Clean Water Current

(July 31, 2018) – The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), released a legislative discussion draft last week for an infrastructure package focused on water and transportation sectors. The release of this House majority proposal comes at a time when the Senate is considering its Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) package, which encompasses Army Corps of Engineers, clean water and drinking water authorizations and provisions.

After EPA hosted the PFAS National Leadership Summit and Engagement in Washington DC last May, the Agency requested public comments on how to manage per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the growing suite of similarly related chemical constituents.

NACWA’s Stormwater Management Committee held a conference call with members on July 18 to discuss a several issues of concern to stormwater managers.

The next edition of NACWA's free Hot Topics in Clean Water Law Webinar series will be held on September 12, from 2:00-3:30 PM ET. Save the date!

Water and wastewater utility professionals will gather in Washington DC on August 6-7, for a unique glimpse into the most important and challenging issues associated with affordability, and a pointed discussion with expert thought leaders on how to best address these issues.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on July 11, entitled “The Long-term value to U.S. Taxpayers of Low-cost Federal Infrastructure Loans.”

EPA published a supplemental notice last week in the Federal Register providing additional clarification and reasoning for its repeal of the 2015 Clean Water Rule. EPA originally noticed its intent to repeal the Clean Water Rule in July 2017.

An op-ed published in The Hill newspaper last week by two NACWA utility members highlights the important role that Congress can play in helping to advance and ensure a qualified water workforce in the United States.

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is asking utilities to help assemble baseline data on the amount of resource recovery taking place at facilities in the country by completing a survey by August 10.

The EPA extended the public comment period on July 3 for their advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM): Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Costs and Benefits in the Rulemaking Process. This ANPRM seeks more information on how costs and benefits are to be considered by the EPA and whether the Agency can increase consistency and better improve transparency across all environmental statutes.

Building upon the recent PFAS National Leadership Summit in Washington DC, EPA announced on June 27 that the Agency would expand its community engagement on per- and poly-fluoroalkl substances by holding more local workshops this summer in Pennsylvania, Colorado and North Carolina.

Former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt submitted his resignation late last week, and EPA Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler was named Acting Administrator effective July 9.

The Senate passed its version of the 2018 Farm Bill prior to the July 4 recess, and the bill included several key priorities that were advocated for by NACWA and its Farm Bill Working Group. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 86-11.