News EPA Publishes Flyers Summarizing Bioassessment Program Reviews and the BCG Online EPA has posted online two new flyers that summarize key information found in two longer, previously published EPA technical documents on biological assessment of water bodies. These two flyers can be accessed at: Assessing Level of Technical Rigor to Support Water Quality Management… Read More »
Weekly Wrap
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ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 7 (Week of Feb. 22, 2021)
News EPA WSD Releases Vaccination Information for Water & Wastewater Workers The EPA Water Security Division (WSD) released an updated website with Center for Disease Control (CDC) vaccination information for essential workers. The CDC recommends states and local jurisdictions develop a phased approach for COVID-19 vaccinations. In defining essential workers, CDC references the Department of… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 6 (Week of Feb. 8, 2021)
News Regan Nomination Moves Out of Committee The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee approved President Biden’s nominee, Michael Regan, to be the next EPA Administrator. The committee bipartisan vote was 14-6. A full Senate vote has not yet been scheduled, but Regan is expected win Senate confirmation. EPA Updates EJSCREEN, Community EJ Mapping Tool… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 5 (Week of Feb. 1, 2021)
News EPW Holds Confirmation Hearing on EPA Administrator Nominee The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a confirmation hearing this week on President Biden’s nominee to lead the EPA. Michael Regan pledged to collaborate with stakeholders, including states, as the administration confronts the nation’s environmental challenges. Regan pledged, if confirmed, to bring the lessons… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 4 (Week of Jan. 25, 2021)
News Biden Administration Signs Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad On January 27th, 2021, the Biden Administration signed an “Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” A few of the highlights: The order formalizes President Biden’s commitment to make environmental justice a part of the mission… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 3 (Week of Jan. 18, 2021)
News Biden to Appoint Radhika Fox to Key Office of Water Post President Biden is poised to name Radhika Fox as the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water. Fox mostly recently served as the CEO of the US Water Alliance, a national nonprofit organization advancing policies and programs that build a sustainable… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 2 (Week of Jan. 11, 2021)
News Maui Decision Guidance Finalized January 14, 2021 On January 14, 2021, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water signed and issued final guidance that EPA claims “clarifies how the Supreme Court’s County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund decision should be applied under the NPDES permit program.” EPA’s guidance articulates “threshold conditions for triggering the requirement for… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 1 (Week of Jan. 4, 2021)
News Appropriations and COVID-19 Bill Summaries On Monday, December 21, 2020, Congress unveiled a long-awaited funding package that included all 12 appropriations measures and additional coronavirus relief measures. The Interior-Environment funding bill passed at $36.107 billion, showing an increase of $118 million over the 2020 enacted level and $4.5 billion over the White House’s proposed… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 42 (Week of Dec. 14, 2020)
News Biden Expected to Name North Carolina’s Michael Regan as EPA Administrator On Thursday, reports indicated that President-elect Joe Biden will name Michael Regan, who has led North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality since 2017, as EPA Administrator. If confirmed, Regan will bring a wealth of experience to the position – including just under two… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 41 (Week of Dec. 7, 2020)
News Draft EPA Memo: Applying Maui Decision NPDES & Groundwater ACWA is very interested in hearing whether your state believes we should comment on this draft guidance. This week, EPA published in the federal register a draft memorandum intended to provide “focused guidance to the regulated community and permitting authorities, including the U.S. Environmental Protection… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 40 (Week of Nov. 30, 2020)
News Water Utility Employees Included in Phase 1-B of COVID Vaccination Program The Department of Homeland Security recognizes water and wastewater utility staff and their suppliers and manufacturers as part of the “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” (see page 15). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s phased approach for COVID-19 vaccinations recommends that non-health care… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 39 (Week of Nov. 16, 2020)
News ACWA Submits Comments on USACE Nationwide Permits ACWA submitted comments on the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Proposal to Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits (NWPs). NWPS are an important part of the regulatory system and enable efficient and effective regulatory review of construction and development activities that have a minimal individual and cumulative adverse… Read More »