News
New Compendium of State, Tribal & Territorial Practices: Mitigating the Effects of Staff Turnover
The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) has released Approaches to Mitigating the Effects of Staff Turnover on the CWA 303(d) Program: Examples from Practice. The brief compendium categorizes and summarizes some of the many ways that State, Tribal, and Territorial water quality programs have reduced disruptions to workflow and delays in progress that commonly occur during staff changes. Most of the content of the compendium stems from presentations and discussions in sessions of recent National Training Workshops on Water Quality Data, Assessment, and Plans as well as registration responses of State and Territorial CWA 303(d) program staff and Tribal water quality program staff for those events. The compendium reflects lessons learned from many recent retirements and the pandemic. As part of this effort, ELI also developed a repository of Clean Water Act training and educational resources, which can be helpful in providing new staff background information as well helping all staff with particular subjects. With a renewed focus on program capacity building articulated in the 2022 – 2032 Vision for the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Program and significant movement in program staff still occurring, the compendium is intended to help facilitate communication among water quality programs, help generate new ideas, and ultimately help programs prepare for future turnover in ways that improve continuity and resilience. The compendium is the result of a cooperative agreement between ELI and the U.S. EPA.
EPA Releases Summary of Stakeholder Meetings on PFAS in Biosolids
These three workshops convened participants representing wastewater utilities and solid waste organizations, state regulating agencies, and the EPA. The purpose of these workshops was to explore the three main management options for biosolids, their benefits and challenges, and their ability to meet capacity and public health needs; identify management practices and treatment technologies to address PFAS in biosolids; and discuss practices for, and gaps in, communication related to PFAS and biosolids. This report summarizes the perspectives and thoughts that participants shared across the three meetings and in one-on-one discussions between the facilitators and participants. This summary report does not seek to demonstrate consensus or offer recommendations for action.
You may access the document on EPA’s website at: https://www.epa.gov/biosolids/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-biosolids.
EPA Proposed Construction General Permit Modification
EPA is proposing a narrow modification to its 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP) to expand the list of areas eligible for coverage to include all Lands of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction nationwide. Lands of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction are lands where the Federal government retains exclusive jurisdiction in relevant respects. This modification is necessary because EPA is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting authority, and when the 2022 CGP was issued on February 17, 2022, the permit did not specifically provide eligibility for all of these areas.
Refer to EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/proposed-modification-2022-construction-general-permit-cgp for more information about the proposed CGP modification. This webpage includes a pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice and the specific proposed modifications to the CGP.
The notice should be published in the Federal Register within the next week and there will be a 30-day comment period.
EPA Posts Joint Memoranda Regarding Approved Jurisdictional Determinations
EPA has recently posted two case-specific memoranda to its website regarding two draft elevated Approved Jurisdictional Determinations. You can find the memos on EPA’s Coordination Process for Approved Jurisdictional Determinations and Field Memoranda webpage, and also at the following direct links:
Both joint memoranda address whether site specific discrete features can provide a continuous surface connection for an adjacent wetland. The memoranda do not substitute for EPA or USACE CWA regulations, nor are they regulations themselves. Thus, the memoranda do not impose legally binding requirements on EPA, USACE, Tribes, States, or the regulated community, and may not apply to a particular situation based upon the circumstances. To view associated approved jurisdictional determinations, please search for the given district identification number on USACE’s Jurisdictional Determinations and Permit Decisions Interface. Information is also available on EPA’s Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Determinations website.
Interim Framework for Advancing Consideration of Cumulative Impacts Public Comment Period
This week, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 90-day public comment period on the newly developed document Interim Framework for Advancing Consideration of Cumulative Impacts. The framework document is available here and, in the docket, (Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OLEM–2024–0360). The Framework is intended to provide EPA programs with “a foundation for developing approaches to incorporate analysis and consideration of cumulative impacts into their work, with the goal of achieving results that improve health and quality of life in America’s communities.”
ACWA Members can reach out to Lexy Bailey by January 31st, 2025 with any comments, questions or concerns so we can determine whether it is appropriate for ACWA to submit comments on the proposal.
Association Updates
ACWA Annual Member Survey 2024-2025
This week ACWA staff sent out the Annual ACWA Member Survey which helps us evaluate current services and member satisfaction and assists leadership with planning for the future. This survey is 16 questions long and should take no more than 12 minutes to complete. This survey is being sent to all state, interstate, and territorial staff that participate in ACWA activities. Please respond by no later than Friday, December 20, 2024. Thank you in advance for your assistance! We greatly appreciate your feedback!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024_2025_Annual_Member_Survey
2025 Mid-Year Meeting – Registration Now Available!
Dates: March 12 & 13, 2025
Venue: Hilton Alexandria Old Town, Alexandria, VA
Registration is LIVE! Register HERE
The draft agenda and hotel room block for the upcoming 2025 ACWA Mid-Year Meeting are now available. This year’s meeting will take place on March 12 & 13, 2025 in Alexandria, VA. This will be a closed meeting intended for state members and federal guests. The agenda is in development and will be updated as appropriate.
Make your room reservations today! The room block will close on February 18, 2025.
Check back here for more updates.
Save the Date: 2025 State Summit on Water Reuse
Date: March 19, 2025
Venue: JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Save the Date! The 2025 State Summit on Water Reuse will take place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the J.W. Marriott Water Street in Tampa, FL. This free, state regulator-only event is hosted by ACWA, ASDWA, ECOS, ASTHO, GWPC, and U.S. EPA, and will be held once again in conjunction with the WateReuse Association Annual Water Reuse Symposium, which begins March 16.
Please CLICK HERE to indicate your interest in participating in the State Summit by Friday, December 6. Please forward this email to any appropriate staff to complete the interest form. Formal registration and additional details will follow in early 2025.
The primary goal of the State Summit is to provide a place for state regulators to share and learn about a range of water reuse issues, network with state colleagues, and coordinate with representatives from select federal agencies. The Summit will feature perspectives from many states and provide an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts and key questions with colleagues from around the country. Past Summit session topics have included: developments in potable reuse around the nation, non-potable reuse for agriculture, industrial reuse trends and experiences (e.g., data centers, produced water), as well as federal updates on the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) and Interagency Working Group.
ACWA and ASDWA may be able to assist with reimbursement for costs relating to state travel and lodging for the Summit. However, space and reimbursement funds are limited. Please contact Ward Scott (wscott@acwa-us.org) to request travel reimbursement or for more information. Additionally, State Summit participants are eligible to register for the Annual WRA WateReuse Symposium at a discounted (Presenter) rate.
Meetings and Webinars
EPA Trash Free Waters: Escaped Trash Risk Map
December 10, 2024 01:00 PM
REGISTER HERE
Please join EPA’s Trash Free Waters program to learn about this new tool on Tuesday, December 10 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET. We will walk through the genesis of the map, how it was developed, how it can be used and how we plan to update it going forward.
The panelists for this webinar will include:
- Romell Nandi, Trash Free Waters National Program Lead, US EPA
- Jenna Jambeck, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering, University of Georgia
- Kathryn Youngblood, Senior Research Engineer, University of Georgia
- Kara Lavender Law, Research Professor of Oceanography, Sea Education Association
EPA Webinar on Clean Water Programs and Partnerships for Land Protection
December 16, 2024, 1:00-3:00 pm (eastern time)
REGISTER HERE
On Monday, December 16, 2024, from 1:00-3:00 pm (eastern time), EPA will host a Watershed Academy webinar about how Clean Water Act (CWA) programs and partnerships can advance land (and drinking water) protection. During the webinar, speakers will highlight opportunities to integrate land protection across CWA programs, including the CWA Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program, the Source Water Protection Program and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The webinar will also share how EPA tools, like How’s My Waterway, can help land conservation organizations and partners. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and share their approaches for protecting lands with federal support. The webinar speakers are:
- Jesse Boorman-Padgett, Water Data Integration Branch, U.S. EPA
- Steve Epting, National Nonpoint Source Program, U.S. EPA
- Kira Jacobs, Source Water Protection Program, U.S. EPA Region 1 (New England)
- Alison Souders, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, U.S. EPA
For more information, view the webcast flyer.
Job Opportunities
Executive Director
Location: Washington, D.C.
Closing Date: December 20, 2024
The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) is dedicated to empowering and equipping states and territories to effectively protect public health with a strong and knowledgeable voice. Our work impacts everyone served by a drinking water system in the U.S. We represent state and territorial agencies that implement the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) by working with the Federal government, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other organizations.
If interested in applying for this position, please send a resume, cover letter, and two writing examples (the first-vision of where ASDWA is as an organization and where it could potentially go and the second-example of past technical/policy analysis, each no longer than 800 words) to ExecutiveDirectorSearch@asdwa.org by Friday, December 20th.
Environmental Analyst – Water Quality Monitoring
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: January 5, 2025
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by January 5, 2025. Please reference #25-NYS-SW-DEC-001 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Permit Writer (Environmental Engineer 3) (2 positions)
Location: Spokane, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit Washington’s Job Opportunities webpage.
General Permit Data Specialist/Permit Administrator (Environmental Specialist 3)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit Washington’s Job Opportunities webpage.
Senior Program Manager, Environmental Policy
Location: Washington, D.C.
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
NAHB is seeking an experienced candidate for the position of senior program manager, environmental policy. This role is responsible for implementing NAHB’s regulatory policy program concerning environmental issues at the federal, state and local level by providing critical analysis of law and regulation; and providing technical assistance to members and HBAs on environmental regulatory issues. Functions performed by this position include the preparation of regulatory comment letters, compliance assistance materials for NAHB’s membership, and performing related regulatory advocacy work before federal and state environmental agencies.
To apply for this position, please submit this application.
Recreational Water Quality Analyst
Location: Cheyenne, WY
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, visit Wyoming State Government Jobs.
Environmental Specialist I/II
Location: Dover, DE
Closing Date: Open until filled
For more information and to apply, visit Kent Conservation District.
Environmental Engineer Manager 1 (Surface Water Discharge Permitting Manager)
Location: Pierre, SD
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
For more information and to apply, click here.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
