ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XV, Issue 26 (Week of August 5, 2024)

News

Revised Version of the Technical Support Materials: Developing Alternative Recreational Criteria for Waters Contaminated by Predominantly Non-Human Fecal Sources Available

EPA has posted a revised version of the Technical Support Materials: Developing Alternative Recreational Criteria for Waters Contaminated by Predominantly Non-Human Fecal Sources. The TSM is a user-friendly guide that describes the process in a step-by-step approach with example scenarios. This document describes the scientific basis for alternative criteria, the technical steps users should follow, and how risk assessors can perform the analyses needed to develop alternative water quality criteria, including the compilation of supporting documentation, such as sanitary survey and water quality data, and identify technical and policy decision points for consideration.

The document was revised to correct an error in the computer code in Appendix E specific for adenovirus that was identified after the publication of the original version in April 2024. Specific details about the revisions are discussed in the Errata document posted with the revised Technical Support Materials document. The TSM describes a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA)-based approach to develop RWQC for waters predominantly affected by non-human fecal contamination.

EPA Office Highlight – Municipal Ombudsman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Municipal Ombudsman is an independent, impartial, and confidential resource to assist municipalities in navigating clean water act programs – including support in identifying sources of technical assistance, federal funding, integrated planning assistance, and more. The Municipal Ombudsman coordinates with EPA offices to assist communities in navigating EPA resources and to advocate for fair processes and uniform application of Clean Water Act policies and can facilitate discussions, brainstorm and evaluate options and resources, introduce and share relevant EPA contacts, gather technical resources and information on best practices from EPA programs, offer an impartial perspective, engage in shuttle diplomacy as an intermediary, and provide options pertaining to Clean Water Act matters. An ombudsman does not delay any statutory, regulatory, or other EPA deadlines, negotiate permit conditions or other regulatory provisions, make decisions or legal determinations for the EPA, provide their own interpretations or legal clarifications of law or policy, address internal human resources matters, discuss, research or decide allegations of discrimination, or make determinations involving financial assistance.

Learn more about the Municipal Ombudsman at www.epa.gov/ocir/municipal-ombudsman

Interested in receiving a list of federal clean water resources with a municipal focus? If you would like to subscribe, send an email with the word “subscribe” in the subject line to municipalombudsman@epa.gov   

Association Updates

2024 Annual Meeting – Virtual Registration Option Added!

View the draft agenda here.

This year ACWA is again providing virtual access to the 2024 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 21 – 23, 2024. Similar to the in-person event only State/Interstate/Territory/EPA regulators and invited guests are permitted to participate virtually. Below please find a link to the Virtual Meeting Agenda. All sessions listed are available for streaming access. Questions during the sessions may be submitted through the “Chat” function and ACWA will do its best to incorporate into the sessions as appropriate and time permits. Virtual participants are encouraged to secure a State/EPA conference room and invite your peers to participate in the different sessions to receive the greatest value for the $125.00 virtual registration fee. However, ACWA does permit individual virtual participant registrations if that is needed/preferred. A link to the virtual registration page can be found below. Please note, on Friday, August 16, 2024 ACWA staff will send out the webinar links to all folks that are currently registered for virtual access.

View the Virtual Agenda Here

Register here!
If you or the person you are registering already has an account with Member365, please use that login information to complete your registration. If you are unsure whether or not you have an account, or need assistance accessing your existing account, please contact Lexy Bailey.

More information can be found here on ACWA’s 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.

Experts Directory

As per the ACWA Strategic Plan, over 70 state staff volunteered to be part of an Experts Directory, which is a service ACWA provides in the Member365 Environment. These subject matter experts (SMEs) volunteered to make themselves available should their peers in other states have programmatic related questions. This Directory has been added as a drop down on the Memebr365 dashboard page and is organized by Expert Subject Area. The subject matter areas include 316(b), 401 Certification, 404 Assumption, CAFO/Animal Agriculture, Enforcement and Compliance, Funding, Legal Affairs, Monitoring & Assessment, Nutrients Policy, NPDES Permitting, Nonpoint Source, Oceans and Coastal Issues, Pesticides, Pretreatment, State Implementation of CWA Programs, Steam Electric, Stormwater – Municipal, Stormwater – Industrial, Technology and Innovation, Water Quality Trading, Water Quality Standards, Water Quantity, and Watersheds & TMDLs. If you have programmatic questions, this may be another option to help you find out how other states are addressing the issue. Several volunteers offered to help research a question if they did not have an answer readily available. Beyond answering Member questions, ACWA may also ask the SMEs to identify:

challenges & barriers to program implementation
opportunities for state program improvement & enhancement
state advances and innovations
needs for training, guidance, tools, and other support materials
positions the Associations wishes to take on specific issues

If you would like to volunteer as an SME, please contact Lexy Bailey at abailey@acwa-us.org. For more details on Member365, please check out our FAQ Page.

Meetings and Webinars

2024 Water Quality Modeling Workshop – Registration Now Open!

Dates: September 16 – 20, 2024
City: Philadelphia, PA

ACWA, in partnership with USEPA, will be holding the 2024 Water Quality Modeling Workshop in Philadelphia, PA, the week of September 16, 2024. The 2024 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 year we will be offering hands-on trainings on WASP, SWAT+, and a Modeling 201: Demystifying your Modeling Project course which will feature presentations, case studies, and discussions.

This workshop is 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.

You may register for the workshop here.

To register, you will need access to ACWA’s member portal. If you are EPA staff, please reach out Lexy Bailey (abailey@acwa-us.org) for help getting set up. This workshop has 3 distinct tracks – including two hands-on trainings. Hands on trainings will be offered for WASP and SWAT+. A third track – Modeling 201 – will feature some hands-on work along with lectures and discussions.

Space is limited, so once you register, you will automatically be placed on the wait list. You will receive a confirmation email at a later date. This is to ensure an equal opportunity for some states that may need a few weeks to ensure they are able to participate.

Draft agendas are available here.

Lodging is available at the Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square at the local per diem rate. The workshop will also take place in the hotel’s event space. You may Reserve your hotel room here.

ACWA does anticipate having some travel support for airfare and lodging.

2024 National Stormwater Roundtable – Registration Now Open!

Dates: October 22 – 24, 2024
City: Washington, DC
Meeting Space: EPA HQ Meeting Space
Hotel: Grand Hyatt Washington
Website: 2024 National Stormwater Roundtable

In-person registration is live!! Please note you will be asked to select between Municipal, Industrial, and Construction Stormwater tracks for 1/2 day.

For those registering virtually, please use this link. Virtual registration is live!!

This week ACWA sent out emails regarding agenda topics, potential presenters, volunteers for the Agenda Planning Committee, and travel support. If you did not receive a related email, please contact Sean Rolland at srolland@acwa-us.org.