The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit last week heard oral argument in NACWA member the San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s challenge to their first National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued after completion of their combined sewer overflow (CSO) long term control plan (LTCP).

The White House issued a statement on March 20 about an increased potential for Russian cyber-attacks against the US, urging owners and operators of critical infrastructure to increase their cybersecurity protections. A fact sheet includes cybersecurity steps that should be taken immediately.

NACWA joined with other water and cross-industry sector organizations in signing a letter March 21 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) advocating for a public comment period for the forthcoming Build America, Buy America (BABA) guidance.

NACWA staff joined the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) last week at their virtual annual winter meeting for a discussion of clean water utility perspectives on the federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), which was created in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

NACWA submitted comments March 17 on EPA’s Draft Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020 as part of the public review process. The annual Inventory provides nationwide estimates for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for different sectors, including wastewater treatment, and is intended to be used only for informational purposes.

NACWA Vice President Tom Sigmund, Executive Director of NEW Water in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and NACWA Board Member Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, CEO of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), testified in-person March 16 before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee during a bipartisan hearing entitled Oversight of the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Formula.