Bringing you the latest news, events, and updates from NEIWPCC and our partners.

In This Issue

Clean Water Association Honors NEIWPCC Director's Leadership

The Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) honored Richard Friesner, NEIWPCC's director of Water Quality Programs, with an Emerging Leaders Award at its recent annual meeting held in Memphis, Tennessee. The award recognized Friesner's "notable leadership on or contributions to the work of an ACWA committee, task force, and/or workgroup, and show demonstrated potential for future leadership in the Association."

NEIWPCC Hosts National State Revolving Fund Workshop for First Time

NEIWPCC, in collaboration with member states and the U.S. EPA, held the National State Revolving Fund (SRF) Workshop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in July. The workshop covered programmatic, financial, and technical aspects of SRFs. Session topics included environmental justice, PFAS, climate resilience and energy efficiency, nonpoint source management, and the 2022 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey.

Two Webinar Series Provide 303(d) Professional Training

NEIWPCC will continue the EPA-funded National 303(d)/TMDL Webinar Series under the rebranded name of "Restoring Our Impaired Waters National 303(d) Webinar Series." The series launched in 2016 to provide training and technical assistance to 303(d) program personnel from the EPA, states, tribes, and territories.

More News

In Brief

The EPA proposed designating two of the most widely used PFAS chemicals – PFOA and PFOS – as hazardous substances under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund).

The EPA announced a $200,000 grant to the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA) to support anaerobic digestion technology in 11 states in the Northeast, New England, and the Mid-Atlantic.

A new webinar series launches this fall detailing three aquatic invasive species that pose an emerging threat to the Hudson River watershed. The series is hosted by the Hudson River Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, and continuing education credits are pending.

The Lake Champlain Basin Program offers more than $1,900,000 in grants for clean water and healthy ecosystem projects.

New Hampshire approved $18.5 million for water infrastructure projects, including wastewater, drinking water, PFAS remediation, and asset management projects.

The EPA announced $3.6 million in available funding for federally-recognized tribes and intertribal consortia to develop or refine wetland programs. Applications are due October 7.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve Science Collaborative awarded over $300 million for 11 new projects, including for the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve.

New York announced more than $232 million to seven municipalities for drinking water and sewer infrastructure projects that are crucial to protecting public health and the environment.

The newly formed Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) will direct funds and technical assistance to communities experiencing or affected by adverse and disproportionate environmental and human health risks or harms. The EPA is seeking proposals from organizations to partner on launching the LISCIF and will provide up to $5 million for this program. Applications are due September 12.

The Lake Champlain Basin Program seeks pre-proposals for projects and programs to protect, restore, interpret, and showcase the historical resources and cultural heritage of the Champlain Valley, the Lake Champlain Basin, and the Adirondack Park. The deadline to submit pre-proposals is October 9.

Staff from the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve install oyster castle blocks to stabilize the marsh edge in the Piermont Marsh Reserve in Rockland County, New York. The project involves the construction of two parallel oyster castle sills in the intertidal zone along the edge of the marsh. These erosion control structures will reduce wave energy and promote sediment accretion and marsh expansion. As a pilot project, the shoreline stabilization has been designed to protect a priority section of shoreline and evaluate different treatments that could be utilized to stabilize other shoreline sites in estuary.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Eric Howe, NEIWPCC program director with the Lake Champlain Basin Program and Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, discusses concerns about the Round Goby, an invasive fish, entering Lake Champlain on WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Lauren Jenness, NEIWPCC environmental analyst with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, was featured on Vermont Edition speaking about lawn care, soil health, and water quality impacts.

Job Opportunities

Employment opportunities and internships are posted as they become available. We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Information Officer – LCBP Office Manager (Grand Isle, VT)
Environmental Analyst – Aquatic Biologist (Montpelier, VT)
Information Officer – Grants Specialist (Grand Isle, VT)
Lake Champlain Communications and Publications Assistant, Part-time/Temporary (Grand Isle, VT)