News President Releases FY 2023 Budget Request The Administration released its FY 2023 Budget Proposal with a proposed $11.88 billion funding to EPA that is designed to advance the priorities in the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan, including tackling the climate crisis, advancing environmental justice, protecting air quality, upgrading the Nation’s aging water infrastructure, and… Read More »
News and Updates
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 9 (Week of March 21, 2022)
News New EPA Tool Provides Customized Updates on Local Enforcement and Compliance Activities EPA released a new web tool, called “ECHO Notify,” that provides updates on environmental enforcement and compliance activities in their communities. Through ECHO Notify, users can signup to receive weekly emails when new information is available within the selected geographic area, such… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 8 (Week of March 7, 2022)
News Congress Passes FY 2022 Omnibus Congress approved the FY 2022 Ominbus package that consists of all 12 fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills and supplemental funding to support Ukraine. The Omnibus totals $1.5 trillion in discretionary resources and reflects conference agreements for the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills. It includes substantial increases to non-defense spending… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 7 (Week of February 28, 2022)
News Environmental Justice Data System Updates On Friday, February 18, 2022, EPA provided a number of updates to EJScreen used to pinpoint disadvantaged communities suffering from legacy environmental pollution. EJScreen is an environmental justice mapping and screening tool that provides EPA with a nationally consistent dataset and approach for combining environmental and demographic indicators. EJScreen… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 6 (Week of February 14, 2022)
News Congress Passes Short Term CR to Fund Government Through Mid-March The Senate approved a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through March 11, 2022. The CR maintains existing funding levels while Congress continues negotiations on a funding package for the remainder of the fiscal year. CEQ Publishes Draft Climate and Economic Justice… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 5 (Week of February 7, 2022)
News ACWA Submits Comments on Revised Definition of WOTUS ACWA submitted a set of comments on the EPA and Army’s proposal revising the definition of “waters of the United States.” The EPA and Army announced plans to revise the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) and return to the pre-1986 regulations aligned with recent Supreme Court… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 4 (Week of January 31, 2022)
News Cyber Attacks on the Rise EPA recently observed another cyber incident involving fraudulent activity associated with the state CW/DW SRF programs. With increased infrastructure fund availability, EPA expects the number of incidents to likely rise and wanted to send out a reminder on the joint advisory statement put out in November 2021 with WaterISAC.… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 3 (Week of January 24, 2022)
News ACWA’S Recommendations on BIL Implementation Guidance ACWA sent a letter to EPA this week outlining a set of recommendations on the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL authorized$11.7 billion over 5 years for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), of which 49% of the funds made available to each capitalization… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 2 (Week of January 10, 2022)
News USACE Requiring New WOTUS Determinations for 404 Permits The US Army Corps of Engineers announced in early January that the agencies have halted implementation of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (“NWPR”) nationwide and are interpreting “waters of the United States” consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime until further notice. The Corps will not revisit… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XIII, Issue 1 (Week of January 3, 2022)
News ACWA Seeks WOTUS Rule 2 Engagement ACWA sent a letter to EPA Administrator Regan, Assistant Secretary of the Army Collins, and EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Fox urging the agencies to plan for regional, state co-regulator engagement opportunities as they develop a new, durable definition of WOTUS. Because of states’ unique and congressionally designated… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 43 (Week of December 13, 2021)
News EPA Press Release: $14.1 Million to Fund Environmental Justice Grants This week EPA announced they are providing $14.1 million in environmental justice grant funding for 133 grants. 99 recipients have been selected to receive up to $75,000 each, and 34 grant recipients have been selected to receive up to $200,000 each. EPA has indicated… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XII, Issue 42 (Week of November 29, 2021)
News EPA Administrator Sends Governors’ Letter on BID EPA Administrator Michael Regan sent a letter to governors‘ offices this week on the water infrastructure funding provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. The letter urges governors to target the funds they are now receiving toward disadvantaged communities, to prioritize lead-line replacement in communities with the highest… Read More »
