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Jim Warren has been promoted to Environmental Specialist Senior in the Water Supply Operations Section, effective April 2nd. Jim has been with the WSO section since 2002, where he previously worked in compliance and enforcement. He holds a BS from Drake University in Environmental Science & Policy and a minor in Chemistry.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is notifying all certified Water Treatment, Water Distribution, and Wastewater operators that their current Iowa certificate will expire on June 30, 2021.
On April 16, 2021, renewals will be posted under each operator’s individual details on our on-line database. Notifications will be sent out on May 3-4, via the U.S. Mail. We are encouraging operators to renew on-line using a credit card or electronic check. Submission of payment online instantaneously renews a certificate.
Continuing Education Renewal Requirements: Continuing education hours are still being reported to the Iowa DNR. If your CEUs do not appear online after April 12th, please contact Beth at Elizabeth.feilmeier@dnr.iowa.gov or call 515-725-0463.
For renewal on June 30, 2021, you are required to earn the amount of CEUs required by the certificate(s) you held on April 1, 2019. Please note: If you are not required to earn CEUs this renewal period, you still must pay the appropriate fee.
From the April 2nd Federal Register, Summary, and Region 7 on April 7th
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host virtual engagements beginning in April 2021. The goal of the events is to obtain further public input on EPA’s revision to the Lead and Copper rule (LCRR), particularly from individuals and communities that are most at-risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. For more information on each event, visit EPA’s drinking water website.”
The public listening sessions will be held on April 28 and May 5th, from 9:00 a.m. CDT to 9:00 p.m. CDT. Those interested in speaking can sign up for a 3-minute time slot on by submitting a registration form.
EPA will also host virtual community-focused roundtables starting in May 2021, followed in June by virtual roundtables with stakeholder groups including drinking water utilities, environmental organizations, environmental justice organizations, public health organizations, and consumer associations. EPA also intends to host a national co-regulator meeting in July 2021 to discuss the feedback received from communities. Details and times for these engagements will be posted on EPA’s drinking water LCRR virtual engagement website.
See the April 2nd Federal Register announcement (.pdf, 2 pages) for additional information.
From EPA’s Harmful Algal Blooms April 2021 Newsletter
“On March 19, the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms Team (HCB) Team published a technical guidance document with useful tools and resources on prevention, monitoring, mitigation strategies, communication and response to planktonic HCBs. The guidance, intended to assist waterbody managers and other interested parties to respond and manage harmful cyanobacterial blooms, provides several tools to help them select appropriate methods for monitoring, managing of nutrients and response planning.
Along with the guidance, the HCB Team also developed a series of downloadable sheets that provide descriptions of management strategies evaluated for effectiveness, advantages, limitations, relative cost, and regulatory and policy considerations.
In the next few months, the ITRC's HCB Team will be hosting live internet-based training sessions to accompany this new guidance. Members of the ITRC HCB Team included representatives from States and Local Health and Environmental Agencies, academia and federal government.”
The guidance is located on the website, and includes interactive tools and spreadsheets.
NOTE: In Iowa, the discharge of pesticide residuals, including dyes and aquatic herbicides, must comply with the conditions of NPDES General Permit #7.
From US EPA Water Security Division, 4/6/2021
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a one-hour webinar for drinking water and wastewater utilities that will discuss interdependencies between the water and chemical sectors and provide tools and resources to assist utility staff with developing more resilient supply chains.
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security will discuss commodity concerns, specifically the use, availability, and distribution of carbon dioxide in the water sector. Finally, Des Moines Water Works will provide lessons learned from a potential carbon dioxide disruption due to closure of a local ethanol plant in Iowa.”
Date: Thursday, April 29, 2021
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM CDT
Registration
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.
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