Maine DEP joins MA and other Northeastern states to urge federal action on PFAS

Maine DEP Press Release: AUGUSTA, June 17, 2019 — The State of Maine has joined all seven Northeastern states to issue a multi-state letter urging prompt federal action on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. The letter was issued by the members of the Northeast Committee on the Environment (NECOE) which is comprised of the … Read more

Voters Support Federal Spending on Water Infrastructure

From Waterworld.com WASHINGTON, DC, APRIL 8, 2019 — The Value of Water Campaign released the results from its fourth annual national poll. The poll found continual, significant bipartisan support for water infrastructure investments: 85 percent of American voters support increasing federal water infrastructure investment. The need for capital water infrastructure improvements continue to rise, but … Read more

EPA Issues New Emergency Response Requirements for Community Water Systems

from the National Law Review Wednesday, April 3, 2019 (https://www.natlawreview.com/article/epa-issues-new-emergency-response-requirements-community-water-systems): On March 27, 2019, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Federal Register Notice for New Risk Assessments and Emergency Response Plans for Community Water Systems describing the requirements and deadlines for community (drinking) water systems to develop or update risk and resilience assessments (RRAs) … Read more

Reclaimed Water Reuse Encouraged by Water Infrastructure Improvement Act

The Water Infrastructure Improvement Act – H.R. 7279, which became Public Law 115-436, provides Congressional support for use of the Integrated Planning process on a long-term basis. The act became law on Jan. 14, 2019. Integrated Planning relates to compliance with the national Clean Water Act: •EPA (or the State if the State has been … Read more

EPA Seeks Public Input for Development of National Water Reuse Action Plan

from EPA.gov WASHINGTON – (April 18, 2019) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on the development of an action plan to accelerate the application of water reuse as a safe, reliable, and sustainable way to meet the country’s current and future water demands. “To meet the country’s most pressing water resources … Read more

WaterSense Proposed for Elimination from Federal Budget

from AWE The president’s FY2020 budget proposes–once again–to eliminate WaterSense, and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) is requesting your help to support the continuance program. The Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program is a voluntary partnership program designed to make it easy for Americans to save water by choosing water-efficient products and services. The AWE … Read more

MassDEP issues draft PFAS amendments to MCP Groundwater Standards

In a notice to Public Water Suppliers on April 17, 2019, MassDEP proposed draft amendments to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan to include a new Class 1 groundwater standard for 6 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). MassDEP proposes a combined limit for Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), Perfluoroocatanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), Perfluoroheptanoic acid … Read more