News
USACE Soliciting Public Input on Nationwide Permit Program
On March 13, President Trump issued an executive order – Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction – directing (among other things) EPA and USACE to review and potentially revise several Clean Water Act permitting and water quality requirements that the administration says may be contributing to higher housing construction costs. The order calls for evaluation of requirements affecting stormwater, wetlands, and other waters with the goal of streamlining permitting and reducing regulatory burdens associated with residential development. Among the programs identified for review are EPA’s Construction General Permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity, federally established total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), and construction and post-construction requirements in municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits.
The order also directs the agencies to examine federal standards governing dredge-and-fill permitting and state or tribal program assumption under Clean Water Act Section 404. In response, USACE has announced that it will be soliciting public input on potential revisions to its nationwide permit program. In order to be considered, comments must be received by May 15, 2026.
Environmental Protection Agency Draft Fiscal Year 2027 Evidence Plan
This week EPA released a draft FY2027 Evidence Plan as required by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018. The Agency anticipates the submission of the final document to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in June 2026. EPA is seeking comments on the draft plan by Thursday, May 14, 2026. Major questions to be answered by EPA would include:
1. EPA grant programs that were among those allocated the highest levels of FY26 funding (a) achieving environmental and human health outcomes and (b) being good stewards of tax dollars, as defined by evidence-building work conducted in FY26?
2. Based on the information gathered and assessed in FY26, which permitting improvements merit further exploration, testing, evaluation, and/or broader implementation will be most effective in streamlining EPA’s processes to reduce the (i) time, (ii) uncertainty, and (iii) costs involved in issuing a permit?
3. Which aspects of the Electronic Permitting System (EPS) has the EPA applied to the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program workflow and vice versa can leverage automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiencies and support the Agency mission?
More details can be found here: Federal Register : Environmental Protection Agency Draft Fiscal Year 2027 Evidence Plan
Senate Introduces S. 4300, Addressing State CWA Sec. 401 Certification Authority Over Natural Gas Pipelines
On April 15, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced S. 4300, the Jurisdictional Oversight and Adjudication For Natural Gas (JOAN) Act, which would modify how CWA Section 401 applies to interstate natural gas pipeline projects. The bill would require that Section 401 water quality certification be incorporated into the environmental review conducted by FERC under the NEPA review process. It would eliminate separate state-administered Section 401 certification processes for these projects. Any conditions necessary to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act would be included within FERC’s review and authorization. The bill would thereby centralize Section 401 certification within the federal permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines.
S. 4300 would also establish “a single civil action as the sole and exclusive means of judicial review for the project” to limit legal challenges. Courts would have a 180-day deadline to rule on pending complaints to avoid the project being granted automatic authorization.
EPA Releases Factsheet on Economic Benefits of Protecting Healthy Watersheds
EPA has published an update to the 2012 fact sheet, The Economic Benefits of Protecting Healthy Watersheds (EPA-841-F-25-002, April 2026). The updated fact sheet compiles state-by-state evidence demonstrating the measurable economic returns of watershed protection across six benefit categories: drinking water treatment cost savings; natural hazard mitigation; recreation and tourism; subsistence hunting, fishing and foraging; quality of life and health; and property values.
EPA staff reviewed literature published in the last 15 years and selected illustrative examples from across the U.S. that quantify the economic benefits of protecting healthy waters and watersheds. Case studies range from Alaska’s $170–340 million in subsistence harvests across rural communities to Tampa Bay’s $31 million in annualized flood protection benefits from coastal wetlands.
Association Updates
ACWA 2026 Annual Meeting – Draft Agenda Now Available
Dates: August 5, 2026 at 8:00 am – August 7, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Board of Directors will meet August 4, 2026.
Venue: The Eldorado Hotel and Spa, Santa Fe, NM
ACWA has provided a draft agenda for attendee travel approval purposes. View the draft agenda here.
Check here on our website for more information regarding registration, lodging, and agenda updates.
Your Chance to be Featured in ACWA’s 2026 Annual Report!
As we gear up for our annual report, we’re looking to expand our photo library. We invite you to be a part of the Annual Report by sharing your photographs with us!
Here’s how you can participate:
- Select your best high-resolution water photos
- Email them to Lexy Bailey by June 15th, 2026
- Include your name and the location of the photograph
Thank you!
Meetings and Webinars
NNCR Advanced Training: Single Event/Other Violations
Date and Time: May 5, 2026, 3:00-4:00 PM EST
Register for this training on ZoomGov
This training focuses on single event/other violations on the quarterly National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Noncompliance Report (NNCR), which provides a comprehensive list of Clean Water Act violations and their resolutions to the public. It provides an overview of when single event/other violations are generated, criteria for assigning Category I versus II noncompliance, resolution of single event/other violations, and a demonstration of searching and filtering single event/other violations on the quarterly NNCR.
This is an advanced training and assumes you have attended or watched a recording of the quarterly NNCR training before attending.
Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (WCAT) Webinar
Date and Time: May 13, 2026, 1-2:30 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
EPA’s Office of Water Emergency Response and Cybersecurity (OWERC) will demonstrate how to use EPA’s Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (WCAT) to conduct cybersecurity assessments at water and wastewater systems.
How Water Sector Utilities are Building Resilience to Natural Hazards: Utilities Recount their Engagement with EPA SWIFT Technical Assistance
Date and Time: May 20, 2026, 1-2 pm ET
REGISTER HERE
Join US EPA’s Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) initiative to learn how water sector utilities are benefitting from natural hazard risk assessment technical assistance. The technical assistance provided by SWIFT’s experts is tailored to meet the needs of each utility request, from improving the understanding of natural hazard impacts to their system to quantifying the potential reductions in risk that specific projects can deliver. Hear directly from utility representatives across the country that have engaged in the process to build system resilience to various natural hazards.
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Technical Assistance & Open Office Hours
Environmental Finance Center Network [external with federal funding] provides State Revolving Funds (SRFs) Office Hours. These sessions are designed to help state agencies, utility operators, and stakeholders navigate SRFs with practical insights and strategies. Each session begins with a theme to provide clarity on managing SRF-funded projects, followed by an open “Ask Me Anything” Q&A
- May 6: What is the best way to calculate rates?
- May 18: Federal award compliance, part 1
- June 3: Federal award compliance, part 2
Job Opportunities
Environmental Specialist III
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: May 15, 2026
*There is another Environmental Specialist III position open as well that applicants will need to apply to separately to be considered for both positions. By applying to each position, an applicant will double their chance of acquiring the ESIII permit writer position with the Bureau of Water Quality.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Specialist III
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: May 15, 2026
*There is another Environmental Specialist III position open as well that applicants will need to apply to separately to be considered for both positions. By applying to each position, an applicant will double their chance of acquiring the ESIII permit writer position with the Bureau of Water Quality.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Analyst – Mohawk River Basin Program
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: May 25, 2026
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by May 25, 2026. Please reference #26-NYS-SW-DEC-003 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description and benefits listing may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Analyst or Engineer – Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Location: Lowell, MA
Closing Date: Open until filled
To apply, email your cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference #26-Lowell-001 in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description and benefits may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Watershed Management Section Manager
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Watershed Management Section Manager (WMS2)
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
