Region 8 Tribal Drinking Water Monthly Newsletter February, 2022 Announcement: Annua! R8 Newsletter, Monitoring and Reporting Requirements Coming Soon The Region 8 Drinking Water Unit will soon be sending our annual "mass mailer." This package will include your water system's anticipated monitoring and reporting requirements for 2022, an in-depth and detailed annual newsletter with articles by R8 staff, and other important items for maintaining compliance with SDWA throughout 2022.Stay tuned! Tribal Consultation: Proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is initiating consultation and coordination with federally recognized Indian tribes to obtain input on the Agency's forthcoming proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in accordance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and other applicable statutes. EPA is developing a proposed PFAS NPDWR to improve public health protection by reducing drinking water exposure for PFOA, PFOS, and potentially other PFAS. The tribal consultation letter and consultation and coordination plan for this action are attached. These consultation materials are also available on EPA's Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS) website located at: https://tcots.epa.gov. EPA plans to hold two identical national tribal webinars on February 23, 2022 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time THIS MONTH Announcement: Annual R8 Newsletter, Monitoring and Reporting Requirements Coming Soon Tribal Consultation: Proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Tribal Consultation: Notification of Consultation and Coordination on Potential Revisions to the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set-Aside Allocation Formula Symposium: ASDWA Lead Service Line Symposiums Funding: USDA Funding Now Available for Colorado Grazing Land Drought Resiliency and Tribal Conservation Projects Training: EPA Announces the UCMR 5 Candidate Systems and Public Webinar Meetings Training: Basic Water Math and Chlorine Disinfection for Montana Small Systems Upcoming Regulatory Deadlines ------- and March 8, 2022 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time. The webinars provide an opportunity for EPA to provide background information on the proposed rule development and answer questions. There will also be time for tribal representatives to provide input to the agency during the meeting. To register: • February 23 Tribal Informational Webinar: https://www.eventbrite.eom/e/250368217077. • March 8 Tribal Informational Webinar: https://www.eventbrite.eom/e/250368217077. The EPA's anticipated timeline for the consultation and coordination period on this action is expected to extend from February 9, 2022 to April 16, 2022. For any questions, please contact Ashley Greene, U.S. EPA, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, by phone at 202-566-1738, or via email at greene.ashlevffiepa.gov. Tribal Consultation: Notification of Consultation and Coordination on Potential Revisions to the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set-Aside Allocation Formula The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating consultation and coordination with federally recognized Indian tribes to inform potential revisions to the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set-Aside (DWIG-TSA) allocation formula. The allocation formula is used to determine how DWIG-TSA funds are distributed among the EPA Regions with federally recognized Indian tribes (currently all 10 EPA Regions). These funds are then distributed by EPA Regions to eligible tribal drinking water infrastructure projects within each Region. As discussed in a webinar for tribal stakeholders, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) invests an unprecedented nationwide total of $50 billion investment to address disproportionate environmental burdens in historically underserved communities across the country. This funding, which will primarily flow through EPA's State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, will create jobs while upgrading America's aging water infrastructure and addressing key challenges like lead in drinking water and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Designated funding to tribes will be provided through the tribal set aside programs under the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. EPA is reviewing the DWIG-TSA allocation formula to ensure that there is an equitable distribution of funds to areas of greatest drinking water infrastructure needs, taking into consideration new data sources and the institutional knowledge gained in the over two decades since the DWIG-TSA program's inception. The tribal consultation letter and consultation and coordination plan for this action are attached. These consultation materials are also available on EPA's Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS) website located at: https://tcots.epa.gov. EPA plans to hold two identical Tribal Webinars and Listening Sessions on March 1, 2022 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time and March 10, 2022 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time. The webinars will ------- provide tribal representatives an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about this consultation opportunity and the potential revisions to the DWIG-TSA allocation formula. To register: • March 1 Tribal Informational Webinar and Listening Session: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJlsf-ysrzlvGSgJ3E2 S8BQIYofNtdQSjg. • March 10 Tribal Informational Webinar and Listening Session: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJltc--vqDsiHmlv2Gr5FeSVXBziMR9-exE. The EPA 's anticipated timeline for the consultation and coordination period on this action is expected to extend from January 31, 2022 to May 2, 2022. For any questions, please contact Deborah Vacs Renwick with EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water by email at VacsRenwick.Deborah@epa.gov. Symposium: ASDWA Lead Service Line Symposiums On Wednesday, February 2nd, ASDWA will kick off the first of an eight-part webinar series to examine an assortment of topics related to lead service line (LSL) inventories. The intent of ASDWA's Lead Service Line Symposium is to maximize the transfer of data and information between states, utilities, consultants, technical assistance providers, and drinking water sector partners. ASDWA's Lead Service Line Symposium will be held each Wednesday in February (2/2, 2/9, 2/16, and 2/23) and will feature a morning session (from 11:00-12:30 p.m. EST) and an afternoon session (3:00- 4:30 p.m. EST). Each session will consist of approximately 45-60 minutes of presentations and panel discussion, followed by 30-45 minutes for questions and answers. The symposium will be recorded and archived on ASDWA's website so please register to ensure access to the archive. The symposium is free to attend and open to all who work in drinking water. Note, ASDWA is unable to provide CEUs for this event. When: Every Tuesday of February 2022. Register for more information. Click here to register. Funding: USDA Funding Now Available for Colorado Grazing Land Drought Resiliency and Tribal Conservation Projects The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado announced funding available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts (CIC) for grazing land drought projects and tribal land agricultural conservation projects. Interested Colorado agricultural producers are encouraged to submit an application by February 18, 2022 for consideration for funding in this opportunity. Conservation Incentive Contracts (CICs) are an option available through EQIP that offers producers financial assistance to adopt conservation management practices on working landscapes. Producers may use incentive contracts as a "steppingstone" from correcting resource issues on specific land units to achieving sustainable stewardship across their entire operation. Conservation Incentive Contracts sign-up opportunities are available nationwide to help producers address priority resource concerns in high-priority areas. ------- How to Apply: Colorado producers interested in this targeted funding should apply by February 18, 2022 by contacting their local USDA Service Center. While USDA offices may be closed to visitors because of the pandemic, Service Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. Training: EPA Announces the UCMR 5 Candidate Systems and Public Webinar Meetings Last month, Region 8 notified systems in Indian country that have been identified as sampling locations for UCMR 5. These systems will be expected to monitor for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium in drinking water between 2023 and 2025. More information on UCMR 5 is available here. UCMR 5 public webinars EPA will host two identical virtual meetings to provide public water systems (PWSs), states, laboratories, and other stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the UCMR 5 program. The meetings will address: a general introduction to the UCMR program, PWSs subject to UCMR 5 requirements, the analytes to be monitored, monitoring locations and frequency, reporting requirements, ground water representative monitoring plans (GWRMPs), and the laboratory approval program. • March 16, 2022; 9:00 AM -12:30 PM ET - Register • March 17, 2022; 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM ET - Register The number of webinar connections available for the two webinars is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If stakeholder interest exceeds the maximum number of available connections, EPA may schedule additional webinars. Region 8 anticipates hosting a second training in the summer to detail sampling requirements and techniques in the summer 2022. More details will be shared here as they become available. Registrants will receive confirmations and further webinar information via email. Questions regarding webinar registration should be emailed to UCMRWebinar(5) cadmusgroup.com. Training: Basic Water Math and Chlorine Disinfection for Montana Small Systems Join experts from the Southwest Environmental Finance Center for two no-cost workshops on Basic Water Math and Chlorine Disinfection. Each training will be held in two 2-hour sessions. Attendees can register for one or both trainings, but are encouraged to attend both sessions on the training day. Basic Water Math | February 24, 2022 Part 1: 9:00 - 11:00 AM MST ------- Part 2:1:00 - 3:00 PM MST One of the biggest challenges with math is, if you don't use it, you lose it. This training is separated into two 2-hour sessions on water math topics that are tailored to meet the needs of each individual participant and can include breakout sessions for those that need a review of math fundamentals, and those interested in doing math associated with distribution systems or treatment processes and other more complex operations. Each training focuses on the daily use of math at each participant's water system/s to help better manage day-to-day operations and make informed choices that could affect system performance. Register here. Chlorine Disinfection | March 3, 2022 Part 1: 9:00 - 11:00 AM MST Part 2:1:00 - 3:00 PM MST This training is separated into two 2-hour sessions to provide attendees a better understanding of the chlorine disinfection process along with operations and maintenance (O&M) best practices. Topics include chlorine disinfection basics, chlorine safety, disinfection system O&M, chlorine residual monitoring, and disinfection math. In addition, chlorine disinfection is discussed as it relates to the Safe Drinking Water Act, sanitary surveys, and operator certification. Register here. Webinar: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Capacity Building in Action: Advancing Water Equity The United States enjoys one of the world's most reliable and safest supplies of drinking water. Some communities across the country, however, face the challenge of aging or inadequate drinking water infrastructure. Many marginalized and underserved communities lack crucial access to clean and safe water and are the most vulnerable to contaminant exposure and have a harder time to overcome capacity challenges. This webinar will focus on how States could use their DWSRF set-asides for activities that identify and prioritize water infrastructure and capacity building projects for underserved communities. You'll also hear from State presenters on their efforts to build capacity and advance water equity. When: February 15, 2022 2:00 PM Eastern (12:00 Mountain) Click to Register. Upcoming Regulatory Deadlines (Refer to Tickler for System-Specific Information) Date Event Location Last day of every calendar month Last day to collect monthly total coliform samples Sites approved on your RTCR sample plan ------- 10th of every month Last day for EPA to receive total N/A coliform and DBP samples collected during the previous month Key EPA Contacts Region 8 Tribal Team Nate Delano - Denver, CO Office - 303-312-6318 - delano.nathaniel@epa.gov Emily Gillespie - Helena, MT Office - 406-457-5009 - Gillespie.emily.i@epa.gov Joe Faubion - Helena, MT Office - 406-457-5005 - Faubion.joseph@epa.gov Andrea Griese - Pierre, SD Office - 605-945-1192 - griese.andrea@epa.gov Other R8 Drinking Water Employee Contact Information Can be Found Here. This newsletter can be viewed online by visiting: https://www.epa.gov/region8-waterops/epa- region-8-tribal-drinking-water-monthly-newsletter. If you would like to be added or removed from this newsletter distribution list, please email delano.nathaniel@epa.gov. ------- |