News
White House Releases FY 2026 Budget Draft
The White House released the President’s FY 2026 Discretionary Budget Request on Friday. The release includes $163 billion, or 23%, in cuts to federal spending. According to a fact sheet accompanying the draft the Budget eliminates 16 EPA Categorical Grants—saving taxpayers over $1 billion—while maintaining funding at 2025 enacted levels for Tribes and carbon capture utilization and storage, thus encouraging States to achieve primary enforcement authority for these programs and to innovate to find more efficient ways to meet their responsibilities under delegated authority. According to the White House, EPA’s Categorical Grant programs were established to help States and local governments comply with environmental statutes—the majority of which have been on the books for several decades—but have become a crutch for States at the expense of taxpayers. The proposal also looks to cut funding to the EPA Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds. The EPA Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds (SRFs) were designed decades ago to give money to States via formula allocation for seed money to set up their own water infrastructure loan programs to operate without continued annual federal appropriations. By providing the lowered level of $305 million to the SRFs, the Budget returns them to their intended structure while saving American taxpayers $2.4 billion. The budget also looks to cut NRCS programs and the NRCS Watershed Operations program.
EPA Announces 100 Environmental Actions
This week EPA announced 100 environmental actions taken by the agency during President Trump’s First 100 Days in office. The following were specific CWA program examples:
- Issued immediate action items for Mexico to permanently end the Tijuana River sewage crisis.
- Responded quickly to a citizen complaint about discharges into New York’s Hutchinson River; inspected and ordered corrective action.
- Developed a Clean Water Act permit for hotels, condominiums, and apartment complexes to protect water quality in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Finalized Arkansas 2022 Section 303(d) list assessing statewide water quality.
- Approved Kansas Triennial Water Quality Standards Package.
- Approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan in South Dakota to protect Big Sioux River quality from E. coli.
- Announced plans to finalize outdated clean water standards for 38 miles of the Delaware River.
- Approved removal of the Drinking Water Beneficial Use Impairment in Wisconsin’s Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern.
- Advanced Navajo Nation’s first in the country water permitting (“Treatment as a State”) authority.
- Developed a method to detect 40 PFAS compounds in water sources.
- Finalized eight Water Quality Standard Actions for Region 6 states.
- Provided interim PFAS lab certification for Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC).
- Provided training to help New Mexico administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.
- Oversaw cleanups at tribal and local jurisdictions under CERCLA and Clean Water Act.
- Announced major actions to combat PFAS contamination.
A copy of the full press release can be found here.
Nationwide Permits – Army Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issues nationwide permits (NWPs) to authorize certain activities under §404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Activities covered include aids to navigation, utility lines, bank stabilization activities, road crossings, stream and wetland restoration activities, residential developments, mining activities, commercial shellfish aquaculture activities, and agricultural activities. The current permits can be found here. All of these current NWPs expire on March 14, 2026. It has been reported by the press that the NPWs package was submitted to OMB in early April for Interagency review. Traditionally, the Corps has provided a 60-day comment period on the draft permits and a 60-day effective date from the final date of issuance, giving the Corps roughly 7 months to finalize and issue the final package. Experts expect there will be several changes to the permits in response to current Administration priorities, including for energy related projects in response to Executive Order 14156 which declares a national energy emergency. More details will be provided once the draft permits are published in the Federal Register.
Administrator Zeldin Announces Major EPA Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination
US EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced upcoming agency action to address PFAS. In this suite of actions, Administrator Zeldin announced a long list that included in part the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for certain PFAS to stop these forever chemicals from entering drinking water systems, and initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures the polluter pays and passive receivers are protected.
EPA states that actions are guided by the following principles: strengthening the science, fulfilling statutory obligations and enhancing communication, and building partnerships. With this approach, EPA plans to provide the foundation and investment necessary for a toolbox that will help states and communities dealing with PFAS contamination.
Association Updates
Save The Date for ACWA’s 64th Annual Meeting in Madison, WI!
Dates: August 13-15th, 2025
Board of Directors will meet August 12th, 2025.
Lodging is now open for reservation!
Venue:
The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club
One West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53703
Room rate: $138 per night
View the draft agenda here.
Registration and more information will be coming soon. Check back here for more details.
2025 ACWA CWA Cross-Program Workshop – Registration and Draft Agenda
Dates: July 21-23, 2025
Location: Chicago (Rosemont), IL
Registration is now open for the 2025 CWA Cross-Program Workshop on July 21-23, 2025, in Chicago (Rosemont) at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. The theme for this year’s Workshop will be “CWA Cross-Program Coordination to Improve Nutrient Management and Address Nutrient Pollution.” The 2025 Workshop is the third annual Cross-Program Workshop held in cooperation with EPA.
Registration: Please click here to register. There is no registration fee for this event.
Agenda: View the draft agenda here.
Objective: CWA Cross-Program Workshops are intended to bring together state, territorial, and federal CWA program administrators to discuss and share ways in which cross-program coordination and collaboration can be strengthened to more effectively and efficiently protect and restore our waters. The 2025 Workshop will focus on opportunities and challenges for administrators of CWA Sections 303(c), 303(d), and 402 in coordinating nutrient management and responses to nutrient pollution.
State, territorial, and federal clean water leaders will identify cross-program challenges and barriers to CWA implementation in the nutrients space; work toward solutions to cross cutting water quality topics; identify ways to improve technical capabilities; highlight opportunities for cross-program planning, implementation, and co-operation; and clarify linkages, roles, and responsibilities among CWA programs.
Participants: The Workshop target audience will be state/territorial clean water regulators with practical experience and responsibilities in supporting and managing CWA Section 303(c), 303(d), and/or 402 programs, particularly in the nutrients space, as well as EPA representatives for each of the programs. Attendees should come prepared to discuss ways in which cross-program coordination has been an important aspect of successful program and/or restoration plan implementation, as well as cross-program challenges and needs.
Travel Support: ACWA plans to provide limited state/territorial travel support in the form of a post-Workshop reimbursement. Please contact Ward Scott before June 1, if you know you will require travel support to attend the Workshop.
Hotel: Book your hotel room here. The room block will close June 30, 2025.
Website: 2025 Clean Water Cross-Program Workshop – Event Page
2025 Water Quality Standards Workshop – Presentations Now Available
April 22-24, ACWA hosted the 2025 Water Quality Standards Workshop in Des Moines, IA. The workshop brought together over 90 participants representing more than 40 states and one U.S. territory. Presentations and discussions covered topics such as temperature standards, site-specific criteria, triennial reviews, nutrient management, human health criteria, and CWA legislation updates. Presentations from the workshop are available on ACWA’s website.
Meetings and Webinars
Introduction to PLUMES 2.0
Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 1 – 3 pm ET
Register here
This webinar will provide an overview of the use and functionality of EPA’s recently released PLUMES 2.0
dilution model. Dilution models provide estimates for the mixing and dilution of pollutants in a receiving water. These models are essential tools for assessment of NPDES mixing zones in coastal waters and rivers. The PLUMES 2.0 model is comprised of two submodels: the UM3 model for near field dilution (including multi-port diffuser analysis) and Brooks’ equations for far-field dilution estimation. These submodels are carried forward from the legacy VISUAL PLUMES model. In this webinar, we will present an overview of the PLUMES 2.0 model and how it is used in NPDES permitting analysis, and then step through an example analysis for a marine outfall discharge.
Presentation Speakers: Ben Cope (EPA Region 10), Lakshitha Premathilake (Salish Sea Modeling Center),
and Tarang Khangaonkar (Salish Sea Modeling Center)
Job Opportunities
Upcoming Announcement: Colorado Water Quality Standards Feasibility Unit – Small Communities Feasibility Coordinator
This position is part of a team that provides scientific analysis, policy and regulatory recommendations, and other technical information to the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC). The unit’s work involves researching and analyzing complex water quality topics to support the development, implementation, and review of water quality standards variances in accordance with the federal Clean Water Act and the Colorado Water Quality Control Act.
Our team’s Small Community Feasibility Coordinator develops economic, technological, and environmental feasibility tools to scale our program’s support for small communities working to improve water quality. This work includes connecting with communities and conducting technical work to support the development of robust policy proposals that maximize feasible water quality progress throughout Colorado. By evaluating cost-effective and practical approaches, the coordinator ensures that small communities have the resources and insights needed to implement sustainable improvements while considering their unique constraints.
An ideal candidate:
- Effectively translates engineering concepts for decision-makers and communities.
- Conducts independent research and develops clear, actionable resources.
- Understands policy, economics, and philosophy and their impact on water quality.
- Solves problems proactively, connecting people, data, and systems.
If you’re interested in this position, enjoy solving difficult problems, and having a meaningful impact, please reach out to blake.beyea@state.co.us with any questions or for more information. The official job announcement is expected to open (Spring 2025).
Environmental Specialist
Location: Rochester, Marshall, or Detroit lakes, MN
Closing Date: May 7, 2025
For more information and to apply, visit Minnesota Careers.
Water Quality Program Manager (EMS Band 4)
Location: Thurston County, WA
Closing Date: May 8, 2025
For more information and to apply, visit Ecology Job Opportunities.
Information Officer – Education and Outreach
Location: Grand Isle, VT
Closing Date: May 11, 2025
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference #25-LCBP-007 in the email subject line. Preference given to applicants who apply by May 11, 2025. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Program Manager – Education and Outreach
Location: Grand Isle, VT
Closing Date: May 11, 2025
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference #25-LCBP-006 in the email subject line. Preference given to applicants who apply by May 11, 2025. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Analyst
Location: Grand Isle, VT
Closing Date: May 11, 2025
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference 25-LCBP-008 in the email subject line. Preference given to applicants who apply by May 11, 2025. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description may be viewed at:
https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Analyst IV
Location: Springfield, MA
Closing Date: May 15, 2025
For more information and to apply, visit MassCareers Job Opportunities.
Bureau of Air & Waste Air Quality Intern
Location: Springfield, MA
Closing Date: May 15, 2025
For more information and to apply, visit MassCareers Job Opportunities.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
