News
EPA Publishes FY23 Exchange Network Solicitation Notice – Applications Due June 2nd, 2023
U.S. EPA has published the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Exchange Network (EN) Grant Program Solicitation Notice (SN) to Grants.gov. The SN is available here. Applications are due to EPA by 11:59 PM Eastern Time, Friday, June 2, 2023. EPA expects to award 25-35 grants of up to $500,000 each, totaling approximately $9,500,000 in FY23. The exact number of grants awarded will depend on the number of applications submitted to EPA by the application deadline, the amounts of proposed project budgets, and the quality of proposals. Please be aware: award funding thresholds have increased from prior years by $100,000. Individual applicants can now request up to $300,000 and eligible EN partnerships can request up to $500,000. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the new FY23 SN, as significant updates have been made since the FY22 version. Additional guidance tools and information on applicant webinars are available here. EPA anticipates that it will announce selection decisions around August 2023, and tentatively plans to issue awards by October 2023.
For more information, contact Erin McGown.
Proposed S.308 ICR: Chromium Finishing Industry Data Collection
EPA has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Chrome Finishing Industry Data Collection (EPA ICR Number 2723.01, OMB Control Number 2040–NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a request for approval of a new collection. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on November 16, 2022 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments, due May 22 at Regulations.gov.
As mentioned in Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15, published in January 2023, EPA plans to conduct a rulemaking to address PFAS discharges from a subset of facilities in the Metal Finishing and Electroplating point source categories. Specifically, facilities performing certain chromium operations that employ hexavalent chromium (hereafter referred to as “chrome finishing facilities”), including chromium plating, chromium anodizing, chromic acid etching, and chromate conversion coating that use or have used PFAS to control hexavalent chromium emissions. These facilities are expected to be the predominant sources of PFAS discharges in the Metal Finishing and Electroplating point source categories. Publicly available data sources do not provide a complete population of chromium finishing facilities in the United States nor do they provide the detailed information on specific facility operations (including use of hexavalent chromium or PFAS), generation and management of wastewater, or wastewater characteristics necessary for the complex technical and economic analyses required for the review and development of ELGs. Therefore, EPA considers this questionnaire and wastewater sampling program necessary to determine if the current regulations remain appropriate and to develop new regulations if they are deemed to be warranted. EPA has identified and compiled mailing addresses for approximately 2,035 potential chromium finishing facilities in the United States. All active metal finishing and electroplating facilities that conduct or have conducted one or more of the specified chromium finishing operations will be required to complete the questionnaire.
EPA Provides 2021 Surface Water Model Maintenance and Support Status
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Water Modeling Workgroup (WMW) provides support for core surface water quality modeling tools used in Clean Water Act programs. The WMW identified a set of 18 separate surface water modeling applications that are currently applied to support development of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans, assess permit conditions for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) facilities, evaluate policy and water quality effects of potential actions, and conduct other water quality analyses. The WMW directed Tetra Tech to perform an assessment of the current maintenance and support status of each modeling tool to facilitate the identification of gaps in support or other activities that might warrant future WMW activity.
Information can be found here.
“Investigate Midwest” (Author – Madison McVan) Publishes Article on CAFO Air Pollution
This week Madison McVan with the Investigate Midwest released a comprehensive article on recent observations regarding EPA and agriculture producers’ efforts to consider and evaluate implications of air pollution at CAFOs. In 2003 the National Academy of Sciences proposed study options for EPA to improve the nation’s understanding of animal agriculture emissions. In 2005 Animal Agriculture Industry Groups agreed to pay EPA a one-time civil penalty to help support academic research at 25 farms in 10 states. Along with the study, EPA agreed to not pursue certain past and ongoing air violations at all CAFOs nationally until emissions estimating methodologies (EEMs) could be finalized. While there have been several steps taken between the original study proposal recommendation and more recently publishing the 2020 draft versions of the EEMs, as of today these CAFO’s air emissions remain unregulated. This article provides a detailed overview of the history of this effort, several different stake holder perspectives on the current state, and recognition that more still needs to be done before farm emissions can be addressed. A copy of the article can be found here. 18 years and counting: EPA still has no method for measuring CAFO air pollution – Investigate Midwest
Association Updates
ACWA & Green Fin Studios Win Hermes Creative Award
The ACWA 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act StoryMap was selected as a Gold Award winner by the Hermes Creative Awards. Hermes Creative Awards honor the messengers and creators of the information revolution. Armed with their imaginations and computers, Hermes winners bring their ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. Each year, competition judges evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and advertising, marketing, and communication programs. Thank you to the member states/interstates that contributed to the Story Map and Green Fin Studios for helping us realize our vision. The StoryMap is still active on our website.
Association of Clean Water Administrators Leadership Education and Development System (LEADS)
What is it?
The ACWA Leadership Education and Development System (LEADS) is a new Board directed initiative intended to encourage participation in leadership activities and help future leaders in the organization improve their understanding of roles and responsibilities.
Who can participate?
All current state and interstate members and their staff interested in learning more about leadership in ACWA (Committee/Workgroup Chairs, Regional Board Members, Executive Officers) can volunteer to participate in LEADS.
How do I engage?
To learn more about the LEADS initiative, please contact Sean Rolland to get access to a short questionnaire. Upon completing the questionnaire, participants will be provided access to a new Member365 Workspace, which holds materials developed expressly for the ACWA LEADS program.
What if I have more questions?
After reviewing the materials, should a participant have more questions and/or be interested in further discussing future leadership opportunities in ACWA, a volunteer advisor with experience in that leadership role will be notified and will reach out to you.
Meetings and Webinars
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER – 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.
Registration closes Monday 4/24. This workshop is for ACWA Members, who may register here.
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER – 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.
Registration closes on Monday 4/24, and the registration link can be found here.
Proceedings Release Webinar — Integrating Public and Ecosystem Health Systems to Foster Resilience: Identifying Research to Bridge the Knowledge-To-Action Gap
May 2023 TBD | Register Here | Access the Workshop Proceedings
In September 2022, the National Academies held a workshop focused on the integration of public and ecosystem health to foster resilience. Connections between people and their environments are under stress from human-driven climate change, pollution, resource exploitation, and other actions that may have implications for public health. Existing intellectual frameworks such as One Health, Planetary Health, ecosystem services, nature-based solutions, and others help to connect different elements related to the resilience of public health and ecological health systems. However, because of the breadth of this issue, many implications regarding public health are not well characterized leading to gaps in understanding the interconnections between public health and ecosystem health systems and how ecosystem resiliency may affect public health.
The workshop was designed to inform the development of a research agenda aimed at bridging the knowledge-to-action gap, to move from research to policy and practice. Participants included a broad range of interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners from the public health, natural resource management, and environmental protection communities. The workshop provided a forum for the exchange of knowledge, discussion of critical gaps in understanding and practice, and identification of promising research that could support the development of domestic and international policy and practice.
This webinar will feature workshop planning committee members and share workshop key messages and perspectives on how to move forward from identifying research to advancing policy and practice. The webinar will be held via zoom in early May. Registrants will be notified of the exact date and time of the webinar soon.
2023 National Pretreatment Coordinators Workshop – Hotel Rate Expires!
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.
Discounted hotel room rate expires April 22, 2023.
An updated draft agenda is now available here on the meeting event page.
Registration is now live here.
ACWA Legal Affairs Committee Quarterly Call — New Date
The ACWA LAC call scheduled for June 15th has been rescheduled for June 21st, 02:00 PM Eastern Time.
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
Watershed Management Manager (Natural Resource Protection and Sustainability Manager 2
Location: Portland, OR
Closing Date: 5/7/2023
You will manage the day-to-day operations of the Watershed Management section, including leading statewide efforts to improve water quality through the programs administered by this section, while working in consultation with regional and Headquarters Water Quality managers. You will supervise staff, with an emphasis on supporting staff to effectively achieve the responsibilities of the Watershed Management section. The Watershed Management section is responsible for leading the state’s efforts to develop and implement Total Maximum Daily Loads and nonpoint source strategies under the Clean Water Act and state laws. To accomplish this work, you will supervise a range of staff, including highly technical data analysts. In order to effectively accomplish the work of this position, you will build relationships with other government entities, including state, federal, and local governments, tribes, and various interested and regulated entities.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Analyst – Permit Writer
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: 5/7/2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, you will become an essential member of the Drinking Water Source
Protection Program (DWSP2). You will work with permittees, their representatives, engineers and various
members of the public on municipal and industrial wastewater discharge SPDES permits within Source
Water Protection areas to ensure SPDES permits are up-to-date and include effluent limitations necessary
to protect public water supplies. You will assist with SPDES permit development and permit renewals,
review engineering reports, and conduct water quality and effluent evaluations at wastewater treatment
facilities. You will also assist with internal DWSP2 coordination to ensure the permitting and other
processes include source water protection components.
Submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org.
Please reference #23-NYS-SW-DEC-002 in the email subject line. For more information, click here.
Environmental Analyst – Drinking Water Program Specialist
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: 5/7/2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, you will develop plans to protect drinking water sources throughout
the State of New York and will serve as a resource for regional staff who develop and implement plans
across New York state. You will collaborate with state agencies, regional planning boards, municipal
leaders, water operators, local health departments and other stakeholders to implement plans and to
coordinate and develop the program. You will also assist with other tasks related to water supply
protection, such as water quality sampling, database management, data analysis, performing sanitary
surveys or capacity assessments for public water systems.
Submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org.
Please reference #23-NYS-SW-DOH-004 in the email subject line. For more information, click here.
Environmental Analyst – Drinking Water Specialist
Location: Rochester, NY
Closing Date: 5/7/2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, you will become an essential member of the Drinking Water Source
Protection Program (DWSP2). You will work with municipal leaders, water operators, consultants, local
health departments and other community stakeholders to develop DWSP2 plans and provide technical
assistance during plan implementation. You will collect, analyze, and maintain environmental data to
inform recommendations and prepare technical documentation for a variety of stakeholders and for
external outreach. You will utilize GIS to create community maps, and will be a resource to for questions
related to sources of drinking water and locations of possible contamination. You will also assist with other
tasks related to water supply protection, such as water quality sampling, database management, data
analysis, performing sanitary surveys or capacity assessments for public water systems.
Submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org.
Please reference #23-NYS-SW-DOH-005 in the email subject line. For more information, click here.
Environmental Analyst – Drinking Water Specialist
Location: Buffalo, NY
Closing Date: 5/7/2023
As a NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, you will become an essential member of the Drinking Water Source
Protection Program (DWSP2). You will work with municipal leaders, water operators, consultants, local
health departments and other community stakeholders to develop DWSP2 plans and provide technical
assistance during plan implementation. You will collect, analyze, and maintain environmental data to
inform recommendations and prepare technical documentation for a variety of stakeholders and for
external outreach. You will utilize GIS to create community maps, and will be a resource to for questions
related to sources of drinking water and locations of possible contamination. You will also assist with other
tasks related to water supply protection, such as water quality sampling, database management, data
analysis, performing sanitary surveys or capacity assessments for public water systems.
Submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org.
Please reference #23-NYS-SW-DOH-006 in the email subject line. For more information, click here.
Brownfields Specialist (Program Analyst 4)
Location: Salem and Portland, OR
Closing Date: 4/24/2023
This position will serve as agency subject matter expert on Brownfields programming, administer state and federal Brownfields funding programs, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure program success. This is a Limited Duration position and is currently approved through June 30, 2025.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Administrator
Location: Columbus, OH
Closing Date: Ongoing
For more information and to apply, click here.
Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program Supervisor
Location: Carson City, NV
Closing Date: Open until filled
Interested candidates must apply through the State of Nevada application system. Link and instructions on how to do that are available here.
