Bringing you the latest news, events, and updates from NEIWPCC and our partners.
In This Issue
"LUSTLine" Issue Now Available | Sharing a Vision for a Healthier Narragansett Bay Region | Taking Out the Trash | Hudson River Research Grants | In Brief | Accolades & Events
New Edition of LUSTLine Explores Data Standards & More

In this latest issue, contributor Jon Kelly explores the ins and outs associated with a lack of data standards for the underground storage tank (UST) community in our cover article, "Now We're Talking."

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Sharing a Vision for a Healthier Narragansett Bay Region

Residents who live, work, or play in the Narragansett Bay region can help plan for a healthier environment by sharing their input with the "Vision 2032″ survey.

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Taking Out the Trash

In honor of #PlasticFreeJuly, we took a look back at how the Bronx River Alliance tackled plastic pollution by engaging hundreds of citizen scientists, students, and educators.

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Hudson River Research Grants: Call for Proposals
The Hudson River Foundation has issued a Call for Proposals for innovative approaches to understanding current and emerging issues for the Hudson River estuary and watershed. The Foundation encourages research in areas that are both scientifically important and relevant to current or anticipated public policy and resource management issues affecting the River and its watershed. The proposal deadline is August 27th.

In Brief

The U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of the Army announced plans for upcoming community engagements to inform their efforts to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to better ensure clean and safe water for all. 

The House approved the PFAS Action Act of 2021 that would require the U.S. EPA to establish national drinking water standards for PFAS.

A new bill was introduced to create a national standard for the labeling of non-flushable wet wipes under the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (WIPPES).

The U.S. EPA released the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network web tool, CyANWeb, that can help federal, state, tribal, and local partners identify when a harmful algal bloom may be forming where people swim, fish, and boat. The tool uses satellite data to alert users based on specific changes in the color of the water in over 2,000 of the largest lakes and reservoirs across the United States.
 
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will receive $200,000 to fund environmental justice initiatives through funds allocated to U.S. EPA under the American Rescue Plan.


Wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 is and will likely continue to be an important early detection tool for cities and health authorities, predicts The Wall Street Journal.

Spotlighting the Merrimack River, The Boston Globe addresses the impacts of climate change on our aging sewer infrastructure and public health. 
Accolades and Accomplishments

The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on infrastructure cybersecurity vulnerabilities. John Sullivan, NEIWPCC commissioner and chief engineer, Boston Water and Sewer Commission, participated in one of the panels that testified.

Megan Lung, NEIWPCC environmental analyst with HREP, completed the Pattern for Progress 2020-2021 fellowship on Environmental Racism in the Hudson Valley. She co-authored the group’s final report, “Achieving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Hudson Valley”, which discusses racism, the benefits of DEI initiatives for organizations, and identifies a pathway for implementing DEI practices.

Maryann Dugan, NEIWPCC environmental analyst, was elected to join the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire Rivers Council. Congratulations!

Katie DeGoosh-DiMarzio, NEIWPCC environmental analyst at RI DEM, was recently interviewed on Resiliency Radio to speak about invasive species spread prevention on Chapman Pond in Rhode Island, and the new solar boat wash station on the pond.

Kudos to NEIWPCC program partner Long Island Sound Study, whose website won a “Judges Award” for design at the Connecticut Art Directors Club Awards 2021 event.
In Memoriam

Glenn Haas, a leader in the water industry and a dear friend to many in the NEIWPCC community, passed away in July. Glenn spent 40 years with the MassDEP and 10 years as a consultant with Brown and Caldwell. He was a NEIWPCC commissioner from 2003 to 2010 and served as our chair in 2004 and 2005. He also served as the NEWEA president in 1991, held various leadership positions with NEWEA and WEF, and won several of their awards. Glenn will be greatly missed for his service to the industry. 
Staffing Updates

Warm welcome to our newest employees!
 
  • Jordan Bishop, Environmental Analyst – Water Quality (Lowell, MA)
  • Lynn Porta, Environmental Analyst – Water Resource Protection (Lowell, MA)
  • Beth MacBlane, Information Officer – Communications Specialist (Lowell, MA)
 
We are pleased to welcome the following new summer interns to NEIWPCC:
 
Sludge Study – Lowell
  • Elyssa Anneser, Graduate Intern
  • Emily Riseberg, Graduate Intern
 
Long Island Sound Study
  • Cheyenne Ellis, LISS Communications Intern
 
Lake Champlain Basin Program
  • Jillian Kara, Economic Valuation Needs Assessment Intern

Opportunities

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

  • Assistant Information Officer – Business Operations (Lowell, MA)
  • Accounting Specialist – Capital Replacement Reconciliation (Kingston, NY)
Events


Sept. 2, Warwick, RI: RICWA’s Annual Trade Show & Luncheon.

Sept. 7-10, Bretton Woods, NH: New England Water Works Association Annual Conference 

Sept. 9, Tomkins Cove, NY: NYWEA’s NYC Watershed Science and Technical Conference.

Sept. 14, Virtual: National 303(d)/TMDL Webinar Series: State-Tribe Communication on Water Quality Issues

Sept. 20, Virtual: ACWA’s Water Quality Modeling Workshop.

Sept. 29-30, In-Person and Virtual, Portsmouth, NH: NEWEA’s CSO Wet Weather Issues Conference.

Multiple webinars through November: FEMA’s Community Rating System.

To submit your event for possible inclusion in a future issue, please send an email with a link to your event to: NEIWPCC.
Get Social with Us!

NEIWPCC is a regional commission that helps the states of the Northeast preserve and advance water quality. 


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