New EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, addressed EPA staff for the first time on February 21. Pruitt’s remarks were consistent with the themes that have already been heard from the Trump Administration, but did not get into any specifics in terms of policy actions or structural changes to the Agency.

NACWA spoke with members of the National Association of Counties (NACo) on February 25 as part their National Legislative Conference to discuss priority issues for the municipal clean water community and identify ways in which the two organizations can continue working together.

Building on his promise to reduce federal regulation, President Trump further unveiled his plans for regulatory reform via an Executive Order issued February 24

During its regular meeting with Office of Water leadership on February 23, NACWA and other water sector organizations were updated on the ongoing effort to bring the new administration up to speed on priority water-related issues.

As part of the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), NACWA met with Senate and House Committee staff on February 21 and 22, while they were in the early stages of working on an infrastructure package.

EPA has extended the comment period until March 29 for its proposed National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for publicly owned treatment works (POTWs).

NACWA staff attended a meeting of the “Don’t Mess with Our Bonds” Coalition hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors on February 23.

EPA will host a “WIFIA Letter of Interest Submission and Project Selection” webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 1:00 pm to 2:30 p.m. EDT.

The City of Santa Fe won an EPA grant of $150,000 this year, to boost stormwater plans which are in line with “Utility of the Future (UOTF)” ideals, and propel the city onto the forefront of wet weather and Small Municipal Storm Water NPDES permit management.

The Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on February 17 by a vote of 52-46, and he was sworn in as the Agency’s 14th Administrator later that day.

NACWA met with Andrew Sawyers, Director of the Office of Wastewater Management (OWM), and most of the office’s senior management on February 14, to discuss a range of issues, including water finance, stormwater and affordability.

The role of municipal tax-exempt bonds to fund needed infrastructure investments is at risk as some Congressional leaders propose to eliminate the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds in an effort to reform the tax code and lower corporate tax rates.