Clean Water Current Archive

An eleven-member Science Advisory Board (SAB) panel on biosolids met yesterday to discuss EPA’s ‘Charge Questions’ and review its draft biosolids risk assessment framework.

The U.S. EPA is currently developing guidance for its new Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Fund, which was created through the Inflation Reduction Act. NACWA hopes to see clean water emphasized in this major new program so that water utility projects can benefit from the Fund in the coming years.

Last week, Congressmen David Kustoff (R-TN) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) introduced the Investing in Our Communities Act. The bipartisan legislation aims to restore the option to advance refund tax-exempt municipal bonds.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is administering the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), has released a survey for water and wastewater utilities to help the Department better understand the scope of water and wastewater debt around the U.S.

NACWA submitted testimony to Congress last week formally requesting an additional $1 billion in supplemental funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) in Fiscal Year 2024.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing March 22 on EPA’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget proposal. EPA Administrator Michael Regan was the Committee’s only witness.

NACWA participated in a March 22 public listening session on planned changes for the way EPA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate certain pesticide products.

While clean water utilities strive to achieve triple bottom line environmental, social and economic benefits for their communities, understanding what state and federal agencies mean when they use terms such as “environmental justice” and “disadvantaged communities” can be challenging.

NACWA submitted a letter last week to the Arizona Legislature on a very active bill that would restrict where Class B biosolids can be land applied in the state. The Arizona legislation marks a continuation of concerning action at the state level across the country to limit biosolids management options.

NACWA submitted comments March 17 on EPA’s Draft Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2021 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.

In a judgment issued the day before the rule took effect, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on Sunday enjoined the Biden administration’s revised Clean Water Act (CWA) definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) in two states – Texas and Idaho.

NACWA joined a broad coalition of water, agriculture and conservation groups on a recent letter to EPA Administrator Regan and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Haaland in support of the Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure.

Members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) held a hearing March 15 focused on the opportunities and challenges of implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) through the eyes of the public drinking and wastewater sectors. Committee members heard testimony from Tom Sigmund, NACWA President and Executive Director of NEW Water, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced March 14 its proposal for a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for several PFAS chemicals including PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, GenX, PFHxS, and PFBS.

EPA earlier this year published a suite of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) as guidance in an effort to help states and tribes adopt and implement EPA’s updated 2021 Recommended Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Nutrients in Lakes and Reservoirs. The FAQs are intended for permit writers.

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.