Tracy Mehan joins Dave Ross and Anna Wildeman to discuss his work as executive director of government affairs with the American Water Works Association and the flood of water topics inundating the drinking water sector, including new infrastructure funding, affordability as an environmental justice issue, AWWA’s perspective on PFAS and its associated superfund liability question, and updates to the lead and copper rule.
Continue Reading Drinking Water on Tap: Money, Morality, and More with Tracy Mehan from the American Water Works Association
EPA Proposes Federal Water Quality Standards for Washington State
In a move consistent with EPA’s recent uptick in oversight of state regulatory programs, EPA has proposed to establish federal water quality standards (WQS) for human health criteria (HHC) for Washington state. The proposal comes less than two months after the Office of Water rescinded a memorandum that directed EPA regions to comply with Clean Water Act statutory deadlines and give sufficient deference to technical determinations made by states that administer EPA-approved delegated Clean Water Act programs. While the proposal itself is not surprising — EPA telegraphed that it would take this action early in this administration — the timing of the proposal is somewhat surprising.
Continue Reading EPA Proposes Federal Water Quality Standards for Washington State
Innovation in Iowa: Talking About the Future of Watershed Management With Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig
Anna and Dave welcome Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig to talk soil health, creative financing, and the future of watershed management in Iowa. They also discuss the state’s ongoing work as part of the Hypoxia Task Force.
Continue Reading Innovation in Iowa: Talking About the Future of Watershed Management With Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig
Reuse to the Rescue: Talking Water Reuse with Pat Sinicropi, Executive Director, WateReuse Association
WateReuse Association Executive Director Pat Sinicropi joins Anna Wildeman and Dave Ross to talk about the role of water reuse as a water management strategy for the 21st century. Specifically, Pat discusses water reuse technology, the role of the federal government in encouraging water recycling as a national strategy, and state and local community efforts to accelerate the adoption of water reuse in businesses and communities across the country.
Continue Reading Reuse to the Rescue: Talking Water Reuse with Pat Sinicropi, Executive Director, WateReuse Association
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage: Administration Action (and Inaction)
On February 16, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) published in the Federal Register new interim guidance that is intended to facilitate the review and deployment of carbon capture, sequestration, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. For those hoping for specific guidance that would accelerate the deployment of CCUS, the interim guidance is likely to disappoint. Congress recently signaled strong interest in accelerating CCUS as a national decarbonization strategy by providing billions of dollars of new investment to support the industry, but the guidance is largely silent on how the executive branch will match the urgency in ensuring on-the-ground deployment in the foreseeable future. Comments on CEQ’s guidance are due to CEQ by March 18.
Continue Reading Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage: Administration Action (and Inaction)
H2Oklahoma: Interview with Secretary Ken Wagner
Anna Wildeman welcomes Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment Ken Wagner to the podcast. In this episode Ken, Dave Ross, and Anna touch on the diversification of Oklahoma’s energy portfolio, including its pursuit of renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen, and its confluence with the water sector.
Continue Reading H2Oklahoma: Interview with Secretary Ken Wagner
Diving In: An Interview With Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water
Dave Ross talks with Radhika Fox as she marks her one year anniversary as EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water. They discuss how her prior experiences prepared her for the role at EPA and her desire to change the narrative around water by connecting it back to the community. They also look at her first year accomplishments, the recently passed infrastructure bill, the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, and more.
Continue Reading Diving In: An Interview With Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water
Introduction to Reflections on Water
Reflections on Water focuses on developments in water law and policy through interviews with water sector leaders.
Continue Reading Introduction to Reflections on Water
Army Corps Halts Coverage Under Nationwide Permits
Landowners and permit applicants received an email notification this week that the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) would not be processing their requests for coverage under a variety of Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Nationwide Permits (NWPs). NWPs are general permits that authorize activities under Clean Water Act Section 404 that “will cause only minimal adverse environmental effects when performed separately, and will have only minimal cumulative adverse effects on the environment.” CWA Section 404 (e)(1).
Continue Reading Army Corps Halts Coverage Under Nationwide Permits
EPA Moves to Elevate Tribal Rights in Water Quality: Changes Could Modify CWA Implementation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated two rulemaking actions, both expected to be proposed in early 2022, that could change the way the Clean Water Act (CWA) is administered across the country. Together, these actions would elevate tribal rights in water quality regulatory decision-making and could provide EPA with significantly greater authority to regulate discharges on and upstream of tribal lands.Continue Reading EPA Moves to Elevate Tribal Rights in Water Quality: Changes Could Modify CWA Implementation