The summer severe weather season is upon us, with tornados, flash floods, and hurricanes possible depending on specific location. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) reminds facility operators of requirements for preventing, minimizing, and reporting chemical releases. Facility operators are obligated to maintain safety, minimize releases that do occur, and report chemical or oil releases Read More
Lawsuits Attempt to Block New Definition of WOTUS
The pendulum on the definition of the “Waters of the United States”, or WOTUS, appears to be swinging in yet another direction. A federal lawsuit filed by 20 entities aims to prevent the Navigable Waters Protection Act from going into effect later this month. California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Read More
New AWIA Risk & Resilience Assessment Checklist
The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently unveiled a simplified checklist for small Community Water Systems to help achieve compliance with new risk and resilience assessment requirements under America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA). The guidance is intended for systems serving greater than 3,300 but less than 50,000 Read More
Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Infrastructure Bills
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) unanimously passed America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (AWIA 2020) and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 in May. The bills now need approval from the full Senate and ultimately, President Donald Trump, who has called on Congress to pass comprehensive infrastructure legislation after Read More
USEPA Announces COVID-19 Resources for State, Local, and Tribal Governments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is updating its coronavirus website to include new resources for State, local, and Tribal agencies and intergovernmental associations. USEPA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for State, Local, and Tribal Agencies and Associations contains important information on grants, enforcement and compliance programs, water infrastructure, and a host of other issues important to effective Read More
CDC Guidance for Critical Infrastructure Workers Exposed to COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued interim guidance to ensure the continuity of operations of essential functions, such as water and wastewater utility operations. The CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue to work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect Read More