LGEAN News

2023-03-28 — HHS celebrates World Water Day by highlighting two key programs that help maintain affordable, safe and reliable water and wastewater services
To celebrate World Water Day, OCS is highlighting two key programs that help maintain affordable, safe and reliable water and wastewater services: The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) and the Rural Community Development (RCD) program. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Drinking Water.

2023-03-28 — HHS releases LIHWAP Water Service Provider and Household Outreach Toolkits FY2023
These toolkits can be used to conduct outreach to water and wastewater service providers and households to inform them about LIHWAP. Some of the materials can be edited to include specific information about administering agencies, local service providers or water service providers. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Funding and Financing.

2023-03-28 — FEMA Releases New Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guide
This is the first updated guide since 2015. State, local, tribal and territorial governments can use the guide to help them go through the Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant lifecycle process. FEMA’s mitigation grant programs provide funding for actions that address risks to and reduce disaster suffering from events like wildfires, drought, extreme heat, hurricanes, earthquakes and flooding. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Mitigation.

2023-03-27 — White House unveils new climate tools for agencies
The Biden White House recently released a series of new resources for government agencies working to combat climate change and adapt to its impacts. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Climate adaptation and resilience.

2023-03-21 — EPA’s Launches New Water Reuse Resource Hub
This latest tool from EPA’s Water Reuse Program organizes key resources for water reuse practitioners by end-use application. Each end-use includes links to state policies, webinars, information about sources of waters typical for the end-use, and publications. Some pages are still under development, and EPA welcomes your feedback about additional content that should be included (e-mail: waterreuse@epa.gov). [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Wastewater.

2023-03-21 — EPA Releases Stormwater Capture and Use (SCU) Infographics
EPA’s Water Reuse Program released two infographics demonstrating how SCU can be integrated into the urban environment. These graphics cover both onsite and community-scale reuse for different potable and non-potable applications. Stormwater practitioners can use these graphics to engage stakeholders and decision-makers to explain SCU, show how it can support different water quality and supply goals, and help build support for new projects. These graphics are part of ongoing coordination across EPA’s Office of Water to advance SCU as a resilient water practice. [ full text ]

2023-03-16 — New Water Safety Plan Manual Released, Providing Practical Guidance for Safe Drinking Water
The International Water Association (IWA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released the second edition of the Water Safety Plan Manual, which offers practical guidance for the development and implementation of water safety planning in accordance with WHO guidelines for drinking water quality. The launch of the Water Safety Plan Manual, 2nd Edition was marked through an online webinar co-hosted by IWA and WHO, bringing together experts and stakeholders from around the globe to discuss the importance of water safety planning and the experience gained with more than 10 years of practical implementation. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Drinking water.

2023-03-16 — Biden-Harris Administration Proposes First-Ever National Standard to Protect Communities from PFAS in Drinking Water
On March 14, the Biden-Harris Administration announced it is proposing the first-ever national drinking water standard for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the latest action under President Biden’s plan to combat PFAS pollution and Administrator Regan’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap. Through this action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a major step to protect public health from PFAS pollution, leveraging the latest science and complementing state efforts to limit PFAS by proposing to establish legally enforceable levels for six PFAS known to occur in drinking water. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Drinking water.

2023-03-14 — EPA Takes Action to Improve the Cybersecurity Resilience of Public Water Systems
EPA issued a memorandum requiring states to survey public water systems to assess cybersecurity risks. EPA provides technical assistance and resources to aid public water systems and states. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Cyber Security.

2023-03-14 — FEMA Launches New Webpage on Equity and Mitigation Planning
Mitigation planning creates a pathway to reduce vulnerabilities. State, local, tribal and territorial governments engage underserved communities, populations, neighborhoods, and census tracts as mitigation plans are developed and updated. There are a variety of tools and resources that can assist planners incorporate equity into mitigation plan development or update. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Mitigation.

2023-03-14 — EPA Proposes Stronger Limits on Water Pollution from Power Plants to reduce discharge of toxic metals and other pollutants from coal-fired power plants into waterbodies
Today the Biden-Harris Administration announced it is proposing to strengthen wastewater discharge standards that apply to coal-fired power plants. The proposed rule would help protect our nation’s vital water resources that support safe drinking water, agriculture, and healthy communities while providing greater certainty for industry. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Wastewater.

2023-03-14 — EPA’s Water Sector Cybersecurity Evaluation Program to Conduct Cyber Security Assessment of Public Water Systems
Cyber Evaluation Program will conduct a cybersecurity assessment for PWSs. The assessment will follow the checklist in the guidance on Evaluating Cybersecurity in PWS Sanitary Surveys which will then generate a report that will highlight gaps in cybersecurity, including potential significant deficiencies. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Cyber Security.

2023-03-14 — EPA Now Offering Cyber Technical Assistance Program for the Water Sector
The Cyber Technical Assistance Program will support primacy agencies and water systems in implementing cybersecurity measures. Users may submit questions or request to consult with a subject matter expert regarding cybersecurity in PWS sanitary surveys or other cybersecurity matters. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Cyber Security.

2023-03-07 — EPA launches a Clean Energy Financing Toolkit for Decisionmakers
The Clean Energy Financing Toolkit is a resource designed to help state and local government officials who are new to clean energy financing learn about strategies available across multiple sectors. Many state and local governments are already using various clean energy financing strategies to help meet their climate, clean energy, and equity goals. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Funding and Financing.

2023-03-07 — EPA Releases Report: Water Recycling for Climate Resilience Through Enhanced Aquifer Recharge (EAR) and Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
This report focuses on enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR) and ASR in the context of water reuse, providing state- and local-level decision-makers information on using recycled water in EAR and ASR applications. It explores the key considerations to evaluate when planning EAR and ASR as part of integrated water resources management and climate resilience planning. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Watersheds.

2023-03-07 — EPA targets 'significant threat' of cyberattacks on water
The agency is mandating that states beef up their cybersecurity protections following a string of high-profile incidents that have threatened water systems. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Cyber Security.

2023-02-28 — EPA Seeking Public Input on the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program
IRA provides $1 billion to replace heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles, support zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and train and develop workers. EPA will distribute this $1 billion to eligible applicants via grants, rebates, and/or contracts to purchase clean, heavy-duty vehicles, with $400 million allocated to communities in non-attainment. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Clean Transit.

2023-02-28 — Biden-Harris Administration Reaffirms Scientific, Economic, and Legal Underpinnings of Limits on Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants
EPA reaffirmed the scientific, economic, and legal underpinnings of the 2012 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants, which required significant reductions of mercury, acid gases, and other harmful pollutants. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Outdoor Air.

2023-02-28 — EPA Announces Initial Program Design of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
EPA will hold two competitions to distribute grant funding under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: a $20 billion General and Low-Income Assistance Competition and a $7 billion Zero-Emissions Technology Fund Competition. EPA will implement these programs in alignment with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which directs that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities, including those facing disproportionately high and adverse health and environmental impacts. EPA expects to open competitions for funding under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund by summer 2023. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Funding and Financing: Environmental Justice.

2023-02-28 — EPA Issues Guidance to Help Communities Locate Lead Pipes that Can Contaminate Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing guidance that will help communities and water utilities identify lead pipes that connect drinking water service to homes and other buildings. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Drinking Water: Lead and Copper Rule.

2023-02-28 — EPA’s Watershed Academy Launches Hazard Mitigation Module Creating Co-Benefits Through Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module
This module is intended for water quality and hazard mitigation professionals that are interested in integrating water quality issues and/or nature-based solutions into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs), and highlights the benefits of working across water quality and hazard mitigation programs. Modules in this series can be used as training tools to help planners from both worlds explore activities of mutual interest and benefit. Case studies and examples are provided to assist hazard mitigation planners with integrating water resource programs into HMPs and help watershed planners understand the synergies between water resource plans and HMPs. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Watersheds.

2023-02-28 — EPA Seeks Input on Inflation Reduction Act Environmental and Climate Justice Program
EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is seeking public input on multiple aspects of the ECJ Program including, but not limited to: ECJ Program Design, Types of Projects to Fund, Reducing Application Barriers, Reporting and Oversight, Technical Assistance Provide input by March 17, 2023. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Environmental Justice (EJ).

2023-02-21 — EPA Updated Water Technical Assistance Page
The page now includes a one-stop-shop EPA water technical assistance request form where communities can request no-cost direct water technical assistance to evaluate their drinking water, wastewater, stormwater infrastructure, and water quality improvement needs. It also now includes specific examples of what types of assistance are available and who is eligible. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Drinking Water.

2023-02-21 — EPA Revamped the Inspection Checklist for Facilities Generating and Recycling Hazardous Secondary Materials under RCRA
The checklists describe and summarize statutory provisions, regulatory requirements, and policies for recycling hazardous secondary materials under all the recycling exclusions and exemptions and regulated recycling under RCRA. [ full text ]

2023-02-14 — EPA’s Updated Innovative New Heat Island Mitigation Examples in Community Actions Database
Directory of actions to mitigate the heat island effect that are being taken by communities across the United States. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Adaptation and Resilience.

2023-02-14 — DOT/FHWA’s Improving Road Safety for All Users on Federal-Aid Projects Request for Information (RFI)
RFI to gather feedback from states, cities, and local governments on ways to improve upon “Complete Streets” programs. Comments are due on March 20, 2023. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Transportation.

2023-01-31 — EPA’s stormwater program published the newest volume of MS4 Compendium Series: Off-Site Stormwater Management.
Illustrates how municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits can be written to allow for off-site stormwater management. See the EPA’s Off-Site Stormwater Management webpage for more information. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Stormwater.

2023-01-31 — EPA Announces Plans for Wastewater Regulations and Studies, Including Limits for PFAS, New Study for Nutrients
On January 20, the EPA released Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Plan 15), which lays out how the Agency will work to protect the nation’s waterways by following the science and the Clean Water Act to develop technology-based pollution limits and studies on wastewater discharges from industrial sources. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Drinking Water.

2023-01-31 — 5 new laws strengthen federal response to climate change
President Joe Biden recently signed the measures to improve disaster grants and loans, help FEMA responders, and steer money to rural areas. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Adaptation and Resilience.

2023-01-31 — White House Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change: Public Comment Opportunity
CEQ’s Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change is available for public comment through March 10, 2023. [ full text ]

Click here for more information about Mitigation.