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 »
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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. 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 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 34 (Week of October 5, 2020)
News EPA Releases Proposal to Better Protect Ecosystems from Incidental Discharges of Marine Vessels EPA is proposing to establish national standards of performance for incidental discharges from commercial vessels as required under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). The proposed rule includes discharge-specific standards for 20 different types of vessel equipment and treatment systems, as well… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 26 (Week of July 27, 2020)
News House Passes FY21 EPA Budget with a Boost The House approved EPA’s fiscal year 2021 spending bill with a boost to overall agency funding by about 3 percent to almost $9.4 billion. The Environment-Interior Appropriations bill was joined in a “minibus” with funding for the Departments of State, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and Interior, passing… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 25 (Week of July 20, 2020)
News Inspection Expectations During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency This week EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Assistant Administrator, Susan Bodine, sent a letter to states, tribes, territories, and local agencies to confirm EPA’s willingness to adjust inspection commitments due to COVID-19. Click here for a copy of letter. EPA recommends states “perform inspections, when… Read More »
ACWA Weekly Wrap Vol. XI, Issue 24 (Week of July 13, 2020)
News EPA Announces State WIFIA Program EPA announced the 2020 notice of funding availability under the WIFIA program, including funding for the new State infrastructure financing authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program. This new program, which was authorized by Congress as part of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018, offers low-interest loans to state water… 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 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 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 11 (Week of March 23, 2020)
News CISA Provides Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) executes the Secretary of Homeland Security’s responsibilities as assigned under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide strategic guidance, promote a national unity of effort, and coordinate the overall federal effort to ensure the security and resilience of… Read More »