Clean Water Current

The White House released its proposed Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Federal Budget on March 9. The proposal lays out the President’s request for how to advance the Biden Administration’s priorities through annual spending in the federal fiscal year beginning October 1.

NACWA submitted comments this week on the latest proposed guidance regarding Build America, Buy America (BABA) implementation. BABA was signed into law last year to expand domestic procurement preferences beyond iron and steel to include manufactured goods and construction materials which are used in infrastructure projects receiving any form of federal funding.

NACWA hosted a webinar on March 8th providing a comprehensive overview of EPA’s Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS).

NACWA is deeply saddened to report the passing of former NACWA Board Member and President David Williams, who passed away on March 1. Williams served as NACWA’s President from 2011-2012. He also served on the Board of Directors of NACWA Member Utility the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District.

NACWA sent a letter to Capitol Hill on February 28 outlining the Association’s top legislative priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization. Congress recently kicked off work on this important legislative initiative, which happens once every 5 years.

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced legislation this week, S.660/H.R.1367, the Water System Threat Preparedness and Resilience Act, which provides federal resources and tools to the WaterISAC to expand membership and further assist drinking water and clean water utilities better prepare and mitigate against cyber security and other growing threats and risks.

In comments on EPA's National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs) for Fiscal Years 2024 - 2027, NACWA this week encouraged the Agency to reconsider its proposed designations of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances in light of its new enforcement goals.

To help members as they continue to respond to the ongoing challenges surrounding PFAS, NACWA is pleased to share a new PFAS Communications Toolkit that includes various resources for utilities responding to public, media, or political leader inquiries.

EPA is offering several upcoming opportunities for the public to directly engage with the Agency around PFAS issues.

EPA recently released initial guidance for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), a major new source of funding created through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

In a major victory for NACWA public utility member the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), a federal district court recently threw out a citizen suit alleging that the utility was not properly enforcing its Clean Water Act (CWA) pretreatment program.

Massachusetts, Colorado, and Hawaii are the latest states looking to address the problem of flushed wipes through legislation. Washington, Oregon, California, and Illinois have already instituted labeling requirements for non-flushable wipes, requiring prominent “Do Not Flush” logos on packages of baby wipes, personal hygiene wipes, disinfecting wipes, and other wipes that are likely to be used in bathrooms and flushed.

Wondering if or how you should participate in EPA’s Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS)? Join us March 8, from 2:00-3:30 PM ET, for a complimentary webinar, Measuring Capital Improvement Needs Through the 2022-2023 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, to get all the details you need.

On February 24, EPA announced each state, Tribe, and territory Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) allotment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). These funds, totaling $2.4 billion, represent the supplemental funding each CWSRF will receive for FY23 from the BIL, which is providing additional funding to the SRFs over five years. Note that Congressionally directed projects, or earmarks, will not impact these totals like they do annual SRF funding.

NACWA filed an amicus curiae brief last week in support of public agency member Columbus Water Works’ (CWW) challenge to the Georgia Environmental Protection Department’s (EPD) imposition of unsupported, costly permitting requirements for its combined sewer system.

EPA will be hosting a webinar tomorrow, February 23 at 1:00 PM ET, on its new Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) Guidance. All members with questions about the new FCA Guidance are encouraged to register and participate.

NACWA’s Board of Directors met Feb. 14 as part of the Association’s 2023 Winter Conference in Sonoma, California.

NACWA submitted comments February 10 on EPA’s proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) regulations, supporting changes that would help clean water utilities benefit from the program. The RFS provides incentives to produce renewable transportation fuels, including the biogas produced by anaerobic digestion of biosolids.

NACWA joined fellow public sector organizations in sending a letter on February 21 to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler regarding implementation of the Financial Data Transparency Act (FDTA), which was signed into law in December as an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

NACWA sent a letter to Capitol Hill on February 1 outlining the top legislative priorities the Association looks to work with Congress on over the next two years during the 118th session of Congress.