DRAFT
FY 2020-2021
NATIONAL WATER PROGRAM GUIDANCE
Public Review
Publication Number: 850P19001
Contacts:
Laura Drummond, Office of Water, 202-564-6561
Kristie Moore, Office of Water, 202-566-1616

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DRAFT
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Clean water and a strong economy are inexorably linked. No significant economic activity is possible
without clean water to drink and a functional wastewater system. Since the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) was founded, the environment is significantly better by all measures. For example, in
1962, prior to the formation of the EPA, approximately 40 percent of the public water systems did not
meet standards and over 50 percent had major deficiencies. Today the compliance rate for community
water systems has risen to 92 percent. The Office of Water's goal is to continue this trend implementing
effective programs to monitor, protect, and improve America's water while fostering economic growth.
The FY 2020-2021 National Water Program Guidance (NWPG) is a tool that states, tribes, and local
partners can use to help the EPA realize this goal.
The President's FY 2020 budget requests robust funding to further the President's ongoing commitment
to the nation's water infrastructure repair and replacement. The budget also requests significant resources
to implement the recently enacted America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA).1 This new Act
requires the EPA to initiate 32 new programs and strengthens many existing programs that address
significant public health and environmental needs. America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 mandates
include the creation of several new grant programs, authorizes assistance to areas affected by natural
disasters, promotes water utility workforce development, improves community system risk and resilience,
and improves consumer confidence drinking water reports. The Office of Water looks forward to working
in partnership with states and tribes to integrate the implementation of AWIA into the national water
program.
The EPA recognizes the limits of federal authority and the program structures of both the Clean Water
Act (CWA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in implementing the national water program.
Under both statutes, the Office of Water relies on state and tribal co-regulators and partners to implement
EPA programs effectively. The hope is that by providing reliable and consistent guidance and oversight -
while also maximizing flexibility to leverage state and tribal expertise - the EPA can help make positive
improvements to provide clean and safe drinking water and healthy waterways.
The "EPA Overview to the National Program Guidance" communicates important background and
Agency-wide information, and should be read in conjunction with this guidance.
SECTION 1: EXPLANATION OF KEY CHANGES
Performance Measure Streamline
A priority of this Administration is identifying opportunities to improve how the EPA delivers
environmental and public health results to the American public. In support of this priority, the EPA has
been working to implement the EPA Lean Management System (ELMS) for more than a year. Through
its ELMS efforts, the EPA is tracking, measuring, and improving vital Agency processes, such as
reducing the Agency's backlog in issuing permits.
Recently, the Office of Water undertook an effort to streamline the 100+ performance measures for the
national water program. Through outreach, consultation, and coordination with states and tribes in August
2018, the Office of Water sought to better understand state and tribal priorities and to seek input from
states and tribes on the most targeted set of performance measures for the national water program.
1 Read the full text of the AWIA bill at: htlps://www.congress. i
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DRAFT
With stakeholder input, the EPA identified 322 core measures that will be tracked in the NWPG. These
core measures represent a more concise set of measures than the Office of Water has tracked in the past.
This narrower set of measures focuses on key Office of Water processes and procedures. They will be
tracked on a regular basis with the goal of identifying and introducing program and process efficiencies
across the national water program. These measures can be found in the Measures Appendix beginning on
page 11.
NWPG Format Change
The Office of Water is committed to providing clear, concise guidance to states and tribes. After robust
engagement with states and tribes, the FY 2020-2021 NWPG has been streamlined to focus on achieving
the long-term performance goals laid out in the FY 2018-2022 EPA Strategic Plan and Assistant
Administrator priorities that support the Agency's drinking water, infrastructure, and watershed health
goals within the strategic plan.
The 'Program Specific Guidance' section has remained but is streamlined in scope and format. In effect,
the EPA provides guidance only on those programs with grant or loan components. Directional guidance
relating to the rest of the national water program is included in the context of the long-term performance
goals in Section II.
MEASURES
The Office of Water's long-term performance goals are long-term measurable results the Agency is
working to achieve over the life of the FY 2018-2022 EPA Strategic Plan. These long-term performance
goals are supported by annual performance goals (budget measures) included in the annual performance
plans and budgets the Agency submits to Congress.
By September 30, 2022, reduce the number of community water systems out of compliance with
health-based standards to 2,700,
Key Strategies: The EPA's national drinking water program will actively collaborate with states and
tribes by providing nationally consistent data analysis and evaluation tools; taking specific actions to
address health-based violations; supporting public water systems by providing tools to achieve financial
and managerial viability; strengthen program collaboration among the Public Water System Supervision
(PWSS), Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), and the Capacity Development programs; and
boost the EPA's direct implementation in tribal communities by coordinating with other federal agencies
(e.g. Indian Health Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs) to include implementation of disparate tribal
drinking water programs. Also, the EPA will develop or sustain national forums to help coordinate work
in infrastructure program implementation. The EPA will identify non-compliance trends and develop
actions to address the trends including training, peer-to-peer discussions, and other resources.
Priority Actions for EPA/State/Tribal collaboration:
• Ensure data accuracy and completeness - Once per quarter, the EPA will generate a national
dataset on health-based violations and develop data-driven strategies to facilitate discussions
between states and regions to address health-based violations. The data will be analyzed to identify
rule implementation challenges that may help identify appropriate targeted training, technical
assistance, and capacity development activities.
2 This number may change depending on the total number of measures in the final guidance.
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DRAFT
•	Provide targeted national training and technical assistance to address common challenges
identified via the Safe Drinking Water Information System (,SDWIS) compliance data, state file
reviews, and annual program reviews - As part of this cooperative oversight, the EPA will develop
targeted technical training and outreach efforts on drinking water regulations that represent the largest
percentage of violations impacting public water system compliance (e.g. the Lead and Copper Rule
and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rules). The EPA will develop tools and
resources that not only address technical challenges, but also coordinate with other programs that
provide managerial and financial viability to public water systems such as the DWSRF program and
the Capacity Development program. In addition to the SDWIS compliance data, the EPA will analyze
challenges identified during state file reviews and annual program reports to tailor state training needs
and resources. The EPA will track and follow up on recommendations and findings from state file
reviews that should be addressed by the primacy agencies.
• Enhance program collaboration among PWSS, DWSRF, and Capacity Development
implementation to ensure that vulnerable systems remain in compliance - The EPA will identify
opportunities to enhance the use of funding sources to target priority systems that lack compliance
with health-based violations. The EPA will work collaboratively with the PWSS, DWSRF, and the
Capacity Development program to adopt best practices and educate systems regarding the benefits of
water system partnership to reduce operation and maintenance costs.
By September 30, 2022, increase by S40 billion the non-federal dollars leveraged by EPA water
infrastructure finance programs (•CWSRF, DWSRF, and WIFIA).
Key Strategies: Repairing and modernizing outdated drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater
infrastructure to spur environmental benefits and economic growth is a top priority of the national water
program. Combined, the three water infrastructure programs, Clean Water State Revolving Fund
(CWSRF), DWSRF, and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), are the largest
federal source of funds to improve the nation's drinking water and clean water infrastructure. Maximizing
the amount of non-federal dollars leveraged by these programs is critical to meeting the national need to
repair and modernize outdated water infrastructure. The EPA Headquarters will lead implementation of
the priority actions described below.
Priority Actions for EPA/State/Tribal collaboration:
•	Engagement with the Water Infrastructure Community - The EPA water infrastructure programs
and the Water Finance Center will promote the leveraging of non-federal funds through engagements
with the water infrastructure community to include states, tribes, municipalities, and associations.
Engagements with the water infrastructure community should include outreach and marketing to
potential borrowers and grantees, as well as participation in water sector meetings and conferences.
•	Tools, Training, and Resources - The EPA will provide tools, training, and resources that promote
innovative financing strategies to federal, state, tribal, and local stakeholders. The EPA will enhance
the Water Finance Clearinghouse, deliver CWSRF and DWSRF programmatic and financial training
to state programs, and promote innovative financing through webinars, fact sheets, and best practices.
•	Program Oversight - The EPA will focus on how its oversight role of the CWSRF, DWSRF, and
WIFIA programs can promote increased leveraging of non-federal dollars at the national level. This
includes conducting state reviews of the SRF programs and performing robust oversight of WIFIA
projects.
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DRAFT
By September 30, 2022, reduce the number of square miles of watershed with surface water not
meeting standards by 37,000 square miles.
Key Strategies: The EPA is committed to assisting states, authorized tribes, and territories to adopt
updated water quality standards that support designated uses. The EPA will foster strong partnerships
with federal, state, tribal, and other partners to protect and improve water quality. Documenting collective
progress in reducing the number of waters not meeting standards is dependent on the timely submittal of
electronic Integrated Reports on waters not meeting standards and the EPA's timeliness of reviewing state
reports. Electronic submission will result in significant time savings for states in subsequent cycles,
improve the EPA's review time, and allow for more transparency when presenting state water quality
information to the public. This thereby effectively works towards restoring and maintaining the health of
the nation's waters.
Priority Actions for EPA/State/Tribal collaboration:
•	Address Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution - Nonpoint source pollution, including excess nutrient
pollution, is one of America's most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems. The
EPA works with its partners to protect and restore waters impaired by NPS pollution and provide
technical support and opportunities to leverage federal funds. In addition, the EPA is working with
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to invite states, tribes, and stakeholders to
engage and reinvigorate the use of market-based and other collaborative approaches to improve water
quality. As part of the effort to expand market-based approaches, the EPA issued a water quality
trading policy memorandum to modernize the Agency's water quality trading policies.3 The EPA will
engage with interested states and tribes to facilitate nutrient pollution reduction efforts, continue to
support state Nutrient Reduction Strategies, and provide co-leadership for the Gulf of Mexico
Hypoxia Task Force, among other actions.
•	Focus on Rule of Law and Process - The EPA is reinvigorating the rule of law and process as it
seeks to administer laws, while also refocusing the Agency on its basic statutory obligations. This
includes modernizing Clean Water Act section 404 program assumption regulations; clarifying which
waters can be assumed under an approved state or tribal program; reducing the delay of permitting
major projects; and using efficiencies to avoid duplicative, sequential review processes, where
practicable, for a more collaborative approach that entails earlier engagement and information-sharing
by all relevant agencies.
•	Communicate with Partners - Engage with the Association of Clean Water Administrators
(ACWA), the Environmental Council of States (ECOS), and other relevant organizations in open,
two-way communication throughout the lifecycle of new activities, actions, or projects to establish
up-to-date standards and criteria for water quality and water treatment technologies that may affect
states.
By September 30, 2022, reach allpermitting-related decisions within six months.
Note: Though this is an Agency-wide measure, it has significant implications for the EPA-issued, Directly Implemented (DI)
permits. This would include National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Underground Injection Control (UIC),
and other Office of Water permitting programs.
Key Strategies: The EPA is committed to increasing the speed of permit processing and streamlining
permit reissuance to incorporate up-to-date information and requirements more quickly, thus clarifying
environmental protection objectives and decreasing burden on the regulated community. The Agency is
3 Read more about the EPA's updated water quality trading policy at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-
aniiouiices-new-water-qnalitv-trading-policv-memorandum.
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DRAFT
employing business process improvement strategies, such as Lean Management, to increase efficiencies
in all permitting actions to meet the commitment by September 30, 2022, of reaching all permitting-
related decisions within six months of submission to the EPA.
Priority Actions for EPA:
•	ELMS - The EPA will take actions identified through ELMS to reduce barriers to making permitting
decisions in a timely manner, such as implementing the use of modified permit application forms that
clarify requirements and increase the likelihood of applications being complete when submitted to the
EPA and developing a NPDES clearinghouse with helpful resources for permit writers.
•	Improve Timeliness - The EPA regions will continue to implement backlog reduction strategies like
using visual management tools to track the progress of permit issuance and working to identify and
address complex or time-consuming processes, such as Endangered Species Act consultation issues,
to ensure permit timeliness goals are met.
SECTION III: OTHER CORE WORK
Providing Regulatory Certainty
The EPA is acting to reduce confusion and provide regulatory certainty across the nation. This includes
undertaking major rulemakings, including defining what waters are subject to federal regulation through
the Waters of the United States fWOTUS) Rulemaking4 and providing clarity to publicly owned
treatment works for managing wet weather events.5 The Agency is also promoting nationwide
consistency between federal and state water quality goals by considering changes to section 4016 and
section 4047 of the Clean Water Act.
Improving The Way The Agency Does Business
The EPA is committed to maintaining robust engagement with all interests to better coordinate and focus
resources on some of the nation's most challenging water resource concerns. This includes working
across the federal family on several initiatives that look at water resources holistically (e.g. the EPA's
initiative to develop a Water Reuse Action Plan that will leverage the expertise of both industry and
government to ensure the effective use of the nation's water resources8). The EPA will focus on reducing
the backlog of permitting decisions and implementing ELMS into more processes so that challenges are
responded to and resolved quickly and thoroughly. The EPA will also engage earlier and more frequently
with key stakeholders on major rulemaking and policy development initiatives.
Rebuilding America "s Water Infrastructure
The EPA is supporting the President's commitment to rebuild the America's infrastructure by providing
states, tribes, and communities with a range of financing, tools, and resources they can use to modernize
outdated water infrastructure. The EPA estimates that more than $743 billion is needed to maintain,
upgrade, and replace the nation's water infrastructure over the next 20 years.
4	Read more on the WOTUS Rule at: https://www.epa.gov/wotns-aile.
5	Read more on managing peak flows at: https://www.epa.gOv/n.pdes/peak-flows-sewage-treatmen.t-plaiits.
6	Read more on section 401 of the CWA at: https://www.epa.gov/cwa-404/overview-section-401-certification-and-
focusi ng-wetlands.
7	Read more on section 404 of the CWA at: https://www.epa. gov/cwa-404/overview-sectioti-401 -certificatioii-and-
focusi iig-wetlands.
8	Read the EPA's press release on the development of its Water Reuse Action Plan at:
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-an.nonnces-development-water-rense-action-plan.
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DRAFT
Workforce Development
Roughly one-third of water treatment facility operators will be eligible to retire in the next 10 years.
While this is a community issue in many respects, there is a role for the federal government. The EPA is
working with its federal counterparts to support water workforce training and development, including a
partnership with the Veterans Administration that provides information on water careers to disabled
veterans, and a partnership with the Department of Labor to promote tools like the Water Workforce
Competency Model, which helps utilities develop apprentice programs.
Investing in America's Wafer
All this work provides a foundation for the EPA to fulfill its core mission of ensuring that all Americans
have access to clean, safe drinking water. The Agency is working in partnership with states, tribes,
drinking water utilities, and other stakeholders to identify and address current and potential sources of
drinking water contamination and to ensure that risk is effectively communicated within communities.
This work includes addressing per and polvfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals9 and improving the
Lead and Copper Rule.10 Additionally, the EPA is working with its co-regulators and stakeholders to
address excess nutrients in source water. The focus of these discussions is to encourage creative problem
solving and identify where the EPA can provide additional flexibility that may facilitate market-based and
other collaborative pollutant reduction programs.
-K II- 1 i '¦ IT- Ml < rl'h 11 1' ".I'll
The EPA promotes flexibility in grant work planning necessary to address the environmental and health
priorities of states, tribes, and territories. Through the National Environmental Performance Partnership
System (NEPPS), the EPA encourages the use of Performance Partnership Agreements (PPAs) and
Performance Partnership Grants (PPGs) as vehicles for continuous collaboration and for increasing
administrative, financial, and programmatic flexibilities for states, tribes, and territories.11 In addition,
regions can rely on established EPA-Tribal Environmental Plans (ETEPs) to assist in conducting federal
environmental program activities in Indian country, including direct implementation and technical and
financial assistance.
PW'SS Grant Guidance
The PWSS grant program is fundamental to the implementation of the national drinking water program
and is a key oversight tool utilized in partnership with the states and tribes to provide safe drinking water
to the American public. Grants are provided to states with primary enforcement authority to implement
and enforce National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs). NPDWRs set forth monitoring,
reporting, compliance tracking, and enforcement elements. Grant funds are used by states to:
•	Maintain compliance data systems;
•	Compile and analyze compliance information;
•	Respond to and enforce against violations;
•	Certify labs;
•	Conduct lab analyses;
•	Conduct sanitary surveys; and
•	Draft new regulations and legislative provisions where necessary.
9	Read more on PFAS at: https://www.epa. gov/pfas.
10	Read more on the Lead and Copper Rule at: https://www.epa.gov/dwstaiidardsreguIatioiis/Iead-and-copper~
rule-long-term-revisions.
11	Read more on NEPPS at: https://www.epa.gov/ocir/national-environ.mental-petformance-partiiership-svstem-

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DRAFT
PWSS Grant Activities for FY 2020-2021
Building on the ongoing efforts of grantees to implement the PWSS program, FY 2020-2021 priority
activities for the PWSS grantees, including those directly implementing programs in Indian country,
should include the following:
•	Take targeted actions, such as training and technical assistance, to support efforts to reduce the
number of health-based violations;
•	Submitting primacy packages for all NPDWRs to reduce the backlog of unsubmitted or unapproved
packages;
•	Completion of sanitary surveys in a timely manner to meet the requirements of the law;
•	Seeking opportunities to implement policies that will enhance program collaboration with the
DWSRF and the Capacity Development program to address noncompliance among vulnerable
systems;
•	Ensuring that compliance data submitted to the Agency is accurate, complete, and submitted in a
timely manner;
•	Addressing rule implementation of the Microbial, Disinfectants, and Disinfection Byproducts Rule,
which represents the largest number of health-based violations, including the Revised Total Coliform
Rule, Ground Water Rule, the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule, and the Long-
term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule;
•	Continuing to address simultaneous compliance challenges with the Lead and Copper Rule; and
•	Devoting a proportion of each PWSS grant to ensuring that data are effectively managed, and that
required data are submitted to the EPA such that 1) water system compliance determinations are
consistent with federal and state regulations; 2) corrective actions associated with data file reviews
and annual program reviews are implemented; and 3) PWSS grantees submit to the EPA the required
inventory, compliance, and enforcement data. This data should be timely, accurate, and complete.
The PWSS grant allotments are based on factors such as population, geographic area, and PWSS
inventory. PWSS grant guidance, policy, and allotment formula can be found at:
https://www.epa.gov/clwreginfo/public-water-svstem-supervision-program-water-supplv-guiclance-
manual.
State-by-state allotments and the total amount available to each region for its tribal support program will
be available at: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/final-allotment-fv-2017-piiblic-water-svstem-supervision-
pwss-state-and-tribal-support.
The Guidance and Tentative Grant Allotments to Support Public Water System Supervision (PWSS)
Programs on Tribal Lands can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-
09/documents/fV2008-tent-tribal-pwss-prog-memo-guidance.pdf.
1) WSRF Giiidance
This guidance for FY 2020-2021 includes guidance for state recipients of DWSRF program grants.12
Grant recipients are expected to conduct their programs to help achieve the goals, objectives, and
measures specified in this guidance.
America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) contains specific requirements related to the State
Revolving Loan Funds. AWIA:
•	Codifies existing DWSRF provisions that authorize infrastructure rehabilitation or replacement
activities for DWSRF assistance, and that apply Davis-Bacon requirements to the DWSRF;
12 Read more on DWSRF grant programs at: www.epti.gov/driiikingwatersrf.
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•	Increases the ceiling for states to offer DWSRF assistance to disadvantaged communities from 30
percent to 35 percent and adds a new floor of six percent (which only applies if enough applications
for such assistance exist);
•	Extends the maximum amortization period for DWSRF loans from 20 years to 30 years, increases the
period for disadvantaged communities to 40 years, and extends the period for initial DWSRF
repayments from 12 months after project completion to 18 months;
•	Requires future EPA drinking water needs surveys to include an estimate of replacement costs for all
lead service lines, both the portion owned by the public water system and the remaining portion;
•	Reauthorizes the use of DWSRF assistance for delineating and assessing source water protection
areas (for which authorization ended in 1997) and authorizes funding for updating existing
assessments; and
•	Requires the EPA to collect state best practices on DWSRF administration and disseminate them to
states within three years.
Additional guidance is issued as necessary to address program implementation needs. States, at their
discretion, may reserve up to approximately 31 percent of any DWSRF capitalization grant for "set-
asides" to fund DWSRF program administration, small system technical assistance, state program
management, and local assistance. This includes:
•	Support for the state PWSS program;
•	State wide operator certification programs;
•	State wide capacity development planning;
•	System source water protection; and
•	System level capacity development actions.
To ensure the appropriate balance between financing capital projects to improve the delivery of safe water
and funding non-capital set-aside assistance for water systems, the PWSS program in each state has the
lead responsibility for determining the priority for providing these two forms of assistance to water
systems. This balance of funding priorities is to be reflected in the state's intended use plan (IUP). The
SDWA requires that states submit an annual IUP that details how the state will use DWSRF program
funds, including new capitalization grants, as well as other grant funds, repayments, and other resources.
The Project Priority List is a cornerstone element of the IUP and presents all the capital projects awaiting
DWSRF assistance in priority funding order. The SDWA further requires states to include a "Fundable
List" showing the specific projects that the state anticipates being ready to proceed to receiving assistance
that year. Additionally, the SDWA requires states to submit set-aside work plans detailing how set-aside
funds will be used. The SDWA also requires states to submit, biennially, a report that explains how
DWSRF funds were used. Finally, the SDWA requires states to submit annual data on program
performance. Auditing is required to the extent laid out in the Single Audit Act.
The EPA regions perform annual on-site reviews of state programs, including project file reviews and
transaction testing. These reviews serve as the EPA's baseline monitoring for the DWSRF.
The DWSRF grant allotments are based on the Drinking Water Needs Survey's results. State-by-state
allotments, territorial funds, and the total amount available to each region for tribes is available at:
www.epa.gov/dtinkingwatersrf.
In FY 2020-2021, the EPA and states should take all appropriate and timely steps to ensure that all
CWSRF and DWSRF funds move as expeditiously as possible from the EPA through states and into high
priority projects, consistent with sound program oversight, achieving the public health protection
objectives of the SDWA. This includes continued emphasis on cash flow modeling and assisting drinking
water systems in most need of financial and technical assistance.
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VIC Grant Guidance
State and tribal grant recipients are expected to implement their programs to help achieve the goals,
objectives, and measures specified in this guidance.
The overall objective of the UIC grant program is to protect public health by enforcing minimum
requirements to ensure that:
•	All injection is authorized under either general rules or specific permits;
•	Injection well owners and operators do not site, construct, operate, maintain, convert, plug, abandon,
or conduct any other injection activity that endangers an underground source of drinking water
(USDW);
•	Injected fluids stay within the well and the intended injection zone; and
•	No injection occurs which allows for the introduction of any contaminant into an USDW if the
presence of that contaminant may cause a violation of any primary drinking water standard or
otherwise adversely affect public health.
To assist owners and operators of Underground Injection Control (UIC) facilities in meeting these
objectives, grantees will need to adopt a variety of approaches and coordinate efforts with other
groundwater protection programs. Fiscal Year 2020 priority activities for the UIC grant fund recipients
should include the following:
•	Maintaining program capacity to implement UIC program requirements for all classes of wells;
•	Ensuring that Class I, II and III (salt solution) wells that lose mechanical integrity are returned to
compliance;
•	Addressing high priority Class V wells; and
•	Submitting data through the EPA's UIC Data Application.
C W'SRF Guidance
State and local water managers should continue to focus on financing water infrastructure improvements
through expanded use of the several types of assistance available to the CWSRF programs and through
increased use of the program's broadened eligibilities under the Water Resources Reform and
Development Act of 2014.
Nationally, the EPA will continue to strengthen oversight of the program through effective
implementation of its federal requirements. The EPA will continue to work with states to increase demand
through marketing and outreach, including providing technical assistance (e.g. surveys and focus groups)
to CWSRF programs to identify state-specific marketing opportunities, and identifying exceptional
projects for national recognition through the CWSRF Performance and Innovation in the CWSRF
Creating Environmental Success program.
WIFIA Guidance
The WIFIA program will accelerate investment in the nation's water infrastructure by providing long-
term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects. WIFIA credit
assistance is available to state infrastructure financing authorities for a group of projects and individual
project sponsors, which may include: a corporation; a partnership; a joint venture; a trust; or a federal,
state, local, or tribal government (or consortium of tribal governments). In the case of projects carried out
by private entities, such projects are to be publicly sponsored.
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Section 106 Grant Guidance
Grant recipients are expected to conduct their programs to help achieve the goals, objectives, and
measures specified in this guidance. In addition, the section 106 website13 includes specific guidance14 for
state, interstate, and tribal grant recipients in these section 106 grant guidance areas.
Section 106 grant guidance covers the core water pollution control activities: water quality standards,
water quality monitoring, impaired waters listing and total maximum daily loads (TMDL) development,
NPDES permitting, enforcement and compliance, and assumed programs for dredge and fill permitting
and enforcement. New and high priority activities for FY 2020-2021 include:
•	Coordination of states' and tribes' triennial reviews of their water quality standards with the EPA at
critical points to enhance the quality of the reviews and increase the number of reviews completed
on time;
•	Collaboration with states and tribes to implement National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) to
assess the quality of the nation's coastal waters, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, and
wetlands using a statistical survey design;15
•	Support for implementation of the new Assessment TMDL Tracking and Implementation System
(ATTAINS) data flow for submission of Integrated Reporting under CWA sections 303(d) and
305(b) through technical assistance and Exchange Network Grants. Work on state priority TMDLs
and other plans, including state-identified priorities for TMDLs, alternatives, and protection
approaches under the State-EPA 303(d) Program Vision; and
•	Incorporation of new NPDES regulations and other programmatic changes and priorities, continued
implementation of significant actions identified during permit and program quality reviews (PQRs),
revision of NPDES permit application forms to incorporate changes to the existing EPA application
regulations that were finalized on February 12, 2019 (84 FR 3324), or transition to the new EPA
forms that become effective June 12, 2019, implementation of changes specified in the NPDES
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit Remand Rule, and continued
implementation of the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule.
-section-106-
13	For more information on section 106 grants visit: https://www.epaj
grants.
14	Read the section 106 grant guidance at: https://www.epa.gov/water-poHution-control-section-106-grants/clrafl-
sec tlon~.1.06~snpplemental~grant~giiida nee-states.
15	For more information on NARS visit: https://www.epa.gov/iiatioml-aamtic-rESOurce-survevs.
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Appendix A - National Water Program Core Measures
#
Office
Program
Measure Laii<>ua<>c
1
OGWDW
Drinking Water
Community water systems out of compliance with health-based standards
2
OGWDW
Drinking Water
Community water systems out of compliance with health-based standards in
Indian country
3
OGWDW
Drinking Water
Systems out of compliance due to Lead and Copper Rule violations
4
OGWDW
Drinking Water
Strengthen the technical, managerial and financial capacity of drinking
water systems
5
OGWDW
Drinking Water
Drinking water sanitary surveys
6
OGWDW
Infrastructure
Reviews of state DWSRF
7
OGWDW
Drinking Water
State PWSS rule primacy applications in backlog
8
OGWDW
UIC
EPA permit backlog - New UIC
9
OGWDW
UIC
EPA permit backlog - Existing UIC
10
OGWDW
Drinking Water
Percent of community water systems where risk to public health is
minimized through source water protection
11
OWM
OGWDW
Infrastructure
Number (billions) of non-federal dollars leveraged by EPA water
infrastructure finance programs - CWSRF, DWSRF and WIFIA
12
OWM
OGWDW
Infrastructure
Engagements with the water infrastructure community*
13
OWM
OGWDW
Infrastructure
Water infrastructure financing tools, training, and resources provided*
14
OWM
Infrastructure
Reviews of state CWSRF
15
OWM
NPDES
EPA permit backlog - Existing Non-Tribal NPDES
16
OWM
NPDES
EPA permit backlog - Existing Tribal NPDES
17
OWM
NPDES
EPA permit backlog - New Non-Tribal NPDES
18
OWM
NPDES
EPA permit backlog - New Tribal NPDES
19
OWM
NPDES
Average process time for requests for coverage under NPDES general permits
20
OWOW
Water Quality
Watersheds with surface waters not meeting standards
21
OWOW
Water Quality
Watersheds with surface waters not meeting standards because of nutrients that
now meet standards
22
OWOW
Impaired Waters
Electronic submission of state Integrated Reports
23
OWOW
Impaired Waters
Outstanding state submission of 303(d) lists
24
OWOW
TMDL
Progress in putting priority TMDLs, alternative restoration plans, and protection
approaches in place
25
OWOW
TMDL
Backlog of EPA action on TMDLs
26
OWOW
TMDL
Backlog of EPA action on priority TMDLs
27
OWOW
Impaired Waters
Backlog of EPA action on 303(d) Lists
28
OWOW
Water Quality
Number of primarily nonpoint source-impaired waterbodies partially or fully
restored by NPS program actions
29
OWOW
Water Quality
Report on the quality of the nation's waters - number of samples processed
30
OST
Water Quality
Standards
Water Quality Standards actions in backlog
31
OST
Water Quality
Standards
Number of states completing triennial reviews on time
32
OST
Water Quality
Number of states and territories with a methodology for notifying the public
when a harmful algal bloom is present
* Measure may not be included in the final guidance.
11

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DRAFT
Appendix B - Key Contacts
Subject Aivsi
( oniacl Name
Phone
1jvunl
Drinking Water
Eric Bissonette
(202)564-2147
bissonette .eric@epa.gov
Travis Cummings
(202)564-9592
cummings.travis@epa.gov
Underground Injection Control
Eric Bissonette
(202)564-2147
bissonette .eric@epa.gov
Travis Cummings
(202)564-9592
cummings.travis@epa.gov
Infrastructure
Eric Bissonette
(202)564-2147
bissonette .eric@epa.gov
Travis Cummings
(202)564-9592
cummings.travis@epa.gov
Katherine Stebe
(202)564-7933
stebe.katherine@epa.gov
Lynn Stabenfeldt
(202)564-0602
stabenfeldt.lynn@epa.gov
NPDES
Katherine Stebe
(202)564-7933
stebe.katherine@epa.gov
Jackie Clark
(202)564-6582
clark.jackie@epa.gov
Water Quality
Istanbul Yusuf
(202)564-8811
yusuf.istanbul@epa.gov
TMDLs
Istanbul Yusuf
(202)564-8811
yusuf.istanbul@epa.gov
Impaired Waters
Istanbul Yusuf
(202)564-8811
yusuf.istanbul@epa.gov
Water Quality Standards
Lenny Bankester
(202)564-7827
bankester.lenny@epa.gov
Grants Management
Tracey Miller
(202)564-0783
miller.tracey@epa.gov
12

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