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Allen Bonini, Supervisor of the Watershed Improvement Section in the Water Quality Bureau, retired on January 21st, after 15.5 years of service with the DNR, and totaling over 40 years as an environmental professional and manager in Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois.
The DNR's NPDES Section is holding a stakeholder meeting on Zoom to discuss several proposed changes to the Iowa Administrative Code regarding separation distances, wastewater, general permits, sludge, private sewage disposal systems, and operator certification.
The Zoom meeting will be held on February 3, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. You must register in advance for this meeting using the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvc-CqpzoqE9Wynm3V7CJkOVzHz8c_4cwl
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The Chapters included in the proposed rulemaking are 40, 41, 43, 49, 60, 62, 63, 64, 67, 69, and 81. The proposed changes include:
- Updates to the separation distances tables in Chapter 41, 43, 49, and 69
- Addition of new language on water main separation distances in Chapter 43
- Updates to the analytical testing methods, alternative test procedures, and method modification language in Chapter 63
- Update the rule-referenced Supporting Document for Permit Monitoring Frequency Determination
- Addition of new language on electronic reporting to Chapter 63
- Rescission of the monitoring table for land application systems and the table for preservation techniques, containers and holding times in Chapter 63
- Clarifications of and updates to the language in Chapter 64 regarding general permits, public notices and public hearings, and disadvantaged communities
- Addition of specific fee amounts from Iowa Code and new Nutrient Reduction Exchange (NRE) language to Chapter 64
- Updates to the sewage sludge classifications, terms, pathogen reduction methods, and testing methods in Chapter 67
- Changes to the maintenance contract language for specific onsite systems in Chapter 69
- Revisions to the wastewater treatment plant classifications and clarification of the requirements for transient noncommunity water systems in Chapter 81
The draft rule documents can be viewed on the NPDES Rules webpage.
Written comments on the draft Notice of Intended Action (NOIA), Jobs Impact Statement (JIS), Fiscal Impact Statement (FIS), and the draft Supporting Document for Permit Monitoring Frequency Determination may be submitted to courtney.cswercko@dnr.iowa.gov or mailed to Courtney Cswercko, Iowa DNR, 502 East 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50319, until February 10, 2020.
Please contact Courtney Cswercko at courtney.cswercko@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-725-8411 with any questions on the proposed rule changes or on the stakeholder meeting.
From EPA SRF, 1/20/2021
The annual AIS Requirement National Refresher Webinar will be presented by EPA’s Clean Water (CW) and Drinking Water (DW) State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs and EPA's Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. The refresher webinar will discuss AIS implementation, project and product coverage, the waiver request process, and the national waivers.
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. CST
Registration
White House Memorandum, 1/20/2021
The new Biden administration has enacted a “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” Executive Order, which means the Lead and Copper Rule Revision, published in the Federal Register on January 15th, may be affected in some manner. There are also two other regulatory actions related to drinking water that were signed by the previous EPA Administrator but had not yet been published in the Federal Register, which will also now be reviewed. Those two actions are the final regulatory determination for compounds that were included in the fourth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL4), and the proposed Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5.
More information on these three actions will be provided in this listserv as it becomes available.
To find continuing education opportunities, please view the “Training Calendar” at programs.iowadnr.gov/opcertweb/ Training events where Iowa DNR staff will make presentations are listed below with the presentation name in the description. Also included are training events provided by EPA where Iowa CEU are granted, or events sponsored by Iowa DNR. See the listing on the appropriate date on the Training Calendar for registration instructions. Look at the calendar often, as there are new opportunities posted throughout the week.
- February 16, EPA R7 Module 1 AWIA Workshop, virtual. 1.5 hours CEU, WT or WD. Registration.
- February 17, EPA R7 Module 2 AWIA Workshop, virtual. 1.5 hours CEU, WT or WD. Registration.
- February 18, EPA R7 Module 3 AWIA Workshop, virtual. 1.5 hours CEU, WT or WD. Registration.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with state and local officials to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and has transitioned employees to work remotely. DNR offices are closed to the public during this time and only available by appointment.
In another effort to further reduce the spread of COVID-19, the DNR is encouraging the use of the online services for submitting applications, payments and other daily tasks and interaction with DNR staff.
We thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time. If you need to contact DNR staff you can reach them by email or phone or by calling 515-725-8200.
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