Clean Water Current

EPA reached out to NACWA in December of 2018 for comments and feedback on its draft Water Reuse Action Plan. NACWA submitted comments last week focused on the fact that water reuse and recycling regulatory efforts have been traditionally maintained at the state level and must continue without federal regulatory intervention.

The March 11 deadline to make hotel reservations for the National Water Policy Fly-In is almost here – make your plans now to attend and don’t miss this critical advocacy event!

Over four months into the 2019 Fiscal Year (FY) and on the heels of the longest government shutdown in US history, Congress last week agreed on a bipartisan spending bill that will fund the government, including EPA, for the remainder of FY 2019, ending September 30. President Trump signed the bill into law on February 15.

EPA published a final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Updates Rule on February 12, deferring action, for now, on the more controversial items that the Agency was exploring in early proposals.

EPA unveiled its much anticipated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Action Plan on February 14, which highlights how the Agency will tackle growing concerns over these contaminants.

EPA and the Department of the Army’s proposed rule narrowing the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) was finally published in the Federal Register on February 14.

NACWA’s recent Winter Conference included a compelling panel presentation on how various utilities are pursuing a variety of community benefit programs.

The US Supreme Court announced this morning that it has granted certiorari in Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund (Case 18-260) to resolve the circuit split on the limited question of whether the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires a permit when pollutants originate from a point source but are conveyed to navigable waters by a nonpoint source, such as groundwater.

EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) released its annual report on February 8 covering its initiatives and actions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. The report looks at several different criminal and civil enforcement “outcomes” including enforcement actions initiated and concluded, as well as penalties assessed.

With the 116th Congress now well under way, NACWA encourages all of its members to engage with their respective U.S. Representatives and Senators about the value that public clean water utilities bring to their communities and the challenges faced each day in providing these essential services.

The Director of Charlotte Water, Angela Lee, testified on behalf of NACWA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) last week before the full House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee regarding the specific needs of the clean water sector.

NACWA joined with more than 100 organizations across the infrastructure spectrum last week — representing transportation, water, airports and many more — to underscore the need for strong legislative progress on key infrastructure issues.

NACWA’s 2019 Winter Conference took place last week in Albuquerque, New Mexico and featured engaging discussions around the intersection of clean water and drinking water policy issues, especially the federal Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.

The House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee have announced the final water subcommittee assignments for the 116th Congress. NACWA utilities represented by any of these Members of Congress are encouraged to reach out to your elected officials and ensure the officials understand your key policy priorities. NACWA’s Congressional Toolbox is a helpful resource to do this.

Prior to the five-week federal government shutdown, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army had scheduled a public hearing in Kansas City, KS for those interested in presenting data, views, or information regarding the pre-publication Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rulemaking.

Registration is now open for the National Water Policy Fly-In — convening April 3 – 4 in Washington, DC — which serves as the anchor event for Water Week 2019. As has been made clear in recent weeks from comments by President Trump and congressional leaders, there is strong interest in Washington to advance a bipartisan infrastructure package. But in order to ensure that any package includes water as a top priority, it is critical that policy-makers hear directly from you about the specific challenges facing your utility and community.

Top officials in EPA’s Office of Water are looking to jump-start work on market-based programs, including water quality trading, in an effort to address nutrient-related and other types of water pollution across the country. David Ross, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, issued a memorandum on February 6 to the Regional Administrators for the Agency’s ten regional offices “updating” EPA policy on water quality trading, and outlining six “Market-Based Principles” that are intended to facilitate broader adoption of such programs.

Director of Charlotte Water, Angela Lee, will testify this week on behalf of NACWA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), in front of the full House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee regarding the needs of the clean water sector.

Within hours of getting back to work after the longest federal government shutdown in history, EPA released its Year in Review for 2018, which provides a high-level summary of the Agency’s accomplishments during 2018 across all of its programs. The document also includes accomplishment summaries for each of the ten EPA Regions.

President Trump called for a broad infrastructure investment package in his State of the Union address last night, again raising the possibility of an infrastructure bill that could gain bipartisan support.