News
EPA Seeks New Members for the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee
On January 16, 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a solicitation for nominations to serve on its Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). Established in 2008, the FRRCC provides independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities.
The FRRCC serves as an advisory body that will address specific topics of unique relevance to agriculture as identified by the Administrator, in such a way as to provide thoughtful advice and useful insights to the Agency as it considers environmental policies and programs that affect and engage agriculture and rural communities.
To build a broad and balanced representation of perspectives for the FRRCC, members will be selected from a variety of relevant sectors. Members may represent farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; allied industries, including farm groups, rural suppliers, marketers, and processors; academia and researchers; state, local, and tribal government; and nongovernmental organizations.
To be considered for an appointment to the FRRCC, applications should be submitted to FRRCC@epa.gov by March 2, 2026. For more information on how to apply, please visit https://www.epa.gov/faca/frrcc.
Audit of the EPA’s Post-Award Oversight of Grants Awarded Under the IIJA
In December of 2025 EPA released an EPA OIG audit report that determined EPA did not have sufficient controls over its grants management to monitor post-award performance of grants awarded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). As of September 30, 2024, the regional offices had a total of 7,877 active grants with a total value of about $38.1 billion; 1,669 of these were Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-funded grants, with a total value of about $22.6 billion, which represents almost 60 percent of the value of all active grants.
The IG found that the agency did not have sufficient controls in place to ensure that its regional offices are monitoring post-award performance of grants through required post-award monitoring plans and regular monitoring reviews. Specifically, the ten regional offices did not submit 8 of their 40 annual post-award monitoring plans for calendar years 2021 through 2024. Furthermore, the post-award monitoring plans that were submitted did not always include all the required elements. Of the 80 baseline monitoring reports the OIG selected for review, 35 did not provide sufficient documentation of post-award status or progress.
Because of the deficiencies the IG identified, these grant funds are at a greater risk of fraud, waste, and abuse since the EPA cannot ensure that grants are consistently monitored, which means that it cannot provide assurance that grant recipients are complying with federal regulations, EPA policy, and grant requirements. The IG recommended that EPA implement several measure – six of the eight recommendations are resolved with corrective actions pending, and one recommendation has been completed. A copy of the full IG report can be found here:
Association Updates
ACWA Experts Directory – A Member365 Resource
Over 85 state staff have volunteered to be part of an Experts Directory, which is an ACWA service provided in the Member365 Environment. These subject matter experts (SMEs) volunteered to make themselves available should their peers in other states have programmatic related questions. This Directory has been added as a drop down on the Member365 dashboard page and is organized by Expert Subject Area. The subject matter areas include 316(b), 401 Certification, 404 Assumption, CAFO/Animal Agriculture, Enforcement and Compliance, Funding, Legal Affairs, Monitoring & Assessment, Nutrients Policy, NPDES Permitting, Nonpoint Source, Oceans and Coastal Issues, Pesticides, Pretreatment, State Implementation of CWA Programs, Steam Electric, Stormwater – Municipal, Stormwater – Industrial, Technology and Innovation, Water Quality Trading, Water Quality Standards, Water Quantity, and Watersheds & TMDLs. If you have programmatic questions, this may be another option to help you find out how other states are addressing the issue. Several volunteers offered to help research a question if they did not have an answer readily available. Beyond answering Member questions, ACWA may also ask the SMEs to identify:
- Challenges & barriers to program implementation
- Opportunities for state program improvement & enhancement
- State advances and innovations
- Needs for training, guidance, tools, and other support materials
- Positions the Associations wishes to take on specific issues
If you would like to volunteer as an SME, please contact Lexy Bailey at abailey@acwa-us.org. For more details on Member365, please check out our FAQ Page.
Association of Clean Water Administrators Leadership Education and Development System (LEADS)
What is it?
The ACWA Leadership Education and Development System (LEADS) is a new Board directed initiative intended to encourage participation in leadership activities and help future leaders in the organization improve their understanding of roles and responsibilities.
Who can participate?
All current state and interstate members and their staff interested in learning more about leadership in ACWA (Committee/Workgroup Chairs, Regional Board Members, Executive Officers) can volunteer to participate in LEADS.
How do I engage?
To learn more about the LEADS initiative, please contact Sean Rolland to get access to a short questionnaire. Upon completing the questionnaire, participants will be provided access to a new Member365 Workspace, which holds materials developed expressly for the ACWA LEADS program.
What if I have more questions?
After reviewing the materials, should a participant have more questions and/or be interested in further discussing future leadership opportunities in ACWA, a volunteer advisor with experience in that leadership role will be notified and will reach out to you.
2026 State Summit on Water Reuse – Registration Open
Registration is now open for the 2026 State Summit on Water Reuse, which will take place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown. Please click here to register for the State Summit before February 13, 2026 (Please note that registration to this event is limited to state regulators-only).
This free, state regulator-only event is hosted by ACWA, ASDWA, ECOS, ASTHO, GWPC, and U.S. EPA, and will be held once again in conjunction with the WateReuse Association Annual WaterReuse Symposium, which begins March 8.
The primary goal of the State Summit is to provide a place for state regulators to share and learn about a range of water reuse issues, network with state colleagues, and coordinate with representatives from select federal agencies. The Summit will feature perspectives from many states and provide an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts and key questions with colleagues from around the country. Past Summit session topics have included: developments in potable reuse around the nation, non-potable reuse for agriculture, industrial reuse trends and experiences (e.g., data centers, produced water), as well as federal updates on the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) and Interagency Working Group.
ACWA and ASDWA may be able to assist with reimbursement for costs relating to state travel and lodging for the Summit. However, space and reimbursement funds are limited. Please contact Ward Scott (wscott@acwa-us.org) to request travel reimbursement or for more information. Additionally, State Summit participants are eligible to register for the Annual WateReuse Symposium at a discounted (Presenter) rate.
ACWA 2026 Mid-Year Meeting – View the Updated Draft Agenda!
Dates: March 25-26, 2026
Location: Alexandria, VA
View the updated draft agenda here.
Registration is now open!
Reserve your room now by calling 1-800-Hiltons (1-800-445-8668) and using group code 92N, or click here.
Group Rate: $276/night
Check our event webpage for more information.
2026 National Industrial Permitting Workshop – Registration Now Available!
Dates: April 7-9, 2026
Location: Washington, DC
Agenda: 2026 National Industrial Permitting Workshop Agenda – 1/16/2026
Meeting Registration: Register to the meeting using this link.
Hotel Registration: The hotel for this meeting has room nights at government rate. Please book your hotel room using this link. The room block will close on March 16, 2026.
View more details here on our website.
2026 Water Quality Standards Workshop – Registration and Draft Agenda Now Available!
Dates: April 21-23, 2026
Location: Little Rock, AR
Registration is open for the 2026 Water Quality Standards Workshop! This workshop will take place April 21-23, in Little Rock, AR. This workshop is a national meeting organized by ACWA for state staff involved in state water quality standards programs, as well as for both Regional and Headquarters-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managers and staff. The workshop will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock.
Registration is available here.
View the draft agenda here.
The workshop will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock. Reserve your hotel room here. The room block will close on March 30, 2026. ACWA does anticipate having travel support for state staff.
When available, more information can be found on ACWA’s events page.
ACWA 2026 Annual Meeting – Save The Date!
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
Check back here for more information regarding registration, lodging, and agenda.
Meetings and Webinars
39th Hypoxia Task Force Public Meeting
Registration is open for the 39th Hypoxia Task Force Public Meeting in Washington, D.C., February 5, 2026, 1:00pm-5:00pm EST. There is no cost to register and attend in person or virtually. The meeting will take place in the EPA Map Room, EPA East Building, 1201 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., EPA East Building, 1201 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington D.C.
You may register at no cost to attend in person or virtually at https://hypoxia.water-meetings.tetratech.com/StaticPublic. The agenda and meeting materials will be posted to this website soon. If you register for the virtual meeting, your confirmation email will contain details on how to join. Instructions on how to make optional public comments will be provided in your confirmation email.
You may review information about the Hypoxia Task Force at: https://www.epa.gov/ms-htf.
Workforce Solutions in Action: NRWA’s Apprenticeship Program Driving Skilled Talent in Rural Water
Date and Time: February 17, 2026 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET
REGISTER HERE
Water sector utilities are essential to providing clean and safe water for every American. Within each utility, administrative professionals are critical to achieving compliance and to ensuring the technical, financial, and managerial capacity to address both current and future challenges, all while providing the reliable service, especially in small and rural communities. Please join us on February 17, 2026 to hear from NRWA about their apprenticeship program to build the Water Workforce of the Future.
Stormwater Management Essentials for Small Systems and Communities
Date and Time: February 19, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
REGISTER HERE
Small wastewater systems with limited budgets and staff face stormwater challenges such as flooding, pollution, and aging infrastructure. Small communities face the same stormwater challenges as large cities, flooding, pollution, and aging infrastructure but with limited budgets and staff. This 1-hour webinar provides a practical introduction to stormwater runoff and hydrology, with a focus on how stormwater affects wastewater systems and local watersheds. Participants will learn how nutrients and contaminants in runoff impact receiving waters, and how green infrastructure can be used to manage stormwater. The webinar will end with a walkthrough of free EPA tools that can be used to support planning, decision-making, and grant applications.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how stormwater runoff and hydrology affect flooding, water quality, and wastewater system performance
- Identify common nutrients and contaminants in stormwater and understand their impacts on wastewater systems
- Describe green infrastructure approaches
- Use free EPA stormwater and green infrastructure tools to support planning, decision-making, and funding applications
Presenter: Danish Kumar, Climate Change Program Manager, University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center
Who Should Attend:
- Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
- Decision-makers for wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
- Consultants and technical assistance providers serving wastewater systems
ECHO Biosolids Facility Searches and Report Training
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
REGISTER HERE
Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its next Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) webinar on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET on ECHO Biosolids Facility Searches and Reports.
With the implementation of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule (eRule), facilities in the 41 states where EPA implements the Federal Biosolids Program and four authorized states – Arizona, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah began submitting biosolids annual reports electronically.
This training will focus on ECHO tools under the Clean Water Act NPDES biosolids program. It will provide an overview of electronic biosolids annual reporting, describe biosolids data available in ECHO and demonstrate how to use the Biosolids Facility Search, Biosolids Annual Report Search, and Biosolids Facility Report.
ECHO tutorials and recorded webinars are available at any time.
Job Opportunities
Student Worker Paraprofessional
Location: Duluth, MN
Closing Date: February 2, 2026
For more information and to apply, visit Minnesota Careers.
Lake Champlain Education & Outreach Steward
Location: Grand Isle & Burlington, Vermont
Closing Date: February 8, 2026
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to jobs@neiwpcc.org by February 8, 2026. Reference #26-LCBP-003 in the email subject line. Please review LCBP’s 2024 State of the Lake report and reflect on a specific part of the report in your cover letter. NEIWPCC is an equal opportunity employer. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Lead Water Resource Professional
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Closing Date: February 9, 2026
The Surface Water Quality Bureau is seeking a Point Source Lead Water Resource Professional to support the mission of the Surface Water Quality Bureau by developing and implementing a new state-led surface water quality discharge permitting program that complies with federal and state regulations authorized by the federal Clean Water Act, New Mexico Water Quality Act, and New Mexico Pollution Elimination System Act.
For more information and to submit your application, please follow this link https://careers.share.nm.gov and search for Job ID# 160754.
Information Officer – Thriving Communities Specialist
Location: Grand Isle, VT
Closing Date: February 16, 2026
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume and writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by February 16, 2026. Please reference #26-LCBP-004 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Senior Environmental Engineering Supervisor (Environmental Engineer 5)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: February 17, 2026
If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Senior Environmental Engineering Supervisor (Environmental Engineer 5)
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.
