Clean Water Current Archive

In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held June 30 that Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 111(d) does not give the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to address climate change by effectively mandating fuel switching at existing power plants.

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee marked up and advanced its Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Interior and Environment spending bill this week, which provides annual federal appropriations for U.S. EPA and its clean water programs.

NACWA staff joined the National Energy Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) for its annual conference in New Orleans this week. The event brought together 750 participants from around the U.S. who are engaged in administering federal energy assistance and heightening awareness of the needs of low-income energy consumers

On Wednesday, July 20 from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm EDT, EPA’s WIFIA program will host a webinar outlining funding opportunities for municipal entities, tribes, corporations, and partnerships, in addition to private and non-governmental organizations that support prospective borrowers.

U.S. EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) initiative offers tools, training and technical assistance for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities to address climate change and to become more resilient to its impacts. CRWU staff have reached out to NACWA seeking opportunities to increase their program visibility.

NACWA filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on June 17 in the long-running case concerning the scope of federal Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdiction over “waters of the United States” (WOTUS), Sackett v. EPA.

NACWA submitted comments June 23 to U.S. EPA regarding its proposed Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) waiver for the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. The proposed SRF waiver would exempt from BABAA those projects seeking SRF funding that submitted engineering plans and specifications to an appropriate state agency prior to May 14, 2022, which was the statutory effective date of the BABAA requirements.

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee released its plan on June 20 to fund Interior, Environment and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, which begins on October 1, 2022. The bill included funding for EPA, Department of Interior, Department of Energy, and the Fish and Wildlife Service, among other related agencies.

The White House released its newest Unified Agenda on June 21, listing the status and expected timing for its regulatory actions at all federal agencies. ​

NACWA submitted comments on June 21 supporting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) action to require that mail-back envelopes be dispensed with opioid pain medications. The envelopes would provide patients a safe, convenient method for disposing of unused medications.

NACWA submitted a letter June 16 asking EPA Region 8 to extend Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program for its full 15-year term.

EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center is hosting a webinar on July 13 for communities to learn more about how Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding can improve water and wastewater infrastructure.

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a prepublication notice establishing final drinking water health advisories for two PFAS chemicals, GenX and PFBS, and setting interim advisories that significantly lower the existing health advisory levels for PFOA and PFOS.

With the rising number of legislative and regulatory developments at the state and federal levels related to PFAS, all three biosolids management methods available to clean water utilities are facing unprecedented pressure.

This week, NACWA organized and submitted a letter to Congressional Committees, leadership, and every individual member office underscoring the broad support that exists for fully funding water programs.

This week NACWA and several public utility member representatives met with the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to discuss the potential significant costs that could be imposed on clean water utilities pursuant to potential designations of PFOS and PFOA as CERCLA hazardous substances, which is currently being considered by EPA.

On Tuesday, June 15, EPA released its draft waiver from Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements for the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs.

On June 13, U.S. EPA announced the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) notices of funding availability for the agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and the State Infrastructure Financing Authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program. EPA has $5.5 billion in WIFIA financing and an additional $1 billion for the SWIFIA program available for FY22.

Last week, the House overwhelmingly passed their version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, H.R. 7776, placing Congress on track to conclude by fall this biennial piece of legislation.

NACWA joined in the River Network’s annual River Rally conference in Washington, DC this month as both presenter and sponsor, sharing the municipal clean water utility perspective at a gathering of the nation’s leading river advocacy organizations.