Clean Water Current

NACWA members and staff, along with the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Water Research Foundation (WRF), met with senior EPA Office of Water officials on April 4, during Water Week 2019, to discuss current and future challenges facing the biosolids program.

The first afternoon of the National Water Policy Fly-In featured speakers from EPA’s Office of Water. Dave Ross, Assistant Administrator for the Office, kicked off the program by stressing the value of the partnership EPA has with the water sector, and thanking the audience of water professionals for all the work they do to protect human health and the environment. Noting the activity of his office directors in managing a number of rulemakings and other initiatives, Ross chose to highlight three non-regulatory programs as the top issues on his mind at the moment.

The annual Wet Weather Partnership conference is just around the corner and features an agenda tackling issues around cooperative federalism, integrated planning, and smart watersheds.

The Clean Water Current is getting an upgrade! NACWA is currently working on a new design for our weekly flagship newsletter to provide you with an improved reading experience and even more relevant information for your clean water work.

Hundreds of NACWA members, water sector leaders and water professionals from around the country are arriving in Washington DC this week to advocate with Congress and key national policy makers for clean water.

The US Senate’s Committee on Environmental and Public Works (EPW) held a hearing on March 28, entitled “Examining the Federal Response to the Risks Associated with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).” David Ross, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water, testified along with Maureen Sullivan, Dr. Patrick Breysse, and Dr. Linda Birnbaum with the Department of Defense, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute of Health, respectively.

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee marked up H.R. 1331 on March 27, which is a bill to reauthorize the Sec. 319 Nonpoint Source Grants Program. This legislation was sponsored by Committee Members Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN) and Brian Mast (R-FL).

The first regulation of flushable wipes in the U.S. has been proposed by the District of Columbia (DC) Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE). DOEE was required to develop these regulations by the District’s wipes labeling law, the Nonwoven Disposable Products Act of 2016.

EPA announced last week its Notice of Funding Availability for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program for 2019. This is the third round of funding that has been made available under the program

EPA announced last week its Notice of Funding Availability for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program for 2019. This is the third round of funding that has been made available under the program.

NACWA’s Small & Mid-Size Utility Workgroup met on March 20th to discuss advocacy and strategies for building effective relationships with legislators. Tim Haskell, Superintendent of the York Sanitary District in Maine shared his experiences building coalitions and engaging utility partners in educating the Maine legislator on the need for infrastructure funding- an effort that resulted in a $30 million state bond. NACWA legislative directors, Kristina Surfus and Jason Isakovic, also shared their experience building effectively building relationships with both legislators and legislative staff.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are holding firm on the April 15, 2019 public comment deadline for the revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) definition, despite multiple stakeholder calls for an extension. After releasing a pre-publication version on December 11, 2018—which was publicly posted on both EPA and USACE websites—and the five-week federal government shutdown, the agencies believe that a total of 125 days from pre-publication to the existing deadline is enough time for the public to review and submit meaningful comments.

The House Ways & Means Committee, which is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives, recently held a hearing entitled, “Our Nation’s Crumbling Infrastructure and the Need for Immediate Action.”

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a pre-publication version of its requirements for the new risk assessment and emergency response plans required of drinking water utilities in the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which was signed by President Trump last year. The Act revised a 2002 Safe Drinking Water Act amendment, which required one-time vulnerability assessments for drinking water utilities.

NACWA participated in a panel discussion on the recent integrated planning legislation last week at a conference of the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA), which represents state water regulators. The panel, which also included speakers from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and EPA, provided an opportunity for NACWA to highlight the history behind the legislation and what the Association hopes it will accomplish moving forward.

NACWA and two of its member agencies signed on to a letter from the California Association of Sanitary Agencies (CASA) to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler requesting his assistance in making changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program related to food waste and biogas. The RFS program offers incentives for the production of renewable transportation fuels, including fuels derived from wastewater.

Hundreds of NACWA members, water sector leaders and water professionals from around the country will be pouring into Washington DC next week for the National Water Policy Fly-In (April 3-4)—the highlight event of Water Week 2019 (March 31 – April 6)—to advocate with national policy makers for clean water.

With the federal Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Congressional appropriations process gaining steam, NACWA submitted testimony last week to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies requesting support for key EPA clean water programs and funding priorities. NACWA will be submitting similar FY20 testimony to Senate Appropriators once the Appropriators open their stakeholder submissions in the coming weeks.

With the National Water Policy Fly-In and Water Week 2019 almost here, now is the time to be scheduling visits with your Members of Congress. It is critically important that, while you are in Washington, you visit with your elected leaders and educate them about the most important issues facing your utility and the work you do every day to serve your community.