Recent PFAS Actions in the Nation

For a roundup of recent PFAS actions in the Nation, including: EPA nominee promises “aggressive approach” on PFAS regulation EPA removes toxicity assessment on PFBS citing political interference EPA reissues final regulatory determinations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water on the Contaminant Candidate … Read more

Florida Water System CyberAttack Raises Security Questions

In response to a February cyberattack on a water treatment facility in Oldsmar, Florida, EPA and DEP have offered resources and recommended a state of increased cybersecurity awareness. The cyber attack was prevented from causing serious harm by the quick actions of a water operator (see story: WTP Hack) and this Federal multiagency report: FBI_CISA_EPA_Joint_CSA-AA21-042A_Compromise_of_US_Water_Treatment_Facility. … Read more

US House Passes $1.9 Trillion Relief Package

from NRWA.org “On Saturday AM (Feb. 27), the House narrowly passed the White House-backed coronavirus relief bill (219-212 vote). Local governments of every size would receive dedicated allotments. Funds would be available until expended, awarded directly from Treasury within 60 days of enactment, and subject to eligible uses including to replace revenue lost, delayed, or … Read more

Senate Water Privatization Bill Splits Environmental Community

7/20/2020 ruralwater.org “Senate Water Privatization Bill Splits Environmental Community: The private water organization is using NRDC to advance the bill (S. 2596) they favor in the Senate, while Food & Water Watch has organized a coalition of over 300 advocacy groups and unions to oppose the bill. NRDC and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) … Read more

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