May 2025

In Brief

The EPA announced the appointment of Mark Sanborn as the regional administrator for EPA Region 1, which serves New England. Sanborn is a New Hampshire native and served as the assistant commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced proposed amendments to the state’s water quality standards and classification regulations to enhance water pollution protections in the vast majority of waterways in and around New York City. Public hearings are scheduled for June 16 and June 18; comments are accepted through June 26.

The U.S. Geological Survey’s New England Water Science Center published a webpage detailing coastal acidification monitoring in Long Island Sound.

The EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on May 7 for an updated draft of the Massachusetts general permit for all small and regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).

Native lake trout have returned to Lake Champlain, marking a conservation victory.

Director of the EPA Long Island Sound office, Mark Tedesco, retired on April 4 after dedicating 35 years to the Sound.

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) is seeking proposals to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. There are three funding categories under the LISFF, each with a different range of grant funding; all proposals are due by May 29.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services’ Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund is accepting pre-proposals for its 2025 grant round through May 31.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and its contractor, geospatial technology company Whiteout Solutions, released a high-resolution dataset capturing more than 12,000 acres of coastal saltmarsh and adjoining upland buffer in the state.

The EPA awarded funding to NEIWPCC in support of a technical assistance program to help communities address wastewater challenges through the Rural, Small and Tribal Clean Water Technical Assistance Grant Program.

The New York Environmental Facilities Corporation announced $60 million in Environmental Bond Act funding for the next round of Green Resiliency Grants. The program supports stormwater management and resilient infrastructure projects in flood-prone communities across the state.

The Environmental Council of the States released a compendium of state PFAS actions.

Environmental Analysts Ryan Buckley and Daphne Short and Executive Director Susan Sullivan attended the National Water Policy Fly-In in Washington, D.C. last month. Buckley received the Water Environment Federation's Young Professional Scholarship to support his attendance.

Accolades

Colleen Hickey, information officer and Lake Champlain Basin Program education and outreach coordinator, presented a jeopardy style event as part of the “Love the Lake” speaker series.

Aidan Mabey, environmental analyst, moderated several sessions during the North Country Convention.

Sarah Mount, environmental analyst and Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve science educator, co-authored the journal article, The Hudson River Eel Project: A community science framework for management and education, published in the Fisheries magazine.

Maude Salinger, information officer and Hudson River Estuary Program communications and citizen participation, was a co-producer of the film, “Connected – The Hudson River Estuary Program.”

Matthew Vaughan, Ph.D., environmental analyst and Lake Champlain Basin Program chief scientist, provided expert testimony before the Vermont Senate and House Committees on natural resources and the environment this winter and spring. He spoke about his research on the water quality impacts of de-icing salt in Vermont’s lakes, rivers, and streams.

NEIWPCC Commissioner David Van Slyke provided welcome remarks at the Annual Nonpoint Source Conference, and Commissioner Thomas Ballestero presented at the event. Jim Brangan, information officer and Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership coordinator moderated the plenary session in addition to presenting “Art and Residency.” Lauren Jenness Kneen, environmental analyst at the Lake Champlain Basin Program gave a presentation, and Environmental Analysts with the New York State Department of Health Madeline Sileccha and Colleen Bradley presented a poster. Devon Case, environmental analyst, Maryann Dugan, program manager, and Richard Friesner, director of Water Quality Programs, each moderated two sessions during the conference.

Job Opportunities

Employment opportunities and internships are posted as they become available. We are currently accepting applications for the following full-time positions:



• Environmental Analyst (Grand Isle, Vt.)
• Program Manager – Education and Outreach (Grand Isle, Vt.)
• Information Officer – Education and Outreach (Grand Isle, Vt.)
• Information Officer – Science Communication (Stamford, Conn.)
• Information Officer – Administrative Assistant (Lowell, Mass.)

Upcoming Events

May 6-9, WEF Residuals and Biosolids Conference, Baltimore, Md.

May 11-14, NEWEA Spring Meeting, Portland, Maine

May 22, Green Mountain Water Environment Association Spring Meeting, Killington, Vt.

June 8-11, American Water Works Association, ACE25, Denver, Colo.

June 12, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Drinking Water Source Protection Conference, Pembroke, N.H.

July 15-18, Collection Systems and Stormwater Conference, Houston, Texas

July 22-25, NACWA Utility Leadership Conference, Colorado Springs, Colo.

To submit your event for possible inclusion in a future issue, please send an email with a link to your event to: NEIWPCC.