The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced it will be updating the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The comprehensive plan includes expanding the scope of TRI reporting requirements to include additional chemicals and facilities, including facilities that are not currently reporting on ethylene oxide (EtO) releases, and providing new tools to make TRI data more accessible to the Read More
Tools Help Reduce Nutrients in Water, Improve Public Health & Support Ecosystems
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has new tools and information that States, territories, and authorized Tribes can use to help protect people, animals, and aquatic life from harmful algal blooms and other adverse effects of nutrients in water. The USEPA says nutrient pollution in water presents one of the country’s most widespread environmental and Read More
USEPA Releases Updated PFBS Toxicity Assessment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is releasing an updated toxicity assessment for perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), a member of a larger group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A toxicity assessment is a written summary of the potential health effects associated with a chemical and identifies the dose levels at which those health effects may occur in Read More
Tool Helps Communities Protect Recreational Waters
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has released an improved web-based app to help communities identify potential sources of pollution to recreational waters. This science-based and data-informed tool empowers communities and supports engagement in local decisions in protecting the health of swimmers and recreators from contaminants at lakes, rivers, and beaches, while supporting the vitality Read More
Lead & Copper Rule Delayed, More Public Input Requested
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced a delay in the effective date of the Revised Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) to provide time to seek further public input. To accomplish this goal, the USEPA has posted two notices regarding the revised LCR and announced plans to hold virtual listening sessions in April and May. The Read More
Drought Info for Utilities
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has updated the drought.gov website to include information that will be useful to utilities. NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) program now compiles information about streamflow, snowpack, snow drought (abnormally low snowpack), and precipitation outlooks. NIDIS allows users to look at current and historical data from across the United Read More