Legislation

EPA, Army take action to reestablish pre-2015 definition of WOTUS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) last week announced a proposed rule to re-establish the pre-2015 definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). The agencies say the action will establish a durable definition of WOTUS that protects public health, the environment, …

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Newsom meets with FEMA; signs budget trailer bill AB 148

Late last week Governor Gavin Newsom met with new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell at Folsom Lake to show the massive impacts of climate change, including drought, heat waves and wildfires. The Governor also signed budget trailer bill AB 148 to expedite the state’s response to severe drought …

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House passes PFAS legislation

Earlier this week the House approved the PFAS Action Act of 2021 with bi-partisan support, 241-183. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national drinking water standards for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — PFOA and PFOS — or better known as “forever chemicals”. Representative Josh Harder (CA-10), …

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Eastern projects receive federal funding allocations in House bill

Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) stands to receive federal funding allocations for two projects in the House Appropriations Committee’s FY 2022 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies legislation approved last week. Thanks to Representatives Ken Calvert and Mark Takano, EMWD’s Quail Valley Septic to Sewer program is slated to receive $2.5 …

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