ITRC Launches Online Risk Communication Toolkit

from ASDWA.org July 24, 2020 Deirdre White Drinking Water Headlines “The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) has launched its online Risk Communication Toolkit for state personnel, other lead organizations, and stakeholders to understand and communicate risk associated with emerging environmental issues and concerns. The toolkit was developed by three ITRC teams: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl … Read more

US House Passes EPA Spending Bill

7/27/2020 ASDWA.org “House Passes EPA Spending Bill: The bill passed last week includes current funding levels for SRF and an increase in the rural water SDWA & CWA technical assistance programs. Also, the bill includes a special provision of $13 billion for EPA “emergency infrastructure investments” including more than $10 billion for the SRFs. This … Read more

NSA and CISA Recommend Immediate Actions to Reduce Exposure Across Operational Technologies and Control Systems

Original release date: July 23, 2020 “Over recent months, cyber actors have demonstrated their continued willingness to conduct malicious cyber activity against critical infrastructure (CI) by exploiting internet-accessible operational technology (OT) assets.[1] Due to the increase in adversary capabilities and activity, the criticality to U.S. national security and way of life, and the vulnerability of … Read more

EPA Will Not Regulation Perchlorate

from NRWA.org 7/27/2020 ” In a New Precedent, EPA Publishes Final Decisions Not to Regulate Perchlorate Under SDWA: The EPA has determined that perchlorate does not occur “with a frequency and at levels of public health concern” within the meaning of the SDWA and in the judgment of the EPA Administrator, regulation of perchlorate does … Read more

US House: “There’s Something in the Water: Reforming Our Nation’s Drinking Water Standards.”

from ASDWA.org 7/27/2020 “SDWA Reform in House: On Tuesday, the House SDWA subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing on revisions to the Safe Drinking Water Act’s (SDWA) standard-setting process. The title of the hearing is “There’s Something in the Water: Reforming Our Nation’s Drinking Water Standards.” It is likely this hearing is being scheduled in … Read more

Notice of Funding Availability for Applications for Credit Assistance Under the State Infrastructure Finance Authority Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (SWIFIA) Program

A Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 07/17/2020 See link for further information. ” . . . on December 20, 2019, Congress provided $5 million in budget authority solely for the cost of direct loans or guaranteed loans to State infrastructure financing authority borrowers for projects described in section 5026(9) of the Water Infrastructure … Read more

HOUSE NDAA PFAS ACTION ACT INCLUDES NEW DRINKING WATER AND TSCA REQUIREMENTS

July 15, 2020 Deirdre White ASDWA.org Drinking Water Headlines, Source Water see link for full article “House legislators are seeking to attach a bipartisan amendment (Subtitle F – PFAS Action Act) to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes new PFAS requirements for the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Toxic Substances Control … Read more

EPA Limits States’ Power to Review Projects That Affect Water Quality

July 13, 2020 See https://www.courthousenews.com/epa-limits-states-power-to-review-projects-that-affect-water-quality/ for the full article. “The “Clean Water Act 401 Certification Rule” narrows what issues state and tribal governments may consider when determining if a project, such as one that involves discharging pollution into a river or stream, will comply with state water quality standards. State or tribal approval is a … Read more