NACO Grassroots Webinar: Effective Advocacy in the Final Weeks of the 113th Congress
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State Water Board to Host Workshop on the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and EPA Region 9 are hosting a free training workshop for communities and borrowers on the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. The workshop will be held October 16, 2014 at Cal EPA Headquarters in Sacramento. Read More…
Details:
October 16, 2014
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cal EPA Headquarters
Coastal Hearing Room
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Registration is required. The registration form can be accessed here. The draft agenda can be accessed here. Please contact the State Water Board with any questions at CleanWaterSRF@waterboards.ca.gov or (916) 327-9978.
EPA to Discuss Science Behind Waters of the U.S. Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced two conference calls on September 26 and 29, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PST to discuss the scientific basis for the proposed rule changing the definition of Waters of the U.S. under the Clean Water Act. The calls will be conducted by the EPA Science Advisory Board staff office, and will focus on the connectivity of streams and wetlands to downstream waters and the whether or not the science behind the proposed rule is adequate.
The proposed Waters of the U.S. rule is extremely controversial, with a wide variety of stakeholders (including RCRC, the National Association of Counties, and the American Farm Bureau Federation) calling for the proposal to be withdrawn on the basis that it inappropriately and dramatically expands the jurisdiction of EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over both public and private waterways. The rule has also been the target of bipartisan Congressional criticism, and has been the subject of numerous Congressional hearings. Rather than withdrawing the rule to work more closely with concerned stakeholders, EPA has responded by launching a widespread media campaign to discredit criticism of their proposal. The rule is currently in the midst of an open public comment period, with comments due on October 20, 2014.
The Science Advisory Board reports on the connectivity of streams and wetlands to downstream waters can be accessed here.
Written statements on the topic can be sent to Dr. Angela Nugent, EPA Science Advisory Board, at nugent.angela@epa.gov by September 19 for the September 26 call, and by September 23 for the September 29 call. Interested parties can also request to be added to the list of presenting speakers by contacting Dr. Nugent at the same e-mail address. RCRC will publish specific conference call details when available.