The Rundown
- EPA proposes a three-year extension for a deadline to close large unlined waste pits at coal-fired power plants.
- EPA announces $6.5 billion in water infrastructure financing while also reallocating $1.1 billion in lead pipe replacement funds to states with the greatest need.
- Congress considers water-related bills on hydraulic fracturing, faster permitting, and program reauthorizations.
- Interior secretary signs an order to reduce administrative costs of procurement at Bureau of Reclamation water and power projects.
- BLM requests an extension for the final environmental review of a groundwater pipeline project in southwest Utah.
And lastly, the U.S. Geological Survey studies road salt runoff in northern New York rivers.
“This deadline extension will promote electric grid reliability by allowing the coal-fired steam generating units at these facilities to continue to operate beyond their currently scheduled retirement dates.” – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency justification for wanting to extend the deadline for closing unlined coal ash pits larger than 40 acres in surface area.
By the Numbers
$1.1 Billion: Federal funding for lead pipe replacement that the EPA is reallocating from states with less need to those with more need. The reallocated funds are from fiscal years 2023 and 2024 and a large portion come from Florida and Texas. The EPA’s internal watchdog identified errors in data submitted by both states that resulted in them overstating their number of lead pipes.
News Briefs
Coal Ash Deadline
The EPA wants to extend by three years a deadline for closing large unlined pits that hold waste from coal-fired power plants.
If finalized, this would give operators until October 17, 2031, to complete their closures, and also allow the power plants to continue operating.
“This deadline extension will promote electric grid reliability by allowing the coal-fired steam generating units at these facilities to continue to operate beyond their currently scheduled retirement dates,” the agency wrote.
The extension would apply to 11 power plants that currently operate pits larger than 40 acres in surface area. Three of the plants are in Illinois. Louisiana and Texas have two each. Others are in Indiana, Ohio, Utah, and Wyoming.
Unlined pits are a threat to groundwater, where heavy metals and other coal ash contaminants can end up. The groundwater can then enter streams and lakes.
EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on January 6, 2026. Public comments on the proposal are due the next day using docket number EPA-HQ-OLEM-2025-2864 at www.regulations.gov.
Water Bills in Congress
After the shutdown, Congress is back proposing and advancing new water-related legislation.
- House Democrats sponsored a five-bill package to regulate oil and gas operations. Three bills deal with water sources. The SHARED Act requires groundwater testing and reporting in conjunction with fracking operations.
- The FRAC Act would repeal the fracking exemption in the Safe Drinking Water Act. The bill requires energy companies to disclose the chemicals and volumes they expect to use in a fracking job, as well as the actual amounts in a post-completion report.
- The FRESHER Act, which requires the Interior Department to study stormwater runoff from oil and gas operations.
- Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) introduced a bill to reauthorize a federal grant program for water recycling.
- Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) introduced a bill to reauthorize WIFIA, a low-interest water infrastructure loan program.
- The House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Republican-sponsored SPEED Act, a bill that intends to quicken the federal environmental review process.
Studies and Reports
Reclamation Maintenance Contracts
Interior Sec. Doug Burgum signed an order intended to reduce administrative costs for maintenance and construction at Reclamation water and power projects.
The order allows local governments, irrigation districts, and other entities that have a contractual relationship with the agency to use their procurement procedures or to manage construction projects.
New York Road Salt
U.S. Geological Survey researchers studied how road salt application affected watersheds in northern New York. Their report found that a number of variables are at work.
Besides snow and pavement conditions, legacy salts that were applied in past years and now reside in groundwater continue to make rivers and streams saltier.
In context: Road Salt, a Stealthy Pollutant, Is Damaging Michigan Waters
On the Radar
House Energy Hearing
On December 3, a House Natural Resources subcommittee will hold a hearing on the administration’s energy dominance goals.
House Starts Work on New Army Corps Infrastructure Bill
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is beginning its work on the next bill to authorize Army Corps water infrastructure projects.
The committee will hold a staff briefing on December 4 and then consider projects, studies, and policies for inclusion in the bill, which will be drafted and voted on next year.
Water Infrastructure Lending
The EPA announced the availability of $6.5 billion in water infrastructure financing through WIFIA, a low-interest loan program.
WIFIA is allowed to cover up to 49 percent of eligible project costs.
The announcement includes criteria for evaluating project applications. Projects that are regionally significant, have an innovative approach, protect against extreme weather, and serve regions with “significant energy exploration, development, or production” are given the highest priority.
EIS for Utah Groundwater Pipeline Project Delayed
The Bureau of Land Management is requesting an extension for its review of a proposed groundwater pipeline in southwest Utah.
The project’s final environmental impact statement was due on November 21. Because of the government shutdown, the BLM wants an extension to “early 2026.”
The Pine Valley Water Supply Project is a scheme to pump groundwater in southwest Utah’s Beaver County and move it to neighboring Iron County for municipal supply and irrigation water.
Proposed by the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District, the project includes 15 wells to supply 15,000 acre-feet of groundwater per year, 70 miles of pipeline, and a 200-acre solar field.
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.
