News
“Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Opportunities to Address Tire Wear Particles in Waterways”
The emergence of tire wear pollutants prompted EPA to hold two roundtable discussions in Spring 2022 to facilitate shared learning regarding the increase of these particles as a significant source of microplastics in waterways. In an effort to inform the public and encourage community engagement in addressing tire wear particle pollutants, EPA had announced the publication of “Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Opportunities to Address Tire Wear Particles in Waterways.” This report summarizes the two roundtable sessions and shares the challenges and potential solutions discussed. The report can be found here. For more information regarding this effort, please visit EPA’s website here.
Technical Assistance Offered for State CWSRF Programs to Expand into Nonpoint Source Needs
Interested in Using the State Revolving Funds for Nonpoint Source or Watershed Financing Partnerships?
EPA is offering to provide direct technical assistance to states, including Puerto Rico, that are interested in expanding their Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs to address priority nonpoint source (NPS) needs from a contractor with the right expertise. EPA is seeking two to three pilot projects that will be ready to receive technical assistance beginning this Spring and ending within 12 months. Candidate projects should have sufficient buy-in and capacity to start immediately so they may be completed within this period.
Over the past several years, EPA has provided technical assistance for states interested in expanding their use of the CWSRF for NPS, particularly on a watershed-wide basis. For example, in 2021-2022, the contractor helped Wisconsin use its CWSRF program to increase watershed partnerships between POTWs, the agricultural community and cities to cost-effectively reduce nutrient loads. Additional examples of this technical assistance are provided in the attachment.
How to Apply:
We are calling for expressions of interests from states for technical assistance in establishing or expanding ways to finance NPS projects through CWSRF programs. Any state interested in this opportunity should send a descriptive statement of interest to Don Waye (waye.don@epa.gov) no later than May 12. There is no page limit, but a target of 2-3 pages should generally suffice. Don is also available to answer any questions received by May 4 as states are preparing their proposals. This announcement is being sent separately to regional and state NPS and CWSRF contacts. EPA requires buy-in from both the state’s NPS and CWSRF programs when developing statements of interest and on the objective(s) of the requested assistance.
To help ensure objectivity, EPA will apply the following scoring criteria.
Qualification and scoring criteria are:
- Does the proposal address reductions of nutrient loads from significant nonpoint sources? (15%)
- Does the proposal envision financing a range of NPS projects through a watershed partnership approach (per CWA Section 603(c)(7) under a CWA Section 122 eligibility)? (For more information on this approach, see page 6 of EPA’s 2016 Overview of CWSRF Eligibilities, as well as the attached 2019 CWSRF program bulletin on watershed financing partnerships.) (15%)
- Is there agreement between the state’s CWSRF and NPS for the project’s objective and a commitment to cooperate between these state programs on this assistance project? (15%) Written documentation from the state’s CWSRF program lead and the state’s lead for its NPS program that the parties understand and agree with the goals of the technical assistance that the contractor intends to provide will be required for all selected projects. (Emails will suffice.)
- Is the state ready and able to start the project by May 2023 with projected completion within 12 months? (10%)
- Is it a new area of project focus for the state CWSRF program or one that hasn’t been funded by the state CWSRF program within the past 5 years? (10%)
- Is the project type likely to continue in the future (versus …is it a one-off project with limited likelihood of replicability)? (10%)
- Is the technical assistance project likely to succeed? (10%)
- Is the technical assistance needed for the state to achieve its objective? (5%)
- Is the technical assistance project likely to be reproducible and successful in other states? (5%)
- Will the project primarily benefit disadvantaged communities? (5%)
Association Updates
2023 Nutrients Permitting Workshop – May 1-3, 2023
The 2023 Nutrients Permitting Workshop will be held May 1-3, in Denver, CO!
This workshop is part of a series of meetings focused on nutrients permitting through a grant between EPA, ACWA, and WEF. The workshop series is intended to help support states and EPA to further identify challenges & barriers to nutrient permitting program implementation, highlight opportunities for program improvement & enhancement, showcase innovations, assist with analysis of training, guidance, tools, and other support material needs, improve administrative efficiencies, clarify roles and responsibilities, promote program streamlining, build stronger linkages to WQS & TMDLs, modernize permit terms and data management, revise program performance measures, identify program areas where targeted technical assistance would be most beneficial, and attempt to solve some of the most intractable nutrients issues.
This is the eighth and final workshop under this grant. This workshop will focus state successes and lessons learned based on a variety of topics covered throughout the previous seven workshops in this series. A portion of the agenda will also look ahead at what States feel is the future of nutrients permitting.
A draft agenda may be found here. Rooms are available at the local per-diem rate here.
This workshop is for ACWA Members, who may register here.
*The Room Block closes this Sunday, April 9. If you have not booked a room, do so ASAP!
2023 Clean Water Cross-Program Workshop – May 4-5, 2023
The 2023 Clean Water Cross-Program Workshop will be held May 4-5, in Denver, CO!
This workshop series is intended to help states and EPA better integrate the core CWA programs and improve how they respectively and collectively address current CWA challenges. The kickoff workshop theme, “Implementing WQS that are Challenging to Meet,” will focus on challenges the 303c, 303d, and 402 programs face when implementing certain WQS. For select parameters, meeting WQS may be very technologically challenging. The workshop will focus on:
- Enhancing cross-program implementation (e.g., by exploring solutions like WQ targets) based on feasible technologies and best management practices; and,
- Solutions which would optimize synergy in managing multiple pollutants; coordination among state programs; and collaboration with the regulated community.
The workshop’s target audience is the 1-3 personnel who manage or have deep experience in the 303c, 303d, and 402 programs in a state. This is the first of six planned workshops supported by a cooperative agreement.
More information can be found here; a registration link can be found here and an agenda will be posted on the webpage soon. Hotel rooms are available at the local per-diem rate here and potential attendees are encouraged to book their lodging asap.
2023 National Pretreatment Coordinators Workshop – Registration is Live!
May 15 at 8:00 am – May 16 at 5:00 pm
Boise, ID
This meeting is intended to help support states and EPA to build staff capacity, identify challenges & barriers to pretreatment program implementation, highlight opportunities for program improvement & enhancement, showcase pretreatment program innovations, assist with analysis of training, guidance, tools, and other support material needs, improve administrative efficiencies, clarify roles and responsibilities, build strong linkages to other programs, improve data management, identify program areas where targeted technical assistance would be most beneficial, and attempt to solve some of the most intractable pretreatment program issues.
A draft agenda is now available here on the meeting event page.
Registration is now live here.
2023 Water Quality Modeling Workshop – Oct. 23 – 27
ACWA, in partnership with USEPA, will be holding the 2023 Water Quality Modeling Workshop in Salt Lake City, Utah. This workshop will take place the week of October 23, 2023. This workshop will have three breakout tracks, including two hands-on trainings models that are to be determined. The 2023 Water Quality Modeling Workshop supports implementation of state programs by continuing to build a community of practice among state agency staff who use or want to use water quality modeling in state water quality programs.
This workshop is a national meeting organized by ACWA, in partnership with USEPA, for state program managers and staff involved in water quality modeling, as well as for both Regional and Headquarters-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managers and staff. More information on lodging and a draft agenda will be shared at a later date.
ACWA is also looking for state staff who may be interested in joining the workshop planning team.
Meetings and Webinars
Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States” (2023 Rule) – Tribal and State Webinar Series
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) published the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule in the Federal Register on January 18, 2023; the rule will become effective on March 20, 2023. The agencies developed this rule with consideration of the relevant provisions of the Clean Water Act and the statute as a whole, relevant Supreme Court case law, and the agencies’ technical expertise after more than 45 years of implementing the longstanding pre-2015 “waters of the United States” framework. This rule also considers the best available science and extensive public comment to establish a definition of “waters of the United States” that supports public health, environmental protection, agricultural activity, and economic growth.
EPA and Army are hosting a series of webinars in March and April specifically for Tribes and States to learn about the final rule and implementation considerations. The agencies will first present an overview webinar and will then present three additional webinars on topics of specific interest to Tribes and States. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions before each topical webinar, and the agencies will use those questions to inform development of the presentations.
All webinars will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. ET and include time for questions and answers. Please submit questions in advance to wotus-outreach@epa.gov. Questions must be received at least one week in advance of the webinar to be considered.
Tribal and State officials can register for individual webinars listed below. Participants should register with their Tribal or State email address, if available so that EPA can ensure attendance is limited to participants from Tribal and State government agencies and member organizations. The webinars, but not the Q&A sessions, will be recorded and posted to EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/wotus.
Please reach out to epa@horsleywitten.com with logistical questions about these webinars or to arrange for accommodations (e.g., sign language interpreters or translation). Accommodations will be provided if received no later than a week prior to each webinar.
Exclusions and Other Topics — April 12, 2023, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
If you are interested in registering for these webinars, please contact Julia Anastasio.
Proposed Steam Electric Rule Hearings
EPA will conduct public hearings on the proposed rule on April 20 and 25, 2023. The hearings will be conducted online only. You may register to provide testimony or register as “listen-only.”
- Register for the April 20 public hearing (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM EDT)
- Register for the April 25 public hearing (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT)
EPA will monitor the number of registrants planning to testify for each public hearing session. If the space for a session becomes limited, EPA may reach out to you following your registration, requesting that you join the alternate session. EPA will also consider conducting a third public hearing session, depending on the number of respondents that register to provide testimony.
For language interpretation or other accommodations, please make any requests a minimum of two weeks prior to the event (i.e., by April 6 or April 11, respectively) by responding to the registration confirmation email.
ACWA Legal Affairs Committee Quarterly Call
June 15, 2023 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsd-CsrTwtE9zY3QwbfthFE8fEeMENLceg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Job Opportunities
Environmental Analyst – Underground Storage Tank Program
Location: Providence, RI
Closing Date: 4/16/2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, you will become an essential component in the UST program,
assisting with implementing the UST Financial Responsibility Act. The UST Fund is a mechanism for
owners to comply with requirements and ensure leaks from USTs are cleaned up in an accordance with
regulations. You will conduct compliance reviews and inspections, review reimbursement applications,
oversee project budgets, maintain Quality Assurance Project Plans and Standard Operating Procedures,
and collaborate with research and government partners.
To apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by April 16, 2023.
Please reference #23-RIDEM-001 in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling
basis, accepting applications until the position is filled.
For more information, click here.
Stewardship & Restoration Seasonal Intern
Location: Staatsburg, NY
Closing Date: 4/16/2023
As an intern for NEIWPCC, you’ll work alongside full-time staff to assess, protect, manage, and restore
priority Hudson River Estuary habitats, including shorelines, tidal wetlands, and submerged aquatic
vegetation (SAV) beds. You will also help assess and map reserve habitats and natural resources and
support water quality, sediment, vegetation, fish, and wildlife monitoring efforts. You will conduct
outreach and help coordinate volunteer activities, assist with data entry and analysis, prepare
environmental permit applications, coordinate with land management partners, and develop
stewardship content and updates for the reserve website. You will also have the opportunity to assist
other programs, including research, education, and estuary training. For all tasks, ample training will be
provided. Responsibilities will be delegated with the goal of developing the intern’s skillsets and
knowledge to provide a valuable, early-career experience.
To apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by April 16, 2023.
Please reference #23-HRNERR-002 in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling
basis, accepting applications until the position is filled.
For more information, click here.
