NACWA Secretary and CEO of Metro Water Recovery, Mickey Conway, is set to testify on behalf of the Association before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee May 16 on the need for sensible and important regulatory reforms under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

EPA’s proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, which establishes enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA and PFOS as well as uses a novel hazard index approach for mixtures of PFAS, is currently out for public comment through May 30. EPA has made clear it is not extending the public comment period.

Members of NACWA’s Pretreatment & Pollution Prevention Committee met with EPA on May 8 to provide input on the Agency’s planned POTW influent study for PFAS. EPA announced the potential study in its Effluent Guidelines Plan 15.

Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Collins (R-ME), and Representatives McClain (R-MI) and Peltola (D-AK), recently introduced S.1350/H.R. 2964, the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (WIPPES) Act, to help address the problem of non-flushable wipes in sewer systems.

NACWA recently signed on to a joint letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan asking that the Agency finalize its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule that would allow electricity produced from biomass to qualify for credits in the RFS program. Electricity produced at wastewater treatment utilities would qualify for these “eRINs,” which could benefit utilities that produce electricity from biogas.

In a significant win for the clean water utility sector, Senator Lummis (R-WY), along with her colleagues Senators Wicker (R-MS), Boozman (R-AR), Cramer (R-ND), Ricketts (R-NE), Mullin (R-OK), Sullivan (R-AK) and Graham (R-SC), introduced legislation May 3 that would provide clean water and drinking water utilities a targeted exemption from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for PFAS chemicals designated as hazardous substances.

Efforts are advancing to provide addition funding for the current temporary Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), which is set to expire at the end of this year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced $41 million in new technical assistance funding to help communities address urgent wastewater challenges.

On Tuesday, May 23, NACWA and legal affiliate Baker Botts will hold a free webinar to walk through opportunities for clean water agencies to leverage funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). NACWA will be releasing a Guidebook to Clean Water Agency IRA opportunities in conjunction with the webinar.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) is pleased to provide you with the April 2023 Regulatory Update.