On June 19, a federal judge in San Francisco denied a bid by a coalition of 18 Democratic state attorneys generals to put the regulation on hold nationwide, ruling that the plaintiffs didn't show they had a strong enough chance of winning their challenge to the Navigable Waters Protection rule to warrant a preliminary injunction. The rule goes into effect today.

On May 21, the EPA issued draft recommendations  for addressing excess nutrients in surface water, which can fuel the growth of harmful algae, especially during the summer months.

On June 18, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report titled “Regulating Drinking Water Contaminants: EPA PFAS Actions” was published in order to summarize the effects PFAS legislation would have on the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) among other statutes. The CRS report also covers EPA’s new PFAS Action Plan.

On June 11, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the proposed rule - Clean Water Act (CWA) Methods Update Rule for Analysis of Effluent (SAN 6653).

On Wednesday, June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cohost a webinar on federal grants and innovative financing options for reducing nutrients.

On June 27th, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved HR 3906, the Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2017.

On June 20th, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) in the Federal Register as it considers updating its implementing regulations for the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

On June 25th, the Senate easily passed a “minibus” appropriations bill which includes funding for Energy & Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, and will fund the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies $43.8 billion in FY19. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $6.93 billion, which is $350 million less than the House-passed bill, but $100 million above FY18 levels.

On June 28, the WEF Government Affairs Member Association Subcommittee held a webinar to help inform WEF Members of local regulatory and legislative issues that affect MAs in various regions.

On Wednesday, June 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closed on a WIFIA loan with the City of Omaha, NE, which is the second loan made through the program. EPA issued a $69.7 million loan to Omaha to help finance its Saddle Creek Retention Treatment Basin. Omaha expects to save up to $20 million by financing the project with a WIFIA loan and create 165 jobs.