Clean Water Current

In a rule that took effect June 11, the EPA reversed the August 2020 changes to the organization and function of its Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) issued by the previous administration which altered the process to appeal EPA decisions, including those related to EPA-issued Clean Water Act permits.

Implementation of the new Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) has been gaining steam in recent weeks. Earlier this month, states learned their individual allocations of the total $1.138 billion available nationally and received access to up to 15 percent of their federal allocation for administrative costs to stand up their state’s program. NACWA has posted the allocations and their relative rank here

A group of environmental organizations represented by the Democracy Forward Foundation has petitioned the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to initiate a rulemaking process to clarify that DOJ can use Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) when settling civil enforcement actions brought under environmental statutes, including the Clean Water Act.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee took another important step today towards passing a comprehensive water infrastructure bill as it marked up and advanced H.R. 1915, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021, on a bipartisan vote. The bill, which NACWA strongly supports, authorizes tens of billions of dollars of new federal investment for clean water.

NACWA is pleased to announce the release of a new publication, Addressing the Affordability of Water and Wastewater Services in the U.S. – Case Studies of Utility Affordability Programs and Rate Structures, that outlines examples of how public clean water utilities across the nation are trying to address affordability challenges in their communities.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing this morning, PFAS: the View from Affected Citizens and States, which included testimony from state officials from New Mexico and West Virginia, a citizen advocacy group, and the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

EPA will soon embark on a renewal of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program Information Collection Request (ICRs), which set to expire next year.

NACWA, in partnership with the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) and the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA), is pleased to share with members a new report prepared by Stone Environmental detailing a more thorough “how-to” guide to understanding how the Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM) may be used to screen for PFAS potentially leaching into groundwater from land applied residuals and biosolids.

NACWA is continuing its support and partnership with the Northeast Biosolids and Residuals Association (NEBRA) on the 2nd National Biosolids Regulation, Quality, End Use and Disposal Survey.

We encourage all clean water communications professionals to register for this year’s StratComm: H2O virtual event, taking place next Monday and Tuesday, June 14 and 15, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. EST.

The White House announced the official launch of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) on June 2, housed at U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

The White House released its Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Federal Budget on May 28. The long-awaited proposal, which was previewed back in April, lays out the President’s proposal for how to advance its priorities through annual spending in the federal fiscal year which begins October 1, 2021.

Early this week, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri sided with multiple state clean water associations and NACWA in denying the request of environmental organizations to overturn EPA’s approval of Missouri’s nutrient water quality standards for lakes.

Oregon’s bill to require “Do Not Flush” labeling on wipes, HB2344, is awaiting Governor Kate Brown’s signature. Once signed into law, Oregon will be the second state with a law requiring a clear “Do Not Flush” logo on baby wipes, cleaning wipes, and other wipes that are not designed to be flushed. Washington enacted a similar law last year.

EPA this week published a Federal Register notice outlining its intention to reconsider and, as necessary, revise the regulations finalized in July 2020 governing the process and requirements for Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 state water quality certifications.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced bipartisan legislation last week that would establish a permanent low-income water customer assistance program housed at U.S. EPA.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee voted 14-6 in bipartisan fashion today to advance to the full Senate the nomination of Radhika Fox to be U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator of the Office of Water.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently selected Biobot Analytics, a NACWA affiliate member, to partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to monitor the presence of SARs-CoV-2 in wastewater on a national scale.

Utility pretreatment professionals gathered with state and federal regulators last week for the National Pretreatment Virtual Event, jointly hosted by NACWA and the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA).

EPA this week rescinded its October 2020 rule establishing certain internal agency procedures and requirements concerning the issuance, revision and withdrawal of guidance documents, including those related to public engagement and petitions for review. According to EPA, the rule deprived the Agency of necessary flexibility to issue timely and reliable guidance to the public.