News
District Court Enjoins WOTUS Rule in 24 States
A District Court Judge in North Dakota granted a preliminary injunction on a challenge from 24 states and 19 trade associations (e.g. American Farm Bureau Federation, American Petroleum Institute, National Assocation of Home Builders of the United States), on the new Biden WOTUS Rule. The preliminary injunction enjoins EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) from implementing or enforcing the newly revised definition of WOTUS. The 24 states where the injunction is in place due to the court decision are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Texas and Idaho were previously granted an injunction in March, halting the rule there as well.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery/Managed Aquifer Recharge Library, Water Reuse Communications Libraries Now Available
The WateReuse Association and partners have developed a living Water Reuse Communications Library containing ready-to-use outreach materials and examples from leading water reuse agencies. The library hosts a broad range of materials that utilities and other communicators can borrow or use as inspiration for their own materials. Materials include PDFs, graphics, web tools, videos, and more. The library is an output of the National Water Reuse Action Plan Action 8.1: Compile and Develop Water Reuse Program Outreach and Communication Materials.
Additionally, Ground Water Protection Council has published the Aquifer Storage and Recovery-Managed Aquifer Recharged (ASR-MAR) Library. It is an easily searchable collection of materials related to ASR and MAR, including webinar recordings, maps, journal articles, and reports. Users are encouraged to submit an article or information to add to the collection. The library is an output of the National Water Reuse Action Plan Action 7.4: Increase Understanding of Current ASR Practices.
USDA-NRCS Publishes New Framework to Address Land Management Challenges
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is working to lay a foundation to help agricultural producers conserve water, address climate change and build drought resilience in the West through a new framework: The Western Water and Working Lands Framework for Conservation Action. In this framework, NRCS identifies six major water and land resource management challenges, guidelines for identifying vulnerable agricultural landscapes and 13 strategies for NRCS leaders in western states to use now to collaborate with partners, water resource managers and producers. NRCS’ goal is to help secure clean and available water supplies, healthy soils, resilient landscapes and thriving agricultural communities, now and in the future. You can review the framework document here.
Coal Company Failed to Renew Permits
On April 4th U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit upheld a district-level order compelling Southern Coal to renew its NPDES permits for facilities in Alabama and Tennessee, as part of a CWA settlement with EPA and four states. Southern Coal argued the decree only required it to comply with permits that existed at the time it signed the document and not to seek new ones. EPA argued that Southern Coal violated the agreement in 2020, by allowing NPDES permits to lapse. The court ruled that the coal company violated the consent decree by failing to renew its NPDES permits, agreeing with EPA that even without an explicit directive to renew permits as they expire, it would be “absurd” to allow the lapses given the decree’s broad mandate to comply with “applicable” laws and rules. A copy of the decision can be found here.
EPA Sued for Dated ELGs
Thirteen environmental groups are suing EPA for not updating decades-old effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs). Sectors covered by the petition include Petroleum Refining, Inorganic Chemicals Manufacturing, the Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers, Fertilizer Manufacturing, Pesticide Chemicals, Plastics Molding and Forming, and Nonferrous Metals Manufacturing. The environmental groups allege “…EPA’s decisions in [ELG] Plan 15 not to revise the effluent limitations, effluent limitations guidelines, standards of performance for new sources, and pretreatment standards for the seven industrial point source categories . . . are ‘arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with the law,’ under the federal Administrative Procedure Act.” The petition is before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
EPA Publishes Draft IRIS Toxicological Review of PFDA
EPA is announcing a 60-day public comment period associated with release of the draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorodecanoic Acid (PFDA, CASRN 335–76–2) and Related Salts. The draft document was prepared by the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) within EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD).
EPA is releasing this draft IRIS assessment for public comment in advance of a contract-led peer review. Public comments received will be provided to external peer reviewers, who will consider public comments submitted in response to this notice and comments provided at a future public peer review meeting. EPA will consider all comments received when revising the document post-peer review.
Comments must be received by June 9th. Access the Federal Register Notice here.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law SRF Funding Status
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $50 billion for essential water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades. EPA has developed a webpage to highlight the status of BIL funding requests by the SRF programs. The majority of this funding, approximately 85 percent, flows through the State Revolving Funds. The State Revolving Funds (SRFs) have been the successful foundation of water infrastructure investments, with states, Tribes, and territories working to steward more than $200 billion in SRF funds since 1988. That is why the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates most of these water infrastructure dollars—$43 billion—through the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRFs. Distributing this investment through the SRFs allows states maximum flexibility to be creative and responsive to their communities’ specific needs and challenges. To procure Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, each state must publish an Intended Use Plan and then apply for funding. Each state can access five different BIL funding streams: Clean Water SRF General Supplemental funding, Clean Water SRF Emerging Contaminants funding, Drinking Water SRF General Supplemental funding, Drinking Water SRF Emerging Contaminants funding, and Drinking Water SRF Lead Service Line Replacement funding. Because each state manages these funds differently, statuses may vary across states and funding categories. In general, the statuses listed below are comprised of:
- Fully awarded – The full FY2022 BIL SRF allotment has been awarded to the state
- Conditionally awarded – The FY2022 BIL SRF allotment has been approved for distribution, pending certain requirements that may vary state by state.
- Partially awarded – A portion of the FY2022 BIL SRF allotment has been awarded to the state, and additional funds may be awarded in the future.
- Transferred to DW or Transferred to CW- The Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act allow states to transfer funds between the CWSRF to the DWSRF to address their most pressing water needs. Funds listed as “transferred to DW” indicate the state has chosen to reallocate those specific funds accordingly.
- Not yet awarded – FY2022 BIL SRF funds have not yet been awarded to the state. Reasons for this may vary across states and funds.
The information below reflects the latest status’ of FY 2022 funding, provided to EPA by the individual states. It is updated on a biweekly basis and was last updated on April 12, 2023. For additional details about state-by-state progress and the impact of this funding, please contact the responsible state agency named below.
EPA Recognizes Excellence and Innovation in Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Projects through the AQUARIUS and PISCES Award Programs
EPA recognized 41 clean water and drinking water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation. These projects were funded in part by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. EPA’s AQUARIUS and PISCES national recognition programs highlight exemplary water infrastructure projects. They showcase improvements in water quality and public health protection as a result of strong partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels. With historic funding from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more projects like these will be possible in the future.
EPA’s AQUARIUS program celebrates DWSRF projects that are innovative, sustainable, and protect public health. Twenty-one projects by state or local governments and drinking water utilities were recognized by the 2022 AQUARIUS program, including the following exceptional projects:
- Excellence in Innovative Financing: Sabine Water District No. 1, Louisiana—Ajax-Beulah Water System Consolidation Project
- Excellence in System Partnerships: Aqua Ohio, Inc., Ohio—New Franklin Water Line Extension
- Excellence in Community Engagement: Artesian Water Company, Delaware—Frankford Water System Purchase and Delaware Avenue Extension Project
- Excellence in Public Health Protection: Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Pennsylvania—Lead Service Line Replacement Project
- Excellence in Creative Solutions: City of Richmond, Virginia—Phase II Lead Service Line Replacement Project
EPA’s George F. Ames Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) program celebrates innovative CWSRF programs implemented by assistance recipients. Twenty projects by state or local governments, public utilities, and private entities were recognized by the 2022 PISCES program, including the following exceptional projects:
- Excellence in Innovative Financing: Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Virginia—Hampton Roads Sanitation District Programmatic Loan
- Excellence in System Partnerships: Villages of Dupont and Cloverdale, Ohio—STEP Collection System Dupont-Cloverdale Wastewater Plant
- Excellence in Community Engagement: Kearny Town, New Jersey—Kearny Town Redevelopment of Recreational Complex
- Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection: McDowell County Public Service District, West Virginia—Coalwood Sewer Project – Phase 1
- Excellence in Problem Solving: City of Hastings, Nebraska—Hastings Aquifer Storage and Restoration Project
See the full list of recognized projects and learn more about the AQUARIUS and PISCES Programs.
Association Updates
FY 2024 Member Dues Updates: Nebraska First to Pay
Fiscal Year 2024 dues invoices have been sent to all ACWA members. Dues represent an important funding stream for ACWA and the work that the association does on behalf of the states and interstates. Thank you to the water program in Nebraska for being the first state to submit its FY 2024 dues! We couldn’t do what we do without your continued support.
Meetings and Webinars
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, 2023
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.
Preparatory Meeting for SACC Review of Draft Documents Related to Cumulative Risk Assessment Under TSCA
On April 24, 2023, EPA will hold a virtual public preparatory meeting for the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) members, ad hoc reviewers, and the public to comment on and ask questions regarding the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions to be used for the May 8-11, 2023, review of two draft documents related to cumulative risk assessment under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Earlier this year, EPA released for public comment and peer review a set of principles for evaluating cumulative risks under TSCA and an approach for applying those principles to the evaluation of the cumulative risk posed by certain phthalate chemicals undergoing TSCA section 6 risk evaluation.
- Draft Proposed Principles of Cumulative Risk Assessment Under the Toxic Substances Control Act: This document discusses what cumulative risk assessment is and how it could be used in the scientific and regulatory context of TSCA. A cumulative risk assessment will not always be the best approach, or possible to complete in the statutory timeframes provided for TSCA risk evaluations. But when chemicals are sufficiently similar toxicologically and are found to present co-exposures–meaning people are at exposed to multiple chemicals at the same time–a cumulative risk assessment may be appropriate.
- Draft Proposed Approach for Cumulative Risk Assessment of High-Priority Phthalates and a Manufacturer Requested Phthalate Under the Toxic Substance Control Act: This document describes a proposed methodology for evaluating cumulative risk for the phthalate chemicals currently under review. EPA proposes in its approach submitted for public comment and peer review that DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP, DCHP and DINP (but not DIDP) are toxicologically similar (and pose an additive hazard) and that the U.S. population is co-exposed to these phthalates. Therefore, EPA is proposing to group these phthalates for cumulative risk assessment under TSCA as described in the “Draft Proposed Approach” document. This proposed approach is not itself a cumulative risk assessment nor does it make a finding of risk, but rather is a methodology that EPA proposes to use and seeks public input about and peer review on.
Register for the virtual preparatory meeting. After registering, you will receive the webcast meeting link and audio teleconference information for this public meeting. You may register and participate as a listen-only attendee at any time up to the end of the meeting. Requests to make brief (up to five minutes) oral comments to the SACC during the preparatory meeting can be submitted when registering and will be accepted until Friday April 21, 2023.
The two draft documents, draft charge questions, and other supporting materials are available at www.regulations.gov in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0918. EPA is also accepting written comments on these documents until April 28, 2023, via the docket.
For additional information, visit the SACC website, view the February 28, 2023, Federal Register notice or contact the Designated Federal Official, Alaa Kamel at kamel.alaa@epa.gov or (202) 564-5336.
Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS): Unlocking Water Quality Insights | Free Webinar
A free webinar on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 12:00 pm EST will feature key insights from researchers using data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) to help model water quality. Register here for the webinar and question-and-answer session with the panel.
Speakers during the live, hour-long “OpTIS 3.0: Unlocking Water Quality Insights” program will include:
- Dr. Asmita Murumkar, The Ohio State University, using OpTIS data on tillage and cover crops in their modeling work in Ohio’s Upper Scioto River watershed and Maumee basin.
- Soren Rundquist, Regrow Ag, with updates on cover crop trends from 2015 to 2021, derived from Regrow’s proprietary and recently improved OpTIS algorithm. OpTIS utilizes publicly available satellite imagery to track tillage practices and cover crop adoption around the globe.
- Dr. Dave Gustafson, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), using OpTIS data to quantify the relative effectiveness of cover crops and conservation tillage at reducing phosphorous loads to Lake Erie.
Before the webinar, try OpTIS yourself! An intuitive visualization tool on the CTIC website (ctic.org/OpTIS) allows users to explore OpTIS data, zooming in on watersheds of interest and moving sliders to vary the date range they want to study.
Click here to register for the April 26 webinar. Past OpTIS webinars are archived online at ctic.org/OpTIS.
River Network Webinar: Water Affordability Advocacy Toolkit Deep Dive
Thursday, 04/20/2023, 1:00 pm EDT – 2:30 pm EDT
Affordability and Assistance Programs and the CWA Financial Capability Assessment Guidance
In this continuation of a webinar series on the NRDC/NCLC Water Affordability Advocacy Toolkit, attendees will learn about a range of advocacy strategies pursued by water affordability champions in Pennsylvania and California, including legislation, litigation, and collaboration. This includes a specific focus on solutions highlighted in the Toolkit’s module on Affordability and Assistance Programs, such as income-based rates, debt relief, and crisis assistance. Presenters will offer practical advice applicable in both rural and urban communities and highlight differences in approach between public and private water providers. Additionally, attendees will learn about how EPA’s new Clean Water Act (CWA) Financial Capability Assessment Guidance can help drive local progress on affordability. River Network will also provide a brief overview of helpful tools, including the Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual and the Building Blocks of Trust Report to support advocates in achieving clean, safe and affordable water outcomes.
Speakers:
- Elizabeth Marx, Executive Director, PA Utility Law Project
- Robert Ballenger, Director – Energy Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
- Kyle Jones, Policy & Legal Director, Community Water Center
- Larry Levine, Director, Urban Water Infrastructure & Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council
- April Ingle, Advocacy Director, River Network
- Olivia Wein, Staff Attorney, National Consumer Law Center (moderator)
Register: https://rivernetwork-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcemorzwiGNe5DsMnpuXgbdiy6Fp7u_EX
Public Webinar: First National Primary Drinking Water Standards for Six PFAS
On March 14, 2023, the U.S. EPA announced the first proposed national drinking water standard for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (AAAS EPI Center) invites you to the public webinar: First National Primary Drinking Water Standards for Six PFAS on May 2nd, 2023 from 2:00-3:30 PM ET. During this webinar, a panel of experts will discuss the recent announcement. The panelists will discuss the proposed regulations, the significance of setting the first PFAS national drinking water standards, and the process the U.S. EPA has outlined for finalizing the rule. This event will include time for open questions from and dialogue with participants.
Panelists:
- Ryan Albert and Alex Lan, EPA Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water
- Dr. Jamie DeWitt, Professor, East Carolina University
- Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program and Scholar in Residence, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
- Stephanie Schlea, Senior Water Policy Advisor, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators
Integrating Environmental Justice into Water Resource Management – Watershed Academy Webinar
Register in advance to attend EPA’s Watershed Academy webinar on Integrating Environmental Justice into Water Resource Management, on May 3, 2023 from 3-5pm EST. The webcast will include states, universities, and NGO’s that are working to integrate environmental justice into watershed and water quality management. Learn more about using data for the prioritization of environmental justice work, collective impact campaigns for watershed health, empowering community members to combat climate change impacts, and the connection between flooding and housing accessibility. Presentations will focus on specific projects as well as bigger picture thinking on how various entities are proactively including environmental justice in their work.
Speakers:
- Sara Schwartz, EPA
- Kwame Owusu Daaku and Monica Woodruff, University of West Florida
- Quinn Carr, Amy Adrihan, and José Luis Villaseñor, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Joe Fitzgerald, Milwaukee Water Commons
- Alicia Lehrer and Jenny Mercado, WoonasquatucketRiver Watershed Council
For more information on this webinar and to register visit: https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/integrating-environmental-justice-water-resource-management-webcast.
Introduction to the Environmental Justice Index Tool – May Webinar Series
The Environmental Justice Index (EJI) is a tool designed to measure the cumulative impacts of environmental burden through the lens of human health and health equity. The EJI was produced from a collaboration with the CDC and HHS who are hosting a community engagement webinar series to introduce the tool and gather audience feedback for improvement.
Registration: Attendees can choose to sign up for one or more workshop sessions. Please note that this webinar series will cover the same information in each session, but the breakout rooms will cover a variety of differing topics with small discussion groups. Spots are limited and will be available on a first come, first-served basis. Attendees will be asked to identify any needs for accessibility or language services on the initial registration page of each registration link listed below. If the session you are interested in has no more slots available, we encourage you to join a webinar at a later date.
Tuesday, May 9th, 2023, 3:00-5:00 PM ET, Register Here: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsf-qoqzwjE3jT4NdEVIecgC_J7v0rr6g
Thursday, May 11th, 2023, 3:00-5:00 PM ET, Register Here: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItdeyurzIoE_wrw4Y2TohxpCMUmBxd9Bw
Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, 3:00-5:00 PM ET, Register Here: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscuyorj0pGDJWEmssi-s8SoRsBmFjtNI
Monday, May 22nd, 2023, 3:00-5:00 PM ET, Register Here: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcOiqpzgjGBNpWdHTA2Ld6sYqMOAUiNo
Wednesday, May 24th, 2023, 3:00-5:00 PM ET, Register Here: https://cdc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItfumorj4pHQu9L98z7bB34nC-MXFztLA
This webinar will cover:
- Information about the EJI
- How to use the EJI to identify and map areas at risk of health impacts from environmental burdens
- Audience Feedback, Questions & Answers
Slides will be shared with attendees and listed at eji.cdc.gov following the webinar.
Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Environmental Justice presents a series of online workshops on the Environmental Justice Index (EJI), the first national, place-based tool designed to measure the cumulative impacts of environmental burden through the lens of human health and health equity.
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.
Recording: On Farm Implementation and Economics of Agricultural Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Webinar
In this webinar, Michele Reba presented on MAR lessons learned in the Mid-South, and Dr. Lucia Levers discusses the economics of MAR in California. This webinar is one of several hosted by the Ground Water Protection Council that aims to increase understanding of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) practices under the National Water Reuse Action Plan Action 7.4: Increase Understanding of Current ASR Practices.
Recording: Low-Input Water Reuse Solutions Webinar
In this Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)-hosted webinar, speakers from the City of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities, the City of Hugo, and the City of Tucson shared how water reuse can improve the sustainability of municipal wastewater systems, help conserve groundwater, recharge dry riverbeds, manage stormwater, meet state water quality standards, and improve resilience to flooding. ECOS is also developing case studies on these projects under the National Water Reuse Action Plan Action 1.5: Develop Case Studies of Low-Input Solutions.
Job Opportunities
Section 401/Coastal Zone Management Act Federal Permit Manager (Environmental Specialist 4)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: 4/16/2023
In this role, you will make recommendations to management on decisions for the Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certifications and Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determinations after thorough coordination with other resource agencies, the Section 401 team, and other Ecology technical leads for water quality, sediment quality, stormwater and wetlands.
For more information and to apply, please click here.
Youth and the Environment Program Coordinator / Wastewater
Division Intern
Location: Lowell, or Lawrence and North Andover, MA
Closing Date: 4/23/2023
As an intern for NEIWPCC, you’ll be an essential component in the implementation of YEP, which aims to
increase environmental awareness and introduce teenagers to occupations in the water and wastewater
industries. In this position, you will supervise and act as a mentor to youths in the program, coordinate
work activities alongside wastewater industry professionals, develop curriculum and lesson plans,
organize field trips and transportation to onsite locations for environmental programming, and assist
with the development of program reports for agency submission. You’ll also assist with the
implementation of NEIWPCC’s Massachusetts Wastewater Operator Training Program, which would
include developing presentations and reference materials, administering surveys to participants, and
assist with certification renewals. You may also assist with other water-related projects at NEIWPCC.
Submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by April 23, 2023.
Please reference #23-Lowell-007 in the email subject line. For more information, click here.
Water Quality Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 3)
Location: Portland, OR
Closing Date: 4/30/2023
You will work for both the stormwater and wastewater permit programs in DEQ’s Northwest Region. You will analyze and evaluate permit application materials and associated technical information; approve individual and general permit applications and associated plans based on the technical feasibility to minimize pollutant delivery to waterways; determine the compliance status of facilities by conducting inspections; analyze water quality data; perform technical reviews of plans and report; review and analyze plans and Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs); provide technical assistance on effective water pollution control measures; investigate complaints; consult with regulated entities on applicable laws, rules, and program requirements for achieving compliance; and when violations occur, prepare appropriate enforcement documents and do the necessary communication with the permit holder/responsible entity, internal DEQ audiences, and the public. In addition, you will provide technical expertise to other DEQ staff, the regulated community, and the public to solve difficult problems associated with wastewater and stormwater discharges; interpret rules, regulations, laws, and procedures; and represent DEQ at public hearings and meetings.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Analyst
Location: Providence, RI
Closing Date: 4/30/2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, you will become an essential component of the monitoring team,
assisting with implementing field sampling and data management for ambient river monitoring (ARM)
program. You will provide technical assistance by performing assessments for federal Clean Water Act
reporting, and by reviewing and identifying potential needed updates to the state water quality
standards.
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org.
Please reference #23-RIDEM-002 in the email subject line. For more information, click here.
Contracts/Legal Intern for Water Resource Protection
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: 5/7/2023
As an intern for NEIWPCC, you’ll work alongside full-time staff to support the contracting efforts
associated with clean water initiatives. You’ll assist with processing agreement requests, tracking
agreement statuses, archiving documentation, and inputting crucial data into the agreement database.
You’ll also participate in pilot testing an Excel database of legal templates, clauses, and letters to devise
innovative solutions to programming issues and ensure the system is ready to implement later this year.
Submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please
reference #23-Lowell-008 in the email subject line. For more information, click here.
