In This Issue
"Interstate Waters" Spring Issue is Online | NEIWPCC Responds to EPA's Proposed PFAS Rule | State Revolving Fund Series Explores NPS
In Brief | Accolades & Events
Bringing you the latest news, events, and updates from NEIWPCC and our partners.
"Interstate Waters" Features Program Priorities, Salt Pollution, and Nitrogen Removal Retrofits Recommendations
NEIWPCC’s Spring 2021 issue of “Interstate Waters” is now available, in both digital and print formats. Focusing on the theme of “Charting our Course,” the lead story examines NEIWPCC’s updated water program priorities, which will serve as a roadmap to guide NEIWPCC’s work for the next five years.

Other stories include a new regional initiative to address salt pollution, and efforts by NEIWPCC and its program partners to eliminate systemic racism in the environmental field. Another piece examines the recommendations given to 21 wastewater treatment plants, following the results of a study to assess the feasibility of low-cost nitrogen removal retrofits.
NEIWPCC Responds to EPA's Proposed PFAS Rule

NEIWPCC joined with several other water associations in authorizing a letter responding to the EPA's advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, "Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards: Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic ...

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State Revolving Fund Series Explores NPS

NEIWPCC's 2021 State Revolving Fund (SRF) virtual series launched with three sessions this spring. The events provided opportunities for learning and discussion on current practices for utilizing SRF for nonpoint source pollution projects...

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neiwpcc.org
In Brief
Research on urban stormwater runoff indicates that rain gardens are an effective mitigation strategy in curbing microplastic pollution. The Peconic Estuary Partnership, a program partner of NEIWPCC, is once again offering its rain garden incentive program.

In an effort to better assist states, tribes, and local government in managing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their communities, U.S. EPA recently updated the Drinking Water Treatability Database with new references and treatment options for PFAS.

Some Massachusetts towns are asking the state to stop spraying their communities with PFAS-contaminated pesticides.

Researchers at Penn State University are using artificial intelligence to predict river water quality in lightly monitored watersheds across the United States.


Nitrogen reduction strategies in the Long Island Sound are paying off.

The Long Island Sound Study's (LISS) 2020 Year in Review is discussed in their spring newsletter. LISS is a program partner of NEIWPCC.

Another NEIWPCC program partner, The Hudson River Estuary Program, via the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, has released the draft Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025, a five-year blueprint for conserving and restoring the Hudson River estuary and its watershed. Comments on the draft will be accepted through July 9, 2021.

Malden, MA is one of 10 cities across the country selected for a virtual roundtable discussion on U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule revisions.

Yesterday, the Maine Water Utilities Association and Maine Water Environment Association hosted the first podcast in their new “Water’s Up?” series.
Accolades and Accomplishments
The Mid-Year Association of Clean Water Administrators meeting, held in March 2021, included a session moderated by NEIWPCC Director of Water Quality Programs Richard Friesner. The session was titled “A View From the Hill: The 117th Congress & the Clean Water Act” and included a discussion of upcoming legislative priorities for the House and Senate for the environment, water quality, and infrastructure.

Congratulations to James Plummer, environmental analyst, and Vivian Frausto, events and operations coordinator, for their work in organizing and hosting the 31st Annual Nonpoint Source Conference in May. The four-day virtual event, held over multiple days last month, drew 170 registrants with live sessions and networking opportunities.
Opportunities
Employment opportunities and internships are posted as they become available. We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

  • Environmental Analyst – River Monitoring (Providence, RI)
  • Information Officer – Communications Specialist (Lowell, MA)
  • Accounting Specialist – Capital Replacement Reconciliation (Kingston, NY)
  • Environmental Engineer – Capital Replacement Liaison (Kingston, NY)

Staffing Updates
We are pleased to welcome the following new summer interns to NEIWPCC.
 
Boat Launch Stewards, LCBP (Lake Champlain, NY and VT):
  • Ryan Buckley
  • Sophie Cleland
  • Finn Gardner-Puschak
  • Greta Lorey
  • Tatum McConnell
  • Eileen Needham
  • Margaret Polifrone
  • James Sansevero
  • Elliot Stevenson
  • Anastasia Wright
  • Daphne Zencey

Learn more about LCBP boat stewards and the role they have in monitoring lake invasives in an archival issue of Interstate Waters (pp. 8-10).
Events
June 8-10, 2021, Virtual: NEWEA’s 2021 Spring Meeting & Exhibit.

June 9-10 and 15-16, 2021, Virtual: WEF’s Innovations in Process Engineering 2021 Event.

June 15-17, 2021, Virtual: NYWEA’s Spring Technical Conference & Exhibition.

June 22-23, 2021. Virtual: WEF’s Stormwater Summit 2021 Event.

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.

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


p: (978) 323-7929
f: (978) 323-7919