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NATIONAL NEWS
PFAS: February 2024 Update and Preview | News & Events | Clark Hill PLC Regulatory activity and litigation concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) continued to pick up steam in 2023, and 2024 promises to continue this trend and present companies with new PFAS-related challenges. more
Major PFAS Legislation Stalled Amid Debate on PFAS Liability for Passive Receivers As in 2023, Congress continues to focus on PFAS issues in the first months of 2024. In this 118th Congress, at least 39 bills focused on PFAS have been introduced along with several dozen additional bills that tangentially address “forever chemicals.” more
Lawsuit Launched Over EPA's Failure on Phosphate Mining Waste Oversight - The Bradenton Times Conservation, public health, and environmental justice organizations notified the Environmental Protection Agency of their intent to sue the agency for failing to respond to a rulemaking petition requesting stronger oversight and regulation of toxic and radioactive waste from phosphate mining and fertilizer production. more
Lead and Copper Rule/Drinking Water: 14 State Attorneys General (Including Arkansas ... - JD Supra Fifteen Attorneys Generals submitted a February 5th memorandum to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) commenting on a proposed rule. more
NJIT Researchers Unveil Method To Detect 'Forever Chemicals' In Under 3 Minutes Researchers report one of the fastest and most sensitive approaches yet for detecting toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulating in the environment, which are linked to health risks ranging from cancers to birth defects. more
AWWA Testifies On Water Cybersecurity Before U.S. House Committee On Homeland Security In a hearing today on cybersecurity before the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) testified about the importance of a collaborative approach to cybersecurity oversight in the water sector. more
Biden administration expands program to help rural towns plagued by sewage problems The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it is expanding a program to help rural communities with serious sewage problems get technical help to plan improvements and apply for funding. more
FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE SWIFT CURRENT FY 2023 NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY The FY 2023 Application Period is open for Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Swift Current program, under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA’s Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO) is attached and can be found at www.grants.gov. more
Study Tracks Emerging Contaminants From Landfill To Treatment Plant To Application Treatment plants can effectively remove microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from wastewater before they’re discharged to lakes and rivers, but large amounts of contaminants end up in solid waste, called biosolids, often used on agricultural fields as soil nutrients. more
EPA Reveals More Evidence Of Widespread ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water On February 1, the Environmental Protection Agency posted data confirming 70 million people have drinking water that has tested positive for the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. That number is based on the latest test results from only one-third of public water supplies. more
Engineers Unmask Nanoplastics In Oceans For The First Time, Revealing Their True Shapes And Chemistry Millions of tons of plastic waste enter the oceans each year. The sun’s ultraviolet light and ocean turbulence break down these plastics into invisible nanoparticles that threaten marine ecosystems. more
U.S. EPA responds to reports it failed to disclose dioxin testing - The Times Leader The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has responded to published reports accusing the agency of failing to openly share data related to dioxin and furan compounds testing conducted in East Palestine in the wake of last year’s Norfolk Southern train derailment and intentional vent and burn of chemicals on the train. more
EPA Analytical Method 1633 Now Published to Test for 40 PFAS in Other Media EPA’s Office of Water and the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program have published Method 1633 to test for PFAS by LC-MS/MS. more
EPA Publishes Updated State Asset Management Initiatives Document EPA has published a new 2024 update of the State Asset Management Initiatives Document. The first version was published in 2010, and the last update was in 2018. more
ASDWA Submits Comments on EPA’s Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Today, February 5, 2024, ASDWA submitted comments on the proposed Led and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). ASDWA’s members developed extensive, in-depth comments based on over 20 hours of input from 165 state regulators across 41 states. more
Nevada jury awards $130M to 5 people who had liver damage after drinking bottled water The Clark County District Court jury awarded more than $30 million in compensatory damages to the plaintiffs including Myles Hunwardsen, a Henderson man who underwent a liver transplant at age 29. The jury levied another $100 million in punitive damages. more
STATE NEWS
Collier Commissioners unanimously approved removing fluoride from water - WINK News “Are we medically treating our citizens of collier county by placing the fluoride in the water? Every study I’ve seen it’s referred to as a medication for dental health. Are we in violation?” said Commissioner Dan Kowal, District 4. more
Coalition Of States Demands Biden, U.S. EPA Drop Lead Pipe Regulation As the Biden administration works to remedy one of the most pervasive drinking water contamination issues in the country, states are banding together to push back. more
City Council members question necessity of proposed utility rate hike | Ormond Beach Observer As the Palm Coast City Council prepares to vote on an proposed increase to the city’s utilities rates, the council members are not convinced an 18% increase is necessary at this time. more
Top Municipal Water Treatment Methods Transforming Water Quality For Environmental Compliance Water supplies in the U.S. are among the safest in the world. According to the CDC, more than 90% of Americans get tap water from community water systems, which must adhere to strict water quality standards. more
New proposal would allow for water line extensions in rural Hillsborough County | WFLA County planners say concerns from stakeholders are part of what’s inspiring a change to a current policy that only allows for wells and septic tanks. more
Lead lines, water loss, and leak administration – OH MY! | February 29, 2024 | 2:00 pm CDT In addition to public infrastructure challenges, water systems are dedicating resources to support customers with myriad private infrastructure issues. more
USACE releases Draft EA of Bunnell Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure Modernization for ... The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District has released a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment regarding the City of Bunnell Comprehensive Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure Modernization Project in Flagler County, Florida. more
Pinellas County leaders update public on drought and water restrictions | ABC Action News Pinellas County leaders said water usage restrictions could be loosened in the coming months. As of Monday, the county remains in a stage one water shortage because of a drought that's been impacting water supply. more
Water restrictions a possibility as Middleboro plans to replace East Grove St. treatment plant ... A water treatment plant on East Grove Street in Middleboro will need to be rebuilt to install PFAS filtration systems, according to a presentation given at a Thursday Feb. 8 Middleboro Select Board meeting. more
Upgrade the Collier County wastewater treatment plants | Southwest Florida Oxygen is an essential component of the aquatic environment. The most important measurement of water quality, oxygen indicates a waterbody's state of health - that is, the ability to support aquatic life. more
Lee County Commissioners award contract for water quality and flood mitigation project | Lehigh Acres Citizen The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted this past Tuesday to approve a contract for the Sunniland/Nine Mile Run Drainage Improvement Project in east Lee County to improve water quality and mitigate flooding for downstream properties. more
Sewer district fees compare favorably to other utilities | Government / Politics | keysnews.com Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District Finance Manager Connie Fazio recently calculated the year 2023’s average customer’s bill for both residential and commercial accounts, and consumers may be interested in how their usage compares to the average bill. more
Florida city leaders investigate contamination of water - WPBF More questions than answers as Riviera Beach leaders investigate contamination of fecal matter in water. more
Central Florida Wastewater Pipeline Will Be One of Longest in United States After four years of construction, a new Central Florida wastewater pipeline will soon become the third longest of its kind in North America. The microtunnel running 60 feet below the water surface of Tampa Bay replaces an aging 54″ pipeline originally placed into service in 1951. It will carry nearly one-third of all City of Tampa wastewater. more
Budget passed by Florida House would be 3.5% less than this year's outlay The Florida House approved a $115.5 billion state budget this week that could provide appropriations for infrastructure and education, pay down debt and improve access to health care. more
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