Government Relations Update

September 25, 2026

EPA Webinars

October 2026 is Cyber Awareness Month

Join EPA in celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026! Throughout October, EPA will be offering a series of trainings designed to help drinking water and wastewater systems strengthen their cyber resilience with courses including both beginner and intermediate level sessions. Whether you are new to cybersecurity or looking to build on existing skills, there is an opportunity for you! To view and register for these webinars, please click here.

Free Technical Assistance and Upcoming Webinars for Water Sector Utilities on Natural Hazard Resilience

EPA’s Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Initiative offers free natural hazard risk assessment technical assistance and webinars to support drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in building resilience to natural hazards and disasters. SWIFT has announced three upcoming webinars with the topics Natural Hazard Technical Assistance for Updating your Emergency Response Plan, Water Sector Utility Case Studies for Building Resilience to Natural Hazards, and Building Winter Weather Resilience for Water Sector Utilities. To register for these webinars, click here.

In The News

Gleim Calls for State Compliance in Federal Stormwater Policy

Executive Order 14428: PROVIDING MEANINGFUL WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND OVERSIGHT OF FEDERAL SUPPORT

Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority says local stormwater fees remain despite Trump order

'Rain tax' executive order signed by President Trump does not cancel stormwater fees for Luzerne County communities

Advisory Committees

On September 9th, the Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) held its bimonthly meeting. They discussed updates and proposed revisions to the Manual for Land Treatment of Wastewater, PAG-01, PAG-10, and the Biosolids Land Application Permits update. The next WRAC meeting is scheduled for November 4th, 2026.

• Manual for Land Treatment of Wastewater Presentation
• PAG-01 NPDES General Permit Reissuance Proposed Revisions
• PAG-10 NPDES General Permit Reissuance Proposed Revisions
• Biosolids Beneficial Use Program Update

Grant Opportunities

Municipal Recycling Program Performance Grant

The Department of Environmental Protection announces a request for applications from municipalities for recycling performance grant assistance for recycling programs under section 904 of the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988 (Act 101) (53 P.S. § 4000.904). Municipalities include counties, cities, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships, home rule municipalities, their authorities, councils of governments, consortiums or similar entities established by two or more municipalities under 53 Pa.C.S. Chapter 23 Subchapter A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation). This application period is for eligible materials recycled and marketed in Calendar Year 2025.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement Grant Program; Amended Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Intended Use Plan; Available for Public Comment

PENNVEST and DEP have amended the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026 Intended Use Plan (IUP) for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The amendments of the FFY 2026 DWSRF IUP focus on the Lead Service Line (LSL) Replacement grant.

To help you stay informed, PMAA publishes a weekly Legislative Bill Tracker watchlist highlighting key bills as they move through the legislative process.