USEPA & ND DEQ Agree on State’s Self-Audit Law

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to establish procedures and policies for administration of the North Dakota Environmental Audits Law. Under this Agreement, the USEPA recognizes that North Dakota’s self-audit law and policy encourages greater compliance with laws Read More

USEPA Releases Draft National Water Reuse Action Plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released a draft National Water Reuse Action Plan that identifies priority actions and the leadership and collaboration that is needed between governmental and non-governmental organizations to implement these actions. Water reuse represents a major opportunity to support our nation’s communities and economy by bolstering safe and reliable water supplies Read More

New Resource to Help States & Tribes Improve Public Hearings About Water Quality Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released a new resource to help States and Tribes maximize participation, simplify implementation, and reduce costs associated with hosting public hearings related to adopting new or revising existing water quality standards (WQS). “Public participation is an important part of decision making on water quality standards,” says David Ross, USEPA Assistant Read More

USEPA Awards $3.9 Million to Research PFAS Challenges & Health Impacts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is awarding approximately $3.9 million through two grants for research that improves understanding of human and ecological exposure to per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. The research is expected to help provide additional information about PFAS to Federal, State, Tribal, and local officials, as they work together Read More

Guidance Issued on Clean Water Act Permitting Requirements

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has issued guidance clarifying the application of Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting requirements to groundwater. USEPA’s Interpretative Statement concludes that Congress excluded releases of pollutants to groundwater from the CWA’s permitting requirements, and instead, left the regulation of those releases to other statutory authorities of the States and USEPA. Read More