On Feb. 13, the U.S. EPA announced it will be seeking public comment on the proposed 2020 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity in areas where EPA is the NPDES permitting authority. This proposed permit would replace EPA’s 2015 MSGP upon finalization.

On Feb. 10, the Trump Administration released its FY2021 Budget which would slash the budget for the EPA by 26.5% and the Army Corps of Engineers by 22% (of the amount appropriated in FY20).

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is one of the first laws ever written (1969) that establishes the broad national framework for protecting our environment. NEPA's basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment.

The most recent "Words on Water" podcast offers a 2020 Congressional and Regulatory Preview with Steve Dye, WEF's Legislative Director and Claudio Ternieden, Senior Director of Government Affairs for WEF.

On Jan. 23, the Trump administration announced it had finalized its rewrite of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

On Jan. 16, the WEF Government Affairs team held a webcast on water sector priorities in 2020.

On Jan. 8th, WEF sent both an individual letter and a joint letter (with others in the water sector) to Congress regarding the PFAS Action Act (HR 535).

After several months of negotiations beyond the start of the 2020 fiscal year, late last week Congress reached an agreement on the final FY20 budget for the federal government. The $1.4 trillion omnibus agreement covers all 12 annual appropriations bills and will provide an increase in total federal spending of about $49 billion. It will include funding and policy provisions that have been the focus of much of the delay, such as funding for the southern border wall and raising the tobacco purchasing age to 21.

A recently released U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Program study revealed that despite decades of efforts to reduce phosphorus loads in streams, phosphorus continues to be a problem in many U.S. streams and rivers, causing explosive growth of aquatic plants and algae, including formation of harmful algal blooms.

On Dec. 12, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation to provide necessary resources to water resource recovery facilities — frequently the largest energy user in municipalities — to upgrade their energy and water efficiency. The Water Environment Federation worked closely with Merkley's office to help create the bill. The infrastructure updates sought would curb emissions from wasted energy and reduce facility costs.