News
Senate Confirms Fox
The Senate confirmed Radhika Fox this week to serve as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water in a 55-43 vote. Fox is the former CEO of the U.S. Water Alliance and director of policy and government affairs at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
2021 National CWA 303(d) and Data Management Training Workshop Follow Up
The 2021 National CWA 303(d) and Data Management Training Workshop was held virtually from June 7 to 10. It provided state, tribal, territorial, and EPA water quality program staff with an opportunity to learn about and contribute to strategies for improving the process, products, and outcomes of Clean Water Act Section 303(d) listing and TMDL programs and beyond. To access the agenda, presentations, and materials, please click here.
New EPA Resources: Disruptions of Chemical Supply
The following links provide some specific avenues for relief that water and wastewater systems can pursue if they experience supply chain disruptions which may result in an impending shortfall of critical materials. Please let EPA know if you have any questions, but note that one of the links is an FAQ. Special thanks to the EPA staff that worked on these resources:
- Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities
- Water Sector Supply Chain – Chemical Shortages
- FAQs about Section 1441 of the Safe Drinking Water Act
- How to Use the Defense Production Act
EPA Compliance Advisory – Compliance Tips for Small, Mechanical Wastewater Treatment Plants
In May 2021, EPA released an important compliance advisory to assist small POTW and small private wastewater treatment plant owners and operators. The advisory is intended to provide information that will help them comply with their NPDES permit limits. Note that, while this alert focuses on operational issues, some operators of small mechanical treatment plants are also failing to submit required DMRs, or are submitting incomplete or inaccurate DMRs that can mask serious violations. The advisory has several tables that discuss small treatment plant processes and common issues, common root causes, and recommended potential solutions. There are several primary and secondary information resources provided as well. EPA has requested that states send this document along to their small wastewater treatment plants as well. A copy of the EPA advisory can be found below.
Compliance Tips for Small, Mechanical Wastewater Treatment Plants (epa.gov)
Open Comment Period: EPA Proposes Construction General Permit for Public Comment
On May 12, 2021, EPA published the proposed 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP) for a 60-day comment period. The comment period is now open and will close July 12, 2021. EPA encourages all interested parties to review the proposed permit and to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal here for the docket identification assigned to this permit, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0169. The proposed permit, fact sheet, and Federal Register notice (FRN) are posted here.
EPA renews this permit every five years. The CGP regulates storm water discharges from construction activities (including, but not limited to: clearing, grading, excavating, and stockpiling) that disturb one or more acres, or smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale that disturb one or more acres.
If you have questions or for additional information about the proposed permit, please contact Greg Schaner, CGP Permit Lead, Water Permits Division, at Schaner.Greg@epa.gov.
CWNS Schedule Announced
Data collection for the upcoming Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, required to be conducted every 4 years (CWA Sections 205(a) and 516), is scheduled begin on March 1, 2022. Training sessions for CWNS coordinators are scheduled for this fall/winter. The state-specific method/approach preapproval window is scheduled to open December 1, 2021.
These dates are tentative subject to approval of an ICR by Office of Management and Budget. More information is forthcoming.
Association Updates
ACWA Cybersecurity Survey
ACWA is looking to better understand the current baseline level of activities being employed by states to engage their NPDES permittees on cybersecurity risks and concerns. This survey is 8 questions long and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please respond by Friday, July 2, 2021. You can access the survey here.
Meetings and Webinars
Protecting Drinking Water From Harmful Algal Blooms Webinar Series
This summer the Army Corps, North American Lake Management Society, Aquatic Plant Management Society, and American Water Works Association are collaborating on a summer webinar series focused on protecting drinking water from harmful algal blooms, including a session on June 30th titled “Source Water Protection in the Watershed.” This series will summarize the latest research and technical information on management strategies to encourage better integration and facilitation in the protection of drinking water. More information on the series, including registration links and informational flyers may be found here.
Water Security: Key Pathways for Climate Resilience
When: Tuesday, Jun. 29, 2021 at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and the Bureau of Global Public Affairs are pleased to announce “Water Security: Key Pathways for Climate Resilience.”
Climate change is already affecting the world’s water resources. Climate change can reduce water availability, decrease water quality, impede access to safe drinking water, and impact sustainable development. Despite these links, water security and climate adaptation are often discussed as separate issues with separate solutions. This live webinar will explore the relationship between climate and water and highlight the importance of integrated approaches to strengthen water security and advance climate resilience.
Questions about this event? Reach out to Loren Hurst at hurstlw@america.gov
EPA Webinar: Protecting Your Utility From Disaster
Resilience Part 1 of 2
Thursday June 24, 2021 (11:00-12:30pm EST)
Presenters: David Goldbloom-Helzner (US EPA HQ); Jennifer Cowsert (City Administrator, Elkader, IA); Isabella Schroeder (Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority), Chris Wester (Weston & Sampson Engineers)
Register here.
Two-Part EPA Webinar Series: Climate and Heat Trends
Part 2: Climate and Heat: Trends, Health Impacts and Risks
Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern
This one-hour webinar will feature climate-related temperature trends particularly related to extreme heat and urban heat, human health effects, social vulnerability, and risks (happening now and looking into the future). The presentation will highlight information on observed U.S. trends from EPA’s Climate Change Indicators and future conditions based on EPA’s Climate Impacts and Risk Analysis efforts. The presentation will feature recent science on extreme heat and health impacts including from the U.S. Global Change Research Program and EPA research on climate vulnerability and heat islands.
To join, please REGISTER HERE
Speakers
- Victoria Ludwig, National Program Manager, Heat Island Reduction Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Mike Kolian, Physical Scientist/Climate Analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Marcus Sarofim, Physical Scientist/Climate Analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Water Research Webinar on Road Salts and Freshwater: “Salinization Syndrome: An Emerging Water Quality Threat”
Wednesday, June 30th from 2:00-3:00pm ET
To register, please click here.
Streams throughout the US and worldwide have increased in salinity due to multiple processes, including road salt and human-accelerated weathering of impervious surfaces, reductions in acid rain, and other anthropogenic legacies. This freshwater salinization, in turn, mobilizes chemical cocktails via ion exchange and other biogeochemical processes.
This webinar will examine fate and transport of salts and chemical cocktails, describe the litany of environmental impacts, and discuss the use of real-time sensor data to characterize trends of nutrients and metals using long-term data from urban streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Finally, presenters will discuss approaches to managing this growing environmental and health problem.
Environmental Law Institute Summer School Series Underway
- This series is free, but please register for the individual sessions so that we can plan accordingly!
- All events are held 12-2 p.m. Eastern Time. There is no CLE available for this series.
ELI is excited to announce the schedule for this year’s complimentary summer school series, which will be held via webinar:
- June 22, 2021: Basics of the Clean Water Act
- June 29, 2021: Basics of Land Use Law
- July 6, 2021: Basics of the Clean Air Act
- July 13, 2021: Hazardous Waste and Sites
- July 20, 2021: Law & Policy of Products Regulation
- July 27, 2021: Environmental Justice
These popular seminars are taught by experts in their fields and introduce the audience to the major environmental statutes, land use law, and environmental justice. Faculty will also incorporate major regulatory and judicial updates to the laws.
The series offers undergraduates, law students, graduate students, and working professionals new to or looking for a refresher course in environmental law a unique opportunity to learn, hear updates, ask questions, and network. Click here to learn more.
State & Local Listening Sessions: Climate Change and Related Equity Concerns
Multi-Agency Water Reuse Programs: Insights in Interagency Collaboration (Webcast)
July 7, 2021 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST
Register here. There is no fee to attend.
Join a panel of experts for a lively discussion of lessons learned through a year-long effort to interview and document the work it takes to bring multi-agency water reuse projects to fruition. Under the National Water Reuse Action Plan, the Action 2.16 team reviewed existing case-studies and literature to select and conduct informational interviews with key water reuse players across the country. The webcast will cover the lessons learned by these practitioners as they worked with Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Trinity River Authority, Pima County, and Monterey One Water. The audience will learn about governance, regulations, economic and financial barriers, technical and operational issues and leadership. The panel will share the valuable insights and replicable strategies garnered from the work.
Speakers
- Felicia Marcus, Stanford University
- Dr. Robert Raucher, Raucher LLC
- Eric Rosenblum, Water Resource Consultant
- Dave Smith, EPA Region 9
- Shannon Spurlock, Ochotona LLC
Job Opportunities
Environmental Scientist IV, Chesapeake Bay Program Coordinator: State of Delaware
Location: Dover, DE
Closes: June 28, 2021
The Nonpoint Source Program provides funding for projects designed to reduce nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in Delaware. Incumbent serves as the scientific expert and coordinator of the Department’s Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP). Manages the Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant, works with partner organizations (federal, state, & local) to implement water quality BMP projects, manages collection, analysis, and reporting of BMP data for submission to EPA, estimates load reductions, develops & tracks milestone & BMP verification activities, represents state on various CBP & state workgroups, manages BMP databases, develops watershed implementation plans, & conducts fieldwork.
Learn more and apply here.
Environmental Protection Specialist: District of Columbia
Location: Washington, DC
Closes: July 11, 2021
The incumbent will serve as an Environmental Protection Specialist in the Partnering and Environmental Conservation Branch, Watershed Protection Division, Natural Resources Administration, Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). The mission of the Partnering and Environmental Conservation Branch is to achieve the District’s clean water goals in a manner that is responsive to community needs by cultivating partnerships through financial, technical, and compliance assistance; education; and engagement. The incumbent will support the Pollution Prevention (P2) team, which assists property owners and managers within the District to reduce stormwater pollution and comply with stormwater regulations, including the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) and the District of Columbia’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Clean Water Act.
Learn more and apply here.
