News
Celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared the month of October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a dedicated month for the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. Over the years it has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage actions by the public to reduce online risk and generate discussion on cyber threats on a national and global scale. The theme for this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month “Secure Our World”. This year several water organizations are promoting and celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month by encouraging water program leaders to learn more and strategize on cybersecurity issues. The EPA has also developed a 2024 Roadmap to a Secure and Resilient Water and Wastewater Sector. CISA has also put out a Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit.
$49 million in Technical Assistance to Help Rural, Small, and Tribal Communities Address Wastewater Challenges
This week EPA announced availability of $49 million in new technical assistance funding to help rural, small and tribal communities address critical wastewater and water quality challenges. Many of these community systems face unique challenges, including aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs, and declining rate bases. EPA’s grant funding will be used to assess the most pressing water challenges in communities, provide training on water infrastructure and management best practices, help communities navigate the federal funding application process, and strategically invest in reliable infrastructure solutions. Funding will be focused on four priority areas:
- Acquisition of Financing and Funding: These applicants will help rural, small, and Tribal communities plan for and access funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) and other sources.
- Protection of Water Quality and Compliance Assistance: This funding will help rural, small, and Tribal communities improve their technical, managerial, and financial capacity and maintain compliance.
- Tribal Wastewater Systems: This area provides training and technical assistance to tribes across all areas of their Clean Water Infrastructure.
- Decentralized Wastewater Systems: More than 1-in-5 households in the United States rely on septic systems and other decentralized systems, and this priority area focuses on assistance to those communities.
Apply by November 25, 2024: https://www.epa.gov/small-and-rural-wastewater-systems/training-and-technical-assistance-ta-program-rural-small-and.
WaterTA Community Video Stories
EPA recently added water technical assistance (WaterTA) Community Video Stories to its website to showcase some of the communities receiving WaterTA. EPA’s WaterTA provides communities with free expert support to find and implement solutions to their drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater challenges. The Community Video stories provide examples of how WaterTA is helping communities, and highlights their water challenges, potential solutions, and hopes for the future. These videos were created by the US Water Alliance as part of the EPA’s Community Solutions Teams Pilot to expand direct WaterTA services and the Environmental Finance Center Grant Program.
- View WaterTA Community Video Stories: WaterTA Videos | US EPA
- Learn more about WaterTA: WaterTA Information | US EPA
- Request WaterTA for your community: WaterTA Request Form | US EPA
Source Water Protection Week – Sept. 29 – Oct. 5 2024
Next week is Source Water Protection Week! EPA’s Source Water Collaborative has gathered resources for water utilities and other partners to raise awareness about protecting drinking water sources.
Protecting source water reduces risks by preventing exposures to contaminated water. Protecting source water from contamination helps reduce treatment costs and may help to avoid the need for complex treatment. Additional benefits associated with source water protection include protecting water quality for wildlife and recreational use and protecting the availability and quantity of water supplies.
SWC Tools for Source Water Protection:
- The SWC Learning Exchange
- How to Collaborate Toolkit
- Map/Collaboratives Near You
- Agricultural Collaboration Toolkit
- How to Work with Land Use Planners and Local Officials
- How to Use the Clean Water Act (CWA) to Protect Source Water
- NEW Guide for Using CWA Discharge Permits to Protect Drinking Water Sources (May 2024)
EPA Releases Information on Systematic Review of Ecological Toxicity Data
This week, EPA posted its existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Data Evaluation Records (DERs) for systematic review of ecological toxicity data for aquatic life and aquatic-dependent wildlife. The publicly available SOP and DERs provide information on Office of Water’s systematic review of ecological effect toxicity studies used in the development of aquatic life Ambient Water Quality Criteria (AWQC), aquatic life benchmarks, and screening values for the protection of aquatic life and aquatic-dependent wildlife. The SOP is generally consistent with procedures developed by EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) to support a common approach to data evaluation for chemicals.
This document is only intended to be descriptive and does not provide or make recommendations about what other entities should do to conduct systematic review of ecological toxicity data. View the EPA’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Data Evaluation Records (DERs) for systematic review of ecological toxicity data.
EPA and AmeriCorps Announce Environmental Justice Climate Corps
On Sept. 25, U.S. EPA and AmeriCorps announced the Environmental Justice Climate Corps, a new partnership launched as part of President Biden’s American Climate Corps to open doors for people to serve in careers that benefit disadvantaged and other low-income communities. This partnership will support more than 250 AmeriCorps VISTA members nationwide over three years, with each new participating member completing a one-year term of service. This historic initiative is the largest environmental partnership in AmeriCorps’ history and EPA’s first nationwide service effort.
Applications for the Environmental Justice Climate Corps will open in early 2025, with a goal for its first cohort to start later that year. To sign up for updates on the program, visit EPA’s website.
Meetings and Webinars
October 2024 Virtual NPDES Permit Writers Course
Dates: October 10 – November 14, 2024
Course Description and Registration Information
The objective of this course is to provide the basic regulatory framework and technical considerations that support the development of wastewater discharge permits required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The course was designed for permit writers with six months to one year of experience in the NPDES program, but experienced permit writers wanting a refresher course and other water program staff wanting to learn more about the NPDES program also are welcome.
The 5-week course will begin on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Participants should anticipate a time commitment of approximately 8 -10 hours per week and should seek supervisor approval before signing up. The course is scheduled to conclude on November 14th, however a “rain date” of November 19th should be reserved by the participants in case of technical issues.
Each week, participants will have assigned “homework” consisting of NPDES online modules and permit writing exercises. These modules and exercises will then be discussed in a live virtual classroom setting on Tuesday and Thursday of each week. Participants will have the opportunity to join live office hour discussions with instructors and other participants each Tuesday as well. Participants will be expected to complete some pre-course assignments the week of October 7th prior to the course start.
Microsoft Teams will be utilized for the virtual classroom and can be accessed through the desktop application or a web browser. Course materials will be provided electronically on the Microsoft Teams classroom site for download by the participants prior to the start date.
As a foundational course, the training does not address in detail specialized topics such as industrial and municipal stormwater, concentrated animal feeding operations and pesticide discharges. For more information on these specialized topics, please visit EPA’s NPDES Web site at www.epa.gov/npdes
If you have questions regarding the course, please contact Sean Ramach at: npdestraining@epa.gov or call him directly at (202) 564-2865.
Job Opportunities
Environmental Analyst – Technical Assistance Provider
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: October 1, 2024
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by October 1, 2024. Please reference #24-DHHS-DWP-003 in the email subject line. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Remedial Action Hydrogeologist
Location: Portland, OR
Closing Date: October 20, 2024
For more information and to apply, visit Oregon Job Opportunities.
Environmental Engineer, PE
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: Open until filled
To apply, submit your cover letter and resume by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference #24-NY-IEM-001 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description and benefits listing may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Freshwater Monitoring Unit Supervisor, Western Operations Section (WMS Band 1)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Water Quality Data Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 3)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Shoreland, Wetland, Aquatic Resource Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3 or 4)
Location: Yakima County – Union Gap, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Water Quality Standards Program Supervisor
Location: Wyoming
Closing Date: Continuous
The Water Quality Standards (WQS) supervisor is responsible for developing the state’s surface water quality standards (Chapter 1, Water Quality Rules). Other program responsibilities include supervising the states harmful cyanobacteria bloom (HCB) and waterborne pathogen notification programs in coordination with the Wyoming Department of Health and reviewing and commenting on federally proposed National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) activities and projects in Wyoming to ensure State water quality rules are followed.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Natural Resource Analyst (Nonpoint Source Program)
Location: Various Locations – Wyoming
Closing Date: Continuous
The Wyoming Nonpoint Source Program works to reduce unregulated nonpoint sources of pollution to Wyoming’s water resources by providing technical and financial assistance for voluntary, locally-led projects to protect and restore waterbodies, thereby fulfilling state responsibilities under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The purpose of this position is to lead and implement the Wyoming Nonpoint Source Program, including administering CWA Section 319 and Section 205(j)/604(b) grant funds, completing strategic program planning, evaluating program effectiveness, conducting outreach and education activities, coordinating program oversight with the Nonpoint Source Task Force, and building partnerships with agencies and organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. This position works extensively with other DEQ/WQD Clean Water Act programs to effectively conduct watershed protection, restoration, and monitoring activities. This position routinely coordinates with the Environmental Protection Agency to administer grants and ensure compliance with federal requirements.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Construction Stormwater Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4)
Location: Spokane, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Federal Permit Liaison (Environmental Specialist 4)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
