Washington Report – June 17, 2024

Latest News

House Passes APWA-Supported Bill to Address Non-Flushables

H.R.2964, the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act, passed the House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote of 351-56;
The legislation is an important step in making sure non-flushable wipes are accurately labeled so consumers appropriately dispose them and help avoid more fatbergs that obstruct systems;
The legislation is consistent with APWA policy priorities supporting coordination with the federal government, industry, and localities on care for water infrastructure;
APWA also joined two coalition letters, one to the House sponsors thanking them and the other to the leadership of the corresponding Senate committee with jurisdiction over the bill urging they support swift consideration and passage too;
APWA actively advocated in support of the legislation and thanks everyone who helped make this happen
- If you have not already participated, please do to help build future support; and if you aren’t receiving APWA action alerts, text PWX to 52886.

Roadshow Pulling into Utah

The Engineering & Public Works Roadshow will make its next stop June 18 at an impressive water recycling project near Salt Lake City;
Called Pure SoJo, South Jordan, Utah, is testing water to validate purification goals;
South Jordan imports all its water because its underground aquifer is contaminated and will take 40 years to be cleaned;
APWA-Utah President Brian Romrell will deliver remarks on behalf of APWA;
Watch the livestream, beginning at 1p ET, on the roadshow’s website;
The roadshow is a collaboration with APWA, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Lawsuits Initiated Against EPA PFAS Rules

Two separate suits have been initiated concerning the newly finalized PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation;
- In their petition, the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Chemistry Council said the rule is “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion” and exceeds the EPA’s authority under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the 1974 law empowering the agency to pass water-quality rules
- The other lawsuit by the American Water Works Association and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies also asserts EPA “did not rely on the best available science” in developing the rule
Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Associated General Contractors of America, and the National Waste & Recycling Association filed a petition challenging the designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, aka the Superfund law;
Expect these lawsuits to center heavily around best available science in determining health effects, treatment options, and alternatives;
It remains to be seen whether the rules are consistent with later statutes, such as the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, which required a thorough cost-benefit analysis;
- This is the first rule since those amendments, so this is the first-time courts will assess whether EPA sufficiently complied with that analysis while water groups challenge the agency underestimated or omitted costs of compliance.

U.S. House Appropriations Acts on FY25 DHS Funding

The House Committee on Appropriations has approved the $64.8B FY25 Department of Homeland Security appropriations;
Under the legislation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would receive $28.4B, including
- $22.7B for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)
- $3.8B for grants and training
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) would receive $2.9B;
The bill now heads to the full House of Representatives for action.

Maritime Administration Funding Opportunity—Due July 12

Aimed at mitigating landside congestion, improving air quality, and efficiency of the surface transportation system, local governments, state governments, metropolitan planning organizations, a port authority, and tribal governments, are among the eligible entities who may apply;
Eligible projects include port and terminal infrastructure, and developmental phase activities that support marine highway projects;
Information about applications, which must be submitted through grants.gov by July 12, is available at this notice of funding opportunity.

Broadband USA Hosting webinar on Digital Equity for Small and Rural Communities

Broadband USA, part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), is hosting a webinar, June 27 at 2 p.m. ET, Digital Equity for Small and Rural Communities;
For more information about Broadband USA, NTIA, past webinars, and funding opportunities, click here.

On the Horizon

All times ET.

June 18 and 20 at 1 p.m., FEMA will host two webinars to provide updates to OneResponder and expand on its capabilities and functions
- OneResponder is a free, web-based application for resource management, hosted in a cloud environment, and is accessible to all members of the community
- Click here to register for the webinars.
June 18 at 10 a.m., the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development will hold a hearing on Unlocking Department of Transportation Financing for More Transit-Oriented Housing Development.