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.