US House passed a $3 trillion Heroes Act, awaiting Senate action

from ASDWA.org: The US House of Representatives has passed a $3 trillion coronavirus aid bill that includes a moratorium on disconnecting or terminating service from a utility, including water and sewer, for nonpayment. The latest coronavirus relief package, H.R. 6800, or the HEROES Act, includes funding for individual stimulus, assistance to state and local governments, … Read more

AWWA urges U.S. EPA to base PFAS regulation on sound science

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) this week expressed its support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to move forward on regulating two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and urged the agency to use the best available science to evaluate a drinking water standard. AWWA submitted its comments in response to EPA’s proposal … Read more

FAQ Responses for Water Consumers

The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators has published a list of frequently asked questions and responses for water suppliers and consumers regarding SAR-COVID-19 which found here. Other resources for water suppliers are also available on the page.

Emergency Change Permits Remote Public Meetings

https://www.statehousenews.com/news/2020468 Emergency Change Permits Remote Public Meetings Baker Order Applies to State and Local Bodies Michael P. Norton 3/12/20 9:19 PM MARCH 12, 2020…..In a significant change spurred by the spreading coronavirus, government boards in Massachusetts may now meet without a physical quorum of members present and without affording public access to the physical meeting … Read more

House Passes PFAS Bill, Unlikely to Move in Senate

from ASDWA.org 1/14/2020 Late last week the House passed H.R.535 – the PFAS Action Act of 2019. The bill contains multiple provisions requiring EPA to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the environment including: Determining whether EPA should designate the entire class of PFAS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, … Read more

Chemicals Added to the Toxics Release Inventory Pursuant to Section 7321 of the National Defense Authorization Act

Section 7321 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L. 116-92) (NDAA) added certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to the TRI list of reportable chemicals. Among these added chemicals are chemicals that met two criteria: (1) they were subject to a significant new use rule at either 40 CFR 721.9582 or … Read more

Aggressively Addressing PFAS at EPA

FROM EPA, PRESS RELEASE: 01/07/2020 Contact Information:  EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) WASHINGTON (Jan. 7, 2020) — Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Under President Trump, EPA is continuing to aggressively implement our PFAS Action Plan – the most comprehensive cross-agency plan ever to address … Read more

Mass. Supplemental Budget for PFAS Testing & Treatment

from MWWA.org On December 13, 2019 Governor Baker signed a supplemental budget that included line-item funding for PFAS initiatives: 2250-2002.. For the testing of potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination of water supplies and for grants to support treatment and design of affected drinking water systems;  provided, that nothing in this item shall preclude … Read more

Suit Highlights Concerns of Water Utilities Over PFAS Hazardous Water Determination

from NRWA.org: Navy Citizen Suit Highlights Concerns of Water Utilities Over PFAS Hazardous Water Determination: A federal judge recently dismissed a landmark citizen suit seeking payment for medical monitoring to detect health concerns that may develop after exposure to PFAS, finding that regulators’ failure to designate the chemicals as “hazardous substances” precluded the plaintiffs from … Read more