA Survey: EPA Maui Guidance

EPA is likely to consider the “Guidance Memorandum: Applying the Supreme Court’s County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund Decision in the Clean Water Act Section 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program” and what should be done with it. Your responses to this very short survey will help ACWA formulate a position and help identify potential volunteers to assist with future analysis and consideration. As a reminder, this guidance was issued as a result of the Supreme Court Decision in County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, et al. This survey is 7 questions long and should not take more than 10 minutes to complete, depending on the level of detail in the responses.

Click here to access the survey.

Meetings and Webinars

RCAP Webinar: Accessing Water Infrastructure Funding

Date: May 18, 2021 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Time

Registration: Click here

 Federal, state, and territorial programs exist to help small water systems pay for critical infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement, including the state revolving fund, USDA, and CDBG. This webinar will share advice from two of RCAP’s technical assistance providers who previously worked as infrastructure loan officers on how to be successful in accessing these important programs. The material in this webinar is best suited for individuals who are involved in the financial management of water systems.

EPA to Hold Second National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call

Date: May 19, 2021 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM Eastern Time

Registration: Click here

EPA invites Environmental Justice (EJ) advocates to participate in the second National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call taking place on May 19, 2021 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time). These calls are free and open to the public.

The purpose of these calls is to inform the community and other stakeholders about EPA’s EJ work and enhance opportunities to maintain an open dialogue with EJ advocates. The calls first began in 2010 and were a valuable tool for EPA to learn about EJ needs in communities around the country. The first re-launched call was held on February 17, 2021 and had nearly 700  participants.

As environmental justice continues to be integrated into EPA programs, policies, and activities, the Agency hopes that relaunching these calls will help reaffirm EPA’s continued commitment to work with community groups and other stakeholders to strengthen local environmental and human health outcomes.

For more information about the National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Calls, please email Robinson.Victoria@epa.gov or Motilall.Christina@epa.gov. Also, please visit our website.

Biosolids Part 2: Wastewater Treatment Sludge Disposal Methods (Land Application, Incineration, Surface Disposal)

Date: May 27, 2021 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern Time

Registration: Click here

The EPA Biosolids Rule recently celebrated its 28th birthday. As such, many initial practitioners of the rule have retired or moved on. In Part 2 of the Biosolids series, learn about disposal practices from on-the-ground practitioners of Biosolids management. We will discuss Land Application, Incineration, and Surface Disposal practices. Come learn from active biosolids managers from across the U.S.

A recording of Biosolids Part 1: Overview of Wastewater Treatment Sludge and Clean Water Act Regulatory Structure is available here.

Introduction to the Toxics Release Inventory

Date: Thursday, May 20 | 2:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern Time

Registration: Click here

It’s your right to know about toxic chemicals that industrial and federal facilities use and release into your environment. For nearly 35 years, the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) has been an important source of this critical information. The “Introduction to the TRI” webinar will kick off a series of webinars to mark the 35^th anniversary of TRI and to help inform stakeholders about this valuable resource.

Join staff from EPA’s TRI Program to learn about:

• the right-to-know principle and the basics of the TRI Program,
• what data and information facilities report,
• how to easily access data for a specific location right from the TRI homepage,
• how you can use TRI data, and
• what resources you can find on the TRI website.

Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population lives within three miles of a TRI facility…so what’s going on in your community?

Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) and its Use in Indian Country and in Indigenous Communities

Date: May 26, 2021 | 2:30 – 4:00 PM Eastern Time

Registration: Click here

This webinar will focus on the Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), an EPA tool for identifying environmentally-regulated facilities in Indian country and in indigenous communities, as well as in other areas of interest to tribes and indigenous peoples.

Registered participants will be sent the link to join the meeting and be provided the conference call number for the webinar by Tuesday, May 25.

About this Webinar:

The ECHO webinar will include information on:

• How EPA and tribes regulate facilities in Indian country;
• How the public can use ECHO to determine:
  • What regulated facilities exist in and near Indian country or in tribal or indigenous communities;
  • When facilities are inspected;
  • Whether violations of environmental regulations were found; and
  • Whether enforcement action was taken.
• A hands-on demonstration of ECHO and how to find facilities regulated under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Speakers:

Jonathan Binder, Senior Indian Program Manager, Office of Enforcement and Compliance (OECA), EPA

Andrew Schulman, Mathematical Statistician, Office of Compliance, OECA, EPA

Scott Clow, Environmental Programs Director, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

Facilitator – Danny Gogal, Tribal and Indigenous Peoples Program Manager, Office of Environmental Justice, EPA

This webinar is part of the U.S. EPA Environmental Justice Webinar Series for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples – to build the capacity of tribal governments, indigenous peoples and other environmental justice practitioners, and discuss priority EJ issues of interest to tribes and indigenous peoples. This webinar will be recorded and made publicly available, along with the PowerPoint slides used for the webinar, at the EPA Environmental Justice for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples webpage: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-tribes-and-indigenous-peoples

For questions about this webinar, please contact Jonathan Binder, Binder.Jonathan@epa.gov or Danny Gogal, Gogal.Danny@epa.gov.

Changes to Shared CROMERR Services

In the coming weeks, U.S. EPA will be migrating Shared CROMERR Services (SCS) to a new hosting environment. The migration, which will include SCS SOAP, REST, and advanced portal services, will take place on the following dates:

• May 14, 2021 – Dev and Test Environment
• June 4, 2021 – Production Environment

Details

No SCS services endpoints will change after the migration. All endpoints will remain as follows:

• Dev endpoint – https://encromerrdev.epacdxnode.net
• Test endpoint – https://encromerrtest.epacdxnode.net
• Production endpoint – https://encromerr.epa.gov

All IP addresses WILL change after the migration.

IMPORTANT: IP ADDRESS CHANGES MAY REQUIRE PARTNERS TO ADJUST FIREWALL RULES TO ACCESS SCS SERVICES.

The new IP addresses will be:

• DEV: 40.71.227.82
• TEST: 204.47.254.135
• PROD: 204.47.254.197

U.S. EPA recommends testing SCS services in each of the respective environments based on the dates above to ensure no firewall changes are required.

Shared CROMERR Services Help Desk
If you experience any difficulties or have questions, please contact the Shared CROMERR Services Help Desk.

• Email: sharedcromerrservices@epacdx.net
• Phone: 1-888-890-1995 (Select Option 1 and then Option 5 from the menu)

Available 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Recording: Resilience through Collaboration: First Year Highlights and Future Directions of the National Water Reuse Action Plan (April 29, 2021)

If you missed this event or would like to view it again, the recording is available here.

Job Opportunities

TMDL Writer, Environmental Scientist & Specialist (Job ID: 116602) – New Mexico Environment Department

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Closing date: Open until filled

This position is responsible for developing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) watershed documents and/or related implementation or restoration plans through assessment and modeling of surface water quality and other environmental data to fulfill federal Clean Water Act requirements and EPA grant commitments.  This position is primarily responsible for assisting in the assessment of water quality data and the preparation of TMDL documents and related implementation or restoration plans through data analysis and environmental modeling.

To learn more and apply, click here.

Point Source Regulation Program Manager (Job ID: 116376) – New Mexico Environment Department

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Closing date: Open until filled

This position is responsible for protecting surface water quality through implementation of state’s Ground and Surface Water Protection Regulations dealing with point source discharges, assisting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with implementation of the federal Clean Water Act Section 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program in New Mexico, and meeting all program goals and objectives, in concert with the Department Strategic Plan and controlling federal and state laws and regulations. The Point Source Regulation Program Manager serves as the agency’s primary liaison with EPA concerning NPDES permits and certification issues, develops budget requirements for program implementation with respect to state appropriations and EPA grants, and oversees all surface water related enforcement actions against entities failing to comply with state Water Quality Act.  This position involves direct supervision, including performance evaluations and recommendations for hiring and discipline, of six program staff (including two subordinate supervisors).

To learn more and apply, click here.