» Clean Water Current Archive

August 30, 2013

NACWA Members Discuss EPA Study on Emerging Contaminants

NAWCA members from around the country met via conference call this week to discuss the forthcoming release of a report from an EPA sampling study of emerging contaminants in municipal effluent. Since 2010, EPA’s Office of Research and Development has been working on a study to evaluate the levels of what it considers to be the 50 highest priority pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones, alkylphenolic compounds, Bisphenol A, and fluorinated chemicals in wastewater effluent as well as the estrogenic potential of these substances. EPA evaluated samples from 50 'very large' municipal wastewater treatment plants in the U.S., which together produce about 16 percent of all the municipal wastewater in the U.S. In anticipation of the release of EPA's report in the next few months, several NACWA members have been working to develop written materials to help explain the significance of the results to their ratepayers and suggested that NACWA convene a conference call among the study participants so they could discuss their efforts and potentially coordinate messages. NACWA reached out to the study participants through the EPA researchers, but has still not heard from all of the NACWA members that participated in the study. If your agency was involved with the study and would like to participate in future calls with fellow NACWA members, please contact Chris Hornback at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Deadline Extended for Appealing Biogenic Emissions Deferral Decision

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has extended the deadline for appealing the court’s July decision to vacate EPA’s three-year deferral of biogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Clean Air Act regulation (see July 19 Clean Water Current article for more information). The extended deadline was set to purposefully fall 30 days after the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether it will hear lawsuits that challenge EPA’s GHG regulations and permitting programs. The environmental groups that challenged the biogenic emissions deferral opposed the extension.

The extension will allow EPA and industry groups affected by the Court’s decision to vacate of the deferral to try to find a solution that allows a continued deferral of biogenic GHG emissions from the Title V and Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting programs while EPA works on a permanent exemption for these emissions. NACWA is participating in these discussions through its membership in the Biogenic CO2 Coalition and will also be talking with EPA about specific impacts of any decisions on wastewater utilities.

NACWA Talks Stormwater Regulation at APWA Annual Congress

NACWA was featured on an Aug. 26 panel at the American Public Works Association (APWA) Annual Congress and provided a clean water utility perspective on national stormwater rulemaking and trends. The Congress brought together thousands of public works, clean water and stormwater professionals from around the country. The stormwater panel included representatives from EPA, the National Association of Counties (NACO), and a California utility. Among the topics covered, NACWA discussed the implications of EPA’s development of a national post-construction rule and possible elements to be included in the regulation. No new schedule has been announced for the rulemaking process, but a revised timeline is likely to be available sometime in September. NACWA appreciated the opportunity to participate in the conference and discuss the Association’s important stormwater advocacy efforts.

EPA, NACWA and other Key Groups to Convene Webinar on NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule

NACWA and EPA, along with the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Rural Water Association (NRWA), will convene a webinar on the proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) e-Reporting rule for the clean water community on September 4 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. No registration is required, but those attending are encouraged to call in to the webinar from a central location at your agency, as there are limited “seats” available.

EPA’s proposed rule to require electronic reporting under the NPDES permit program was published on July 30. The rule, if finalized, would apply to all NPDES permit holders. Under the proposal, clean water agencies would be required to electronically submit discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), pretreatment and biosolids reports, combined and sanitary sewer overflow event reports, and stormwater discharge information where applicable, to EPA or to their authorized NPDES state. More information on the rule can be found in an earlier Advocacy Alert. NACWA is soliciting member comments on the proposed rule by September 20th.

Webinar Details:
Date: September 4, 2013
Time: 2:00pm—4:00pm EST
Website: https://epa.connectsolutions.com/r15tuppl493/
Dial-in:
Conference Number: 866-918-0772
Participant Code: 2509409317#

EPA Extends Deadline for Siloxane Negotiations

EPA has extended the enforceable consent agreement (ECA) negotiation period to October 23. The negotiations began in June 2013 and were originally scheduled to end in December 2013. After multiple deadline extensions, EPA and the Silicone Environmental Health and Safety Council of North America (SEHSC) are nearing an agreement for environmental monitoring of the siloxane D4. The monitoring will include 10 POTWs, half of which will have an industrial discharger that manufactures or processes D4. The other five POTWs will have 90 percent or more domestic influent. NACWA is an interested party in the negotiations and is working with SEHSC to identify appropriate POTWs for the sampling program. NACWA will review the draft ECA when it is finished and provide input during the 30-day review and comment period.

NACWA Blog of the Week:
These Are a Few of Our Favorite {Virtual} Things

As the summer draws to a close, this week’s post on The Water Voice features some of our favorite places accessible from your computer or mobile device. Check out the very best of Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Google+ and Pinterest that the clean water community has to offer – and be sure to add to our list. The Water Voice has a new posting each Wednesday so subscribe today!

NACWA Members To Be Featured at U.S. Water Alliance Meeting in L.A., Register Today!

Registration for this year’s One Water Leadership Summit is still open! It takes place on September 23-26 in Los Angeles, California and brings the best and brightest together to focus on innovative and sustainable urban programs. The agenda will also spotlight activities being undertaken by NACWA members, including in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

As a focal point for the national dialogue on resource recovery and green infrastructure, this Leadership Summit has been driving the notion of water as an integrating strategy for the urban environment. Multi-disciplinary and geographically diverse presentations will demonstrate the flexibility of green infrastructure to serve a multitude of needs and the meeting will feature strategic sidebar conversations that will allow those at the cutting edge to compare notes and tackle obstacles.

Join fellow water leaders, sustainability directors, transportation, parks and recreation officials, as well as business leaders, non-profit organizations, and U.S. EPA regulators as the U.S. Water Alliance continues to drive the paradigm shift for water sustainability.