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Clean Water Pod Season Ends with Perspectives on the Next 50 Years of the Clean Water Act
In the final episode of season one, host Jeff Berckes speaks with Benita Best-Wong, deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They begin by discussing Best-Wong’s career path and the successes of the Clean Water Act. “The aspiration that our nation’s water would be fishable and swimmable…
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Tale of the Terrifying Tank
By Mark Junker This story could be a Russian epic: “All happy tanks are alike, but every unhappy tank is different in its own way.” It could be an adventure: “Have fun storming the tank pit!” This tale is rooted in science and philosophy, as the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the…
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Long Island ‘Garden Rewards’ Grant Program Launches
Up to $500 Available to Install Rain Barrells, Rain Gardens and Native Plant Gardens Long Island homeowners looking to play a role in reducing stormwater runoff, which is one of the leading causes of nitrogen pollution in our waterways, will soon be eligible for grants to help cover the cost and maintenance of runoff mitigation…
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Latest Issue of L.U.S.T.Line Focuses on Underground Storage Tanks Challenges
LUSTLine (#92), the national publication for the underground storage tanks (USTs) industry, is now available on the NEIWPCC website. The cover article “Tale of the Terrifying Tank,” by contributor Mark Junker narrates the impact of a leaking underground storage tank (LUST) on a small tribal nation on the Kansas-Nebraska border. The article describes how the…
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Environmental Groups Recruiting Volunteers to Harvest Invasive Aquatic Plant from Local Ponds
Several environmental organizations are banding together in calling for volunteers to help remove invasive water chestnut (Trapa natans) from local ponds in the Blackstone and Ten Mile River watersheds, located in Southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The events will be held throughout the month of June and are open to all members of the community.…
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Annual Report Now Available in Print and Online
NEIWPCC’s annual report for fiscal year 2022 is now available. The report covers work that spanned from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022, highlighting continued coordination with the seven member states on issues related to NEIWPCC’s water program priorities: Contaminants of emerging concern/PFAS. Watershed planning and waterbody protection. Infrastructure and state revolving fund. Clean…
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Water Invaders: A Spotlight on Aquatic Invasive Species
By Beth MacBlane On a humid July morning before the sun peaks, a duo of paddlers push off the sandy shore of Lake Washington in Rhode Island, slowly gliding in their canoe toward the lily pads and grassy reeds in search of ecologically disruptive non-native plants. These seasonal water quality technicians, with the state’s Department…
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Federal Funding for Nonpoint Source Implementation Projects: The 319 Grant Program for States and Territories
Episode seven of the “Clean Water Pod” podcast explores the 319 Grant Program, established by the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act to support state, territory and tribal nonpoint source implementation projects. Host Jeff Berckes speaks with Steve Konrady, western Iowa basin coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Water Quality Bureau, and…
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Annual Nonpoint Source Conference Focuses on Environmental Justice
The 33rd Annual Nonpoint Source (NPS) Conference was held on April 12-13 in Saratoga Springs, New York, drawing more than 120 attendees representing professionals and stakeholders from across the country. The conference focused on NPS pollution and its effects on the environment, with an overarching theme of “Environmental Justice, Equity, and Climate Change.” The event…
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Permitting Point Source Pollution
Episode 6: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program The sixth episode of the “Clean Water Pod” podcast explores the Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program, commonly referred to by its acronym, “NPDES.” To discuss how this program improves water quality, host Jeff Berckes is joined by guests Jeff…