Clean Water Current

Congress continued preparing to address major Administration priorities throughout the month of June, including an infrastructure package and tax reform which could impact clean water agencies.

NACWA sent a letter June 22 to Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s non-voting member in the House of Representatives, supporting the wipes law passed by the D.C.

The Energy Workgroup will convene on Thursday, June 29, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET to discuss the cross-cutting issue of Renewable Identification Number (RINs) credits issued under EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

NACWA held a collaborative roundtable workshop on June 22 with the Western Coalition of Arid States (WESTCAS) in San Diego, CA, as part of the WESTCAS Annual Meeting.

NACWA was pleased to help sponsor The Conservation Fund’s National Summit on Infrastructure and the Environment, June 19-20.

NACWA offices will be closed July 3 – 4 in observance of Independence Day, 2017, and there will be no Clean Water Current issued during the week of July 3.

NACWA provided its initial thoughts, in a June 19 letter to EPA, regarding the Agency’s new effort to redefine “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS).

NACWA joined with a coalition of water sector organizations June 15 on a letter to oppose proposed cuts in the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant program.

The wipes industry is trying to block the District of Columbia’s wipes legislation, the Nonwoven Disposable Products Act of 2016, through the Congressional appropriations process. DC’s legislation is the first in the US to address the problems caused by flushable and non-flushable wipes.

EPA has taken action in a legal case involving development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) that could have national legal ramifications, and in which NACWA will soon be participating.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt sought to defend the Administration’s proposed EPA budget last week as he testified before the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a confirmation hearing June 13 for Susan Bodine, President Trump’s nominee to lead EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA).

A legal challenge to water quality trading appears to have been beaten back in Pennsylvania, but the plaintiffs in the case have indicated they are looking for additional opportunities to attack the practice.

EPA signed the final Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category, also known as the “Dental Amalgam Rule,” for a second time on June 9. The final rule is significantly different than the proposed rule, due in part to the extensive comments submitted by NACWA.

NACWA met June 7 with the Director of EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management, Andrew Sawyers, and his senior staff to discuss a range of issues, including NACWA’s May 15 input on regulatory areas needing improvement.

Based on recent conversations with EPA (see related story), NACWA is forming a workgroup of members to provide input/ideas on the how the application/paperwork process around the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) can be streamlined.

Last week, Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced the bipartisan Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act to promote the use of sustainable biogas facilities.

NACWA met with specific Congressional offices last week to advance clean water priorities this year—particularly targeting Clean Water Act improvements, Integrated Planning, and infrastructure investment.

NACWA hosted more than 100 participants for the most recent installment of its Hot Topics in Clean Water Law webinar series.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has recently denied a request by EPA to stay a February federal district court order that requires EPA to federalize the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to address West Virginia water bodies with high conductivity levels.