News
Trump Names Regional Administrators
The Trump Administration has begun announcing the appointments of several U.S. EPA Regional Administrators:
- Region 2: Michael Martucci
- Region 6: W. Scott Mason IV, Deputy Secretary of Energy in the Oklahoma Department of Energy & Environment and former EPA Region 6 Administrator
- Region 7: Jim Macy, former ECOS President and former Director of the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy
District Court Pauses Texas/Idaho WOTUS Litigation
This week, a District Court in Texas issued a stay in State of Texas, et al., v. EPA, et al. This case was brought in 2023 by the Attorneys General of Texas and Idaho against the Biden Administration’s WOTUS Rule. Early in the history of this case, the District Court granted a preliminary injunction that stopped the WOTUS rule from being implemented in the two states. In the order this week, the court granted an unopposed motion by EPA to stay the proceedings and he directed the parties to provide him with status reports every 60 days.
Exchange Network Grants
U.S. EPA has published the FY2025 Solicitation Notice for the Exchange Network (EN) Grant Program. EN grants are a helpful source of funding for states, territories, and tribes seeking to invest in environmental information management and exchange. EPA expects to award 30-35 grants of up to $600,000 each, totaling approximately $9.5M in FY25. The exact number of grants awarded will depend on the number of applications, the amounts of proposed project budgets, and the quality of proposals. Individual applicants may request up to $400,000, and eligible EN partnerships can request up to $600,000. Grant applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by March 24. EPA anticipates announcing selection decisions in July and tentatively plans to issue awards by September 30.
EPA Reopens Comment Period for Six Actions Published in Late January
EPA has reopened the comment periods for six actions, including the Comparison of Aquatic Life Protective Values Developed for Pesticides Under the FIFRA and the CWA. A new comment period will be open through March 3, 2025.
More information on the six actions and how to comment may be found here.
GAO Report: Expedited Permitting Process – More Transparency
The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) may at times expedite permit processing for some nonfederal entities. Section 214 of WRDA authorizes the Corps to expend funds to expedite the evaluation of permits for their proposed projects. Agreements made under this authority are known as section 214 agreements. From fiscal year 2015 through July 2, 2024, the Corps had entered into 23 section 214 agreements for expedited permit processing with public utility companies, natural gas companies, and railroad carriers. The Corps has issued over 3,600 permits using funds from these agreements. The Corps has not made all active section 214 agreements to accept funds and section 214 annual reports each available on a single public website. The GAO recommends the Corps modify its database to distinguish permits issued using section 214 agreement funding from other permits and to make all active agreements and annual reports each available on a single website.
MSGP Comment Deadline Extended to April 4, 2025
An ACWA summary of the rule can be found here. A link to the federal register notice extending the deadline can be found here: Federal Register :: Three Actions Published EPA
Association Updates
New ACWA Office Address
Please update your contact lists with our new address:
1725 I Street NW
Suite 225
Washington, DC 20006
2025 Mid-Year Meeting – Reserve Your Hotel Room Now!
Dates: March 12 & 13, 2025
Venue: Hilton Alexandria Old Town, Alexandria, VA
Make your room reservations today! The room block will close on February 18, 2025.
Registration is LIVE! Register HERE
This will be a closed meeting intended for state members and federal guests. The agenda is in development and will be updated as appropriate.
Check back here for more updates.
Registration Open: 2025 State Summit on Water Reuse
Date: March 19, 2025 (9:15 am to 4:30 pm)
Venue: JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Registration is now open for the 2025 State Summit on Water Reuse, which will take place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the J.W. Marriott Water Street in Tampa, FL. Please click here to register asap, as space is limited.
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.
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.
2025 Water Quality Standards Workshop – Registration Now Available!
Dates: April 22-24, 2025
Location: Des Moines, IA
This workshop is a national meeting organized by ACWA for state staff involved in state water quality standards programs, as well as for both Regional and Headquarters-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managers and staff.
The workshop will be held at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Des Moines. Reserve your hotel room here: ACWA Water Quality Standards Workshop. The room block will close March 31, 2025.
ACWA does anticipate having travel support for state staff. When available, more information can be found on ACWA’s events page.
Meetings and Webinars
EPA Workforce Webinar: The Water Tower
February 4, 2025 12:30 PM ET
For more information and to register, click here.
EPA Webinar on Alternative Water Sources for Augmenting Water Supplies
EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) is convening a virtual workshop on Alternative Water Sources for Augmenting Water Supplies with EPA Regions and interested states on February 19, 2025, from 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET.
Meeting the demand for safe and adequate supplies of water, especially in regions undergoing hotter and drier weather conditions, requires addressing research gaps associated with water reuse and water storage, including enhanced or managed aquifer recharge. Sustainable and safe water supply is a common theme for states and communities across the nation. Key research needs include chemical and microbial risk assessments for fit for purpose reuse, treatment characterization and performance as well as reliable supplies and cost, which will assist communities in their water reuse and aquifer recharge decisions.
This webinar will provide an overview of ongoing EPA ORD research related to alternative water sources including decentralized water reuse, protein processing plants, treated produced water from oil and gas activities, and enhanced/managed aquifer recharge, as well as collaborations with our partners.
Registration: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_y-z2L_hBSUuzMd_n4Y6LCg#/registration
Save the Date: EPA’s Informational Webinars on Draft WQS Handbook Chapters
On December 12, 2024, the EPA released three draft chapters of the WQS Handbook for a 90-day public comment period. The WQS Handbook provides a plain language discussion of the relevant regulatory and statutory requirements and the EPA’s recommendations for how states, authorized Tribes and U.S. territories can develop and implement WQS consistent with both. The EPA has updated Chapter 2 on Designated Uses, Chapter 4 on Antidegradation, and developed a new chapter on WQS Variances to include the EPA’s most recent WQS programmatic policy and guidance to implement the regulation at 40 CFR Part 131.
During the public comment period, the EPA will hold informational webinars to provide an overview of the chapters and an opportunity for participants to ask clarifying questions after having read the chapters. Each webinar will cover the same material.
Please save the date:
- General public webinar: February 4, 2025, 12pm ET to 2pm ET
- States and U.S. territories only webinar: February 4, 2025, 2:30pm ET to 4:30pm ET
- Tribes only webinar: February 6, 2025, 12pm ET to 2pm ET
Registration for the webinars will begin in early January 2025. The EPA will provide the registration information on the WQS Handbook webpage.
Job Opportunities
Environmental Analyst – Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan
Location: Stony Brook, NY
Closing Date: February 9, 2025
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by February 9, 2025. Please reference #25-NYS-LIRPC-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.
Water Resource Manager I (Surface Water Quality State Permitting Program Supervisor)
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Closing Date: February 19, 2025
Job ID # 151947
NMED Position # 10114473
The Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) preserves, protects, and improves New Mexico’s surface water quality for present and future generations. This position will lead the team that is developing and implementing a surface water quality State Permitting Program (SPP) to regulate discharges that could contaminate surface waters of the state, including rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. Ultimately, a state-implemented permitting program better protects New Mexico’s precious water resources by using local knowledge and priorities to preserve, improve and advocate for clean water for our communities and our industries.
For more information and to submit your application, please follow this link and search Job ID# 151947: https://careers.share.nm.gov.
Water Quality and Communications Intern
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: February 23, 2025
To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by February 23, 2025. Please reference #25-Lowell-002 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.
Aquatic Invasive Species Boat Launch Stewards
Location: Lake Champlain, NY and VT
Closing Date: Open until filled
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org; please reference #25-LCBP-003 in
the email subject line. Application review will begin on February 2, 2025, and will continue on a rolling
basis until all positions are filled. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/aboutus/careers.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
