Search Results for keywords:"Clean Water Act"

The Yuba County Water Agency has submitted an application for a water quality certification to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the California State Water Resources Control Board. The submission was acknowledged on December 30, 2024. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's regulations, the Water Board has until December 30, 2025, to act on the certification request. If the Water Board does not take action by then, the authority to certify is considered waived under the Clean Water Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking comments on its draft analyses comparing two sets of protective values for aquatic life affected by pesticides. These values are developed under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA). The agency's findings suggest that the values from both legal frameworks are similarly effective in protecting aquatic life. The EPA is considering adopting the benchmarks from the Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP) as national water quality recommendations, with public comments due by January 27, 2025.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has finalized a rule clarifying timelines and requirements for water quality certifications under section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act related to hydroelectric projects. This rule specifies that certifying authorities have one year to act on certification requests and affirms that projects discharging into U.S. waters need such certification or a waiver. The regulation updates language for consistency with Environmental Protection Agency terms and sets a timeline for filing certification requests. Changes include revising when certain certifications are required and ensuring procedural alignment with existing federal laws, aiming to enhance clarity, efficiency, and consistency in related hydroelectric proceedings.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a notice regarding the water quality certification for three hydroelectric projects in New Hampshire. These projects are operated by Briar Hydro Associates, LLC and include the Rolfe Canal, Penacook Upper Falls, and Penacook Lower Falls Hydroelectric Projects. The notice states that the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services received requests for water quality certification on November 4, 2024, and has one year to act, until November 4, 2025. If the department does not respond by this date, the certification is considered waived under section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act.

On March 17, 2025, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) received a request from the New York Power Authority for water quality certification related to a project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has notified the New York DEC that it has one year, until March 17, 2026, to act on this certification request. If the DEC fails to make a decision by that date, the requirement for certification is considered waived according to the Clean Water Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 is planning to renew a permit that allows treated wastewater to be discharged from bulk fuel storage facilities located in Guam. This proposed permit, identified as Permit No. GUG000001, will be valid for five years and is currently open for public comments. People can submit their comments until May 19, 2025. The permit aims to manage resources efficiently while maintaining consistent conditions for similar facilities, and more information can be found on the EPA Region 9 website.

The Department of Justice has announced a proposed agreement, known as a Consent Decree, in a court case against Thomas E. Lipar and several companies. The case involves complaint under the Clean Water Act, where pollutants were allegedly discharged without a permit. The proposed Decree requires the defendants to perform environmental mitigation and adhere to certain practices to prevent further violations. The public can submit comments on this proposal for 30 days, and more details can be found on the Justice Department's website or at the Clerk's Office of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

The Department of Justice has filed a proposed update to the 2006 Consent Decree with the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. This case involves the United States and the State of Connecticut seeking action against the Metropolitan District of Hartford for violations of the Clean Water Act. The modification extends the deadline for removing certain sewage overflow points and sets a new plan for reducing water infiltration into the sewer system. Public comments on this proposal are open for thirty days, and the decree can be accessed online or by requesting assistance.

The Department of Justice has lodged a proposed Consent Decree with the court to settle claims against American Zinc Recycling Corp. for environmental law violations at their facility in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. These claims involve federal laws such as the Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Water Act, and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, along with several Pennsylvania state laws. Under the Consent Decree, the company must implement new pollution control measures and pay a $3.3 million penalty, split between the U.S. and Pennsylvania. There is a public comment period on the Consent Decree, during which the document can be reviewed online or requested by mail.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 14 under the Clean Water Act. This plan outlines updates on previous activities, reviews of wastewater discharges, and proposed treatment technologies. The plan also addresses new studies, such as those related to industrial discharges of nutrients and PFAS (a group of chemicals). EPA received public feedback on the preliminary plan and made some clarifications, although no significant changes were made. The plan is available online for public access.