NACWA, along with the Water Environment Federation, the American Water Works Association, the US Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, wrote EPA Administrator Michael Regan and the Acting Administrator of the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Dominic Mancini, November 10 to raise concerns with EPA’s revised Financial Capability Assessment Guidance.

NACWA’s Board of Directors and many leaders of the Association’s standing committees met this week in St. Pete Beach, Florida for their annual Leadership Meeting. The event provides an opportunity for NACWA’s utility leadership to discuss key issues facing the Association and clean water sector and plan for the year ahead.

NACWA took part this week in the 2022 Water Environment Horizon Conference in Austin, Texas to discuss clean water legislative and regulatory efforts happening at the federal level. The conference was hosted by the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) and the Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies (TACWA).

In comments filed with EPA this week, NACWA expressed serious concerns with the Agency’s proposal to designate two PFAS substances – PFOA and PFOS – as hazardous under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and encouraged EPA to take steps to shield clean water utility ratepayers from liability for PFAS cleanups.

Every election cycle update comes with the key caveat or warning that results are still incoming, and that readers should expect the potential for changes. That sentiment could not be more true when analyzing the election that took place on Tuesday. However, the current results suggest that there should be limited disruptions or changes to who holds key positions overseeing programs critical to the public clean water sector.

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every 5 years is required to publish a list of unregulated chemicals that are known or anticipated to occur in drinking water and may pose risks.

NACWA is pleased to announce that this month a special feature on biosolids will air on the Public Broadcast Service (PBS) Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid.

Last week, U.S. EPA released additional guidance, Build America, Buy America Act Implementation Procedures for EPA Office of Water Federal Financial Assistance Programs, related to the Build America, Buy American Act (BABAA) changes that were made in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

NACWA and other water sector associations sent a joint letter to the White House on Nov. 4 asking for intervention to avert a rail worker strike in early December. A strike was averted in September when the White House negotiated a potential agreement with rail worker unions. However, the agreement has not been ratified by all the unions, leaving open the possibility of a strike.

On November 4th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of 29 Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) that will help communities across the country access federal funding for infrastructure and greenhouse gas reduction projects that improve public health and environmental protection.

The race to net-zero emissions is on. Just as the water sector is helping make the world more sustainable by delivering clean water and reliable sanitation to communities, we also can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to help slow climate change.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) filed comments on Nov. 7 expressing serious concerns with EPA’s proposed rule to designate Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

NACWA reminds all of its members that the next few days are the last chance to file comments on EPA’s proposed rule to list PFOA and PFOS – the two most common PFAS chemicals – as hazardous substances under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The comment deadline remains Nov. 7 after EPA recently denied multiple requests for a deadline extension.

NACWA and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) sent a joint letter last week to House and Senate Appropriations Committee Leadership requesting the highest level of Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) funding for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and to fund an EPA pilot program for low-income water customer assistance.

NACWA sent a letter to U.S. EPA Nov. 1 that outlined a set of clean water technology principles and policy recommendations to ensure enhanced collaboration with the federal government in developing and deploying innovative technologies to help clean water agencies better and more cost-effectively meet growing 21st century challenges.

During the pandemic, NACWA has engaged with the National League of Cities (NLC) to share information regarding the growth of wastewater-based epidemiology. The NLC is launching a new initiative and is seeking interested POTW and local governments to participate. A synopsis of this effort and contact information is below for interested utilities.

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) will hold a free webinar on Friday, November 4th to discuss the role utilities can have in protecting critical infrastructure from climate change threats. While the webinar will feature a number of Maryland utilities, it is relevant and will contain helpful information for utilities nationwide.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) is pleased to provide you with the September/October 2022 Regulatory Update. Please feel free to contact NACWA staff for more information on any of the issues raised in this Update.

Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew), the regional public wastewater treatment provider in Alexandria, Virginia, recently began construction on its RiverRenew Tunnel Project, a state-mandated project to reduce combined sewer overflows in Alexandria. Since the start of the Project’s planning, AlexRenew has conducted significant community outreach to engage and educate Alexandria’s residents about the importance of the RiverRenew Tunnel Project.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Oct. 25 that it will not be extending the public comment period for its proposed designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) beyond the 60 days initially offered for comment.