Association Of Clean Water Administrators

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT WILL FACILITATE STATE IDENTIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO CLEAN WATER PROGRAMS INCLUDING NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM, TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD, WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT, NONPOINT SOURCE, EFFLUENT GUIDELINES, WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, AND NO DISCHARGE ZONES TO MORE EFFECTIVELY PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE GRANTEE WILL ALSO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER TO STATES AND STATE-TO-STATE INFORMATION EXCHANGE. THESE EFFORTS TO REPRESENT AND ADVISE ON BEHALF OF STATES WILL FURTHER A SHARED STATE/EPA STRATEGIC VISION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE FOCUS OF THE NATION'S CLEAN WATER ACT PROGRAMS. THESE EFFORTS WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT STATE WATER REGULATORS ARE FULLY INFORMED OF REGULATORY, POLICY, AND PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES SO THAT THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THEIR CLEAN WATER ACT PROGRAMS.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ARE FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN WATER ADMINISTRATORS TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND STUDIES TO SUPPORT STATE SURFACE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAMS IN MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE FIVE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ARE TO: 1) PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE STATES; 2) COORDINATE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES LEADING TO KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND CAPACITY BUILDING AMONG STATE SURFACE WATER PROTECTION AGENCIES AND EPA; 3) CONDUCT RESEARCH AND STUDIES THAT WILL ENABLE ACWA TO REPRESENT AND ADVISE STATES; 4) ANNUALLY SUPPORT SEVERAL PROGRAMMATIC MEETINGS PER YEAR TO INCREASE STATE CAPACITY AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER; AND 5) PROVIDE STATE TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT IN SUPPORT OF TRAININGS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STATE PERSONNEL.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, AND INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT FOLLOW: (1) PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE STATES (INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: STATE SURFACE WATER PROTECTION AGENCIES AND GENERAL PUBLIC): ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS: - ENHANCE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND CIVIL RIGHTS EFFORTS IN DRAFTING RULES, GUIDANCE AND PERMITS, COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE, AND BY ENFORCEMENT. - INCREASE THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TOOLS SUCH AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SCREENING AND MAPPING TOOL (EJSCREEN). - DEVELOP AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TOOLKIT FOR THE MAKING A VISIBLE DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE ADVANCED BY THE URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP. - SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH EPA'S INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT OF 2021 (IIJA), STATE REVOLVING FUNDS, AND THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AND INNOVATION ACT (WIFIA). - IMPLEMENT ACTIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL WATER REUSE ACTION PLAN. - DEVELOP HUMAN AND AQUATIC LIFE HEALTH GUIDANCE, CRITERIA, STANDARDS, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT MATERIALS AND DETECTION METHODS FOR PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS). - FOSTER PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING NATIONAL WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE (NWQI) WATERSHEDS AND INTER-PROGRAM COLLABORATION BETWEEN STATES, EPA, AND USDA'S NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE TO SUPPORT THE NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAMS. - FACILITATE STATE DATA REPORTING USING EPA'S DATA REPORTING SYSTEMS FOR SURFACE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING NPDES EREPORTING, TMDL TRACKING AND IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM, WATER QUALITY MONITORING WATER QUALITY EXCHANGE, AND NONPOINT SOURCE GRANTS REPORTING AND TRACKING SYSTEM. - MAINTAIN AN ON-GOING DIALOGUE BETWEEN EPA AND STATE CO-REGULATORS TO COORDINATE MULTI-YEAR STATE AND EPA EVALUATIONS OF POLICIES AND INITIATIVES FOR COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS, SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS, PEAK FLOWS, BLENDING, INTEGRATED PLANNING, AND STORMWATER RUNOF

THIS PROJECT WILL FACILITATE STATE IDENTIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM, TOTAL MA

THIS PROJECT WILL FACILITATE STATE IDENTIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES),

ACWA WILL SUPPORT THREE NATIONAL NPDES PROGRAM WORKSHOPS AND SEVEN NUTRIENTS PERMITTING WORKSHOPS. APPROXIMATELY 35% OF THE AWARD FUNDING WILL BE US

THE PROJECT ENTAILS PLANNING AND CONDUCTING TRAINING WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE US FOR AN INTENDED AUDIENCE OF STATE PERMITTING AUTHORITIES (PLUS SOME FEDERAL STAFF AND OTHERS). THE TRAINING WILL ENABLE ATTENDEES TO BETTER IMPLEMENT THEIR NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PROGRAMS. THE WORKSHOPS WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN STORMWATER AND PRETREATMENT OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE IS FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN WATER ADMINISTRATORS (ACWA) TO PLAN, PREPARE, AND CONDUCT, WITH SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION BY STATE CLEAN WATER ACT PROGRAMS, EPA AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, UP TO SIX (6) WORKSHOPS TO ENHANCE STATES, TRIBES, AND TERRITORIES' IMPLEMENTATION OF CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 303(C), 303(D), AND SECTION 402 PROGRAMS. THE WORKSHOPS AND RESULTING TRAINING MATERIALS WILL BE FACILITATED AND FOCUSED SUCH TO ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING OF EFFECTIVE AND INTEGRATED APPROACHES ACROSS THESE PROGRAMS. EXAMPLES TOPICS MIGHT INCLUDE: WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES FACED BY DISADVANTAGED OR RURAL COMMUNITIES, IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPLEX WATER QUALITY CRITERIA; TRANSLATING COMPLEX WATER QUALITY CRITERIA TO WATERSHED OR SITE SPECIFIC APPROACHES (TMDLS, PERMITS, VARIANCES, ETC.); WQS VARIANCE IMPLEMENTATION OR CHALLENGES POSED BY UBIQUITOUS LEGACY POLLUTANTS; HOW TO INCREASE COORDINATION AMONG THE STATE AND TRIBAL CWA SECTION 303(C) WQS, 303(D) LISTING AND TMDL, AND SECTION 402 NPDES PROGRAMS; HOW TO INCREASE STATE AND TRIBAL STAFF'S AWARENESS AND CAPACITY TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC ISSUES WITH CROSS-PROGRAM IMPLICATIONS; WHAT GAPS EXIST IN STATES AND TRIBES' CAPACITY TO USE MORE EFFECTIVE AND INTEGRATED APPROACHES FOR IMPLEMENTING THEIR RESPECTIVE CWA PROGRAMS; IDENTIFYING CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION; HIGHLIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT; SHOWCASE INNOVATION; ASSISTING WITH ANALYSIS OF TRAINING, GUIDANCE, TECHNICAL SUPPORT DOCUMENTS, TOOLS, AND OTHER SUPPORT MATERIAL NEEDS; IMPROVING ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCIES; CLARIFYING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; PROMOTING PROGRAM STREAMLINING; CONSIDERING SPECIFIC PROGRAM CHALLENGES (LINKING WATER QUALITY CRITERIA TO PERMITS, TMDLS, AND ASSESSMENT; LEGACY POLLUTANTS; PERSISTENT NON-ATTAINMENT OF STANDARDS AND DESIGNATED USES; STORMWATER, CAFO, INDUSTRIAL, AND OTHER CHALLENGING DAILY LOAD POINT AND NON-POINT SOURCE CONTRIBUTIONS, ETC.); BUILDING STRONGER LINKAGES AMONG WQS, NPDES PERMITS, AND TMDLS; DEVELOPING VARIANCES AND OTHER FLEXIBILITY TOOLS AFFECTING THE SECTION 303(C), 303(D), AND SECTION 402 PROGRAMS; DEVELOPING TMDLS AND PERMITS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS, MODERNIZING TDML AND PERMIT TERMS AND DATA MANAGEMENT; REVISING PROGRAM PERFORMANCE MEASURES; IDENTIFYING PROGRAM AREAS WHERE TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WOULD BE MOST BENEFICIAL; AND IDENTIFYING AND ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE THE MOST INTRACTABLE ISSUES. ACTIVITIES:- ACWA WILL CREATE A PLANNING COMMITTEE(S) TO HELP IDENTIFY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY 402, 303(C), AND 303(D) PROGRAM PRIORITIES FOR DISCUSSION AT SIX NATIONAL WORKSHOPS. - ACWA WILL CONVENE 6 TRAINING WORKSHOPS TO FOSTER CLOSE COORDINATION AMONG THE CWA SECTION 303(C) WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, CWA SECTION 303(D) TMDL AND LISTING, AND CWA SECTION 402 NPDES PROGRAMS. ACWA IN COLLABORATION WITH EPA AND THE PLANNING COMMITTEE WILL: (1) DETERMINE WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES; (2) IDENTIFY WORKSHOP TOPICS; (3) DEVELOP AND REFINE A WORKSHOP AGENDA; (4) IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PRESENTERS AND DISCUSSION LEADERS/FACILITATORS; AND (5) SCOPE MATERIALS NEEDS AND INFORM DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS FOR USE DURING, BETWEEN, AND AFTER WORKSHOP EVENTS AND/OR THE AWARD PERIOD. ALSO, ACWA WILL PROVIDE TRAVEL SUPPORT TO NON-FEDERAL PARTICIPANTS AND ACWA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING TRAVEL SUPPORT RECIPIENTS. - ACWA WILL DEVELOP TRAINING MATERIALS AND TOOLS TO HELP STATE, INTERSTATE, TERRITORY AND TRIBAL PROFESSIONALS UNDERSTAND EFFECTIVE APPROACHES FOR INTEGRATED IMPLEMENTATION OF CWA PROGRAMS. - ACWA WILL DEVELOP REPORTS ON THE OUTCOMES OF EACH WORKSHOP, INCLUDING NEXT STEPS. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES - CREATION OF PLANNING COMMITTEE(S) TO HELP IDENTIFY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY 402, 303(C), AND 303(D) PROGRAM PRIORITIES FOR DISCUSSION AT SIX NATIONAL WORKSHOPS. - SIX (6) TRAINING WORKSHOPS CONVENED TO FOSTER

THIS PROJECT LOOKS AT THE TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) PROGRAM'S ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS TO DETERMINE WHERE THE PROGRAM STANDS IN PROTECTING, RESTO

THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE & INTERSTATE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATORS (ASIWPCA) WILL PLAN, PREPARE, AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL TRAINING ON EFFECTI

TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE, EDUCATION, MENTORING, COMMUNICATION, AND FACILITATION SUPPORT TO ASSIST STATES, INDIAN TRIBES AND TERRITO

THROUGH FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCTING WATER QUALITY RESEARCH AS WELL AS ENTITIES THAT RELY ON THAT