News ECOS Status of State Environmental Agency Budgets ECOS published its report on the Status of State Environmental Agency Budgets (EAB), FY2016 – FY2019 this week. The report notes that state environmental agency funding rose 18.9%, or a total of $2.56B, in 46 states and one territory over the reporting period. Based on data collected… Read More »
News and Updates
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ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 21 (Week of June 15, 2020)
News EPA Announces the Release of the How’s My Waterway App EPA has announced the release of the How’s My Waterway App. From their press release: “EPA’s new How’s My Waterway provides unprecedented transparency that our partners and the public can use to learn about water, explore data and find out what’s happening to improve… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 21 (Week of June 8, 2020)
News Public Webinar for the Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule On June 1, 2020, the EPA finalized the “Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule” to implement the water quality certification process consistent with the text and structure of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The final rule establishes procedures that promote consistent implementation… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 20 (Week of June 1, 2020)
News EPA Issues Final Rule Revising 401 Regulations This week, the Office of Water released the long-awaited final rule revising the water quality certification process, Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule. The final rule establishes procedures designed to promote consistent implementation of CWA Section 401 and provide regulatory certainty in the federal licensing and… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 19 (Week of May 18, 2020)
News EPA Request Comments on Sec. 404 & ESA Consultation EPA will soon be publishing a Federal Register Notice requesting public comment regarding whether Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Consultation is required when EPA approves a state or tribe’s Clean Water Act Section 404 dredge and fill permit program. Specifically, EPA is seeking comment… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 18 (Week of May 11, 2020)
News House Democrats Release Clean Water for All Act Several prominent House Democrats introduced a bill, the Clean Water for All Act, which would prohibit the implementation of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule narrowing the definition of waters of the United States. The purpose of the bill is to reaffirm Congress’ commitment to restore and… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 17 (Week of May 4, 2020)
News Senate Committee Approves Two Water Infrastructure Bills On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved two major water infrastructure bills, America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (S. 3591) and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (S. 3590), by unanimous consent. America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 provides for $17… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 16 (Week of April 27, 2020)
News Congress Seeks GAO Study on Federal Response to HABs Several members of Congress have written to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agency investigate the federal government’s response to harmful algal blooms (HABs). The letter asks GAO to investigate the federal government’s response to HABs and hypoxia, including how it is helping state… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 15 (Week of April 20, 2020)
News Final Navigable Waters Protection Rule Published The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers published the final Navigable Waters Protection Rule in the Federal Register on April 21, 2020. The final rule defines the scope of waters federally regulated under the Clean Water Act. The rule will become effective on June 22, 2020. Senate EPW… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 14 (Week of April 13, 2020)
News Federal Court Nullifies Clean Water Act General Permit for Pipelines and Other Linear Projects A Montana federal court has vacated Clean Water Act (CWA) Nationwide Permit 12 (“NWP 12”) on the basis that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to uphold its obligations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when it reissued NWP… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 13 (Week of April 6, 2020)
News EPA Releases FY 2021 National Water Program Guidance Addendum The Office of Water released the FY 2021 National Water Program Addendum. In June of 2019, the FY 2020-2021 National Water Program Guidance (NWPG) was published. This guidance was streamlined in an effort to provide clear, concise guidance and to focus on achieving the long-term… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 12 (Week of March 30, 2020)
News States Urged to Designate Drinking Water and Waste Water “Essential” during COVID-19 Last Friday, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent a letter to state Governors urging them to ensure drinking water and wastewater employees are deemed “essential workers” by state authorities when enacting restrictions to help curb the spread of COVID-19. “Having fully operational drinking… Read More »
