Recent Federal WaterTaps

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Federal Water Tap, February 17: House Republicans Move to Overturn Rules on Lead in Drinking Water
/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett WaltonThe Rundown
And lastly, Republicans from the western states set out their legislative priorities.
By the Numbers
$396 Billion: Federal funding that is being illegally withheld, according to Senate Democrats, due to President Trump’s spending freeze. Those dollars are a conservative estimate, say Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee. They include hundreds of billions for pollution prevention, watershed restoration, flood mapping, infrastructure, and more.
Last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, sued the Trump administration for holding back funds that Congress appropriated and were designated for cleaning up abandoned mines, constructing water treatment systems for toxic runoff, and plugging old oil and gas wells.
News Briefs
Water-Efficiency Targeted
The EPA says it will weaken a voluntary national program to promote water-efficient appliances and faucets, arguing that Biden administration standards for the WaterSense labeling program “restrict consumer choice.”
The new EPA leadership under President Trump claims that WaterSense-labeled products “just don’t work well.” But besides the president, who frequently complains about weak flow from water-efficient showerheads, it is difficult to see who wants these changes.
The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, in public comments submitted during the first Trump administration, argued against increasing the permissible flow rate for multi-nozzle showerheads. Doing so, the trade group asserted, would result in building plumbing systems being built too large, an outcome that could degrade water quality from the tap. The group also said a weakened efficiency standard could hurt the export of American-made plumbing products.
Water Bills in Congress
Climate-Risk Disclosure
A year ago, the Biden administration finalized a rule that requires certain large businesses to disclose climate-related risks when filing federal financial reports.
The Securities and Exchange Commission, the agency in charge, was promptly sued. It delayed implementing the climate rule pending the outcome of the lawsuit, which is being heard in the Eighth Circuit.
Now Mark Uyeda, the acting SEC chairman, wants to reconsider the commission’s position of supporting the climate rule. In light of the change in administration, Uyeda asked the court not to schedule arguments in the case so that the commission could reevaluate.
“The Rule is deeply flawed and could inflict significant harm on the capital markets and our economy,” wrote Uyeda, who voted against adopting the rule last year.
Another commissioner, Caroline Crenshaw, filed a dissent condemning what she called Uyeda’s unilateral action.
Studies and Reports
Using Nature to Mess with Nature
The Army Corps research center is looking for partners to study the use of insects to control the growth of a water-guzzling riparian grass in southern California.
A non-native species, Giant cane is a 20-foot-tall plant that grows best near streams. Dense stands of giant cane not only slurp scarce water. They also clog waterways and increase flood risk.
Weed killers are effective but expensive. How about insects instead?
The Army Engineer and Research Development Center has a $395,000 grant opportunity to investigate the use of “biological controls” for giant cane. There are two options approved for use in California: the Arundo gall wasp and the Arundo armored scale.
The funding notice anticipates a five-year assessment. The application deadline is April 14.
On the Radar
USAID Funding
A federal judge suspended President Trump’s 90-day freeze on foreign aid, giving the administration until February 18 to file a status update, NPR reports. It is still unclear what effect the suspension will have on the ground after many programs laid off staff and contractors.
In context: USAID Shutdown Causes Global Alarm in International Water and Climate Programs
EPA Nominee
Jessica Kramer, the deputy secretary for regulatory programs at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, has been nominated as the EPA assistant administrator for water.
Previously the water counsel for Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Kramer was the top Republican staffer working on the water provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Senate Hearing
On February 19, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on environmental reviews and permitting.
There has been bipartisan discussion of permitting reform, but each side is wary of the sorts of projects (renewable energy, oil and gas pipelines) that the other wants to see built more quickly.
Federal Water Tap is a weekly digest spotting trends in U.S. government water policy. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.
Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton