Clean Water Current

(March 20, 2020) – In an announcement made on March 16, EPA officially named Ms. Jamie Piziali as the Agency’s first Municipal Ombudsman to assist states and local governments in carrying out integrated planning efforts.

A little over two years ago, Congress approved the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2018 (H.R. 7279), which President Trump signed into law and which codified EPA’s Integrated Planning approach―marking one of the most significant substantive changes to the Clean Water Act in decades. As part of the legislation, Congress created a Municipal Ombudsman at EPA to act as a liaison between EPA and the municipal regulated community to help address regulatory concerns, including the implementation of Integrated Planning.  

Ms. Piziali previously led EPA’s Green Infrastructure Program within EPA’s Office of Water, and NACWA congratulates her on her new role. The Association has worked with Ms. Piziali in the past on municipal stormwater issues and looks forward to continuing its work with Ms. Piziali in her role as the Municipal Ombudsman. NACWA will be setting up a meeting with Ms. Piziali in the coming weeks.  

If members have questions, please contact Emily Remmel, NACWA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs.