Louisiana Explores Water Pollution Credits Program & Other Water Policy Updates

Here are the latest news stories in local and national water policy to watch for in February. Scroll to the end for a list of water events and deadlines to keep on your radar, including the Water Challenge. Save your seat for March 21st!

In The News

Expedited Permitting for Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
Source: The Times-Picayune
The State of Louisiana signed an MOU with the Trump administration for an expedited two-year federal permitting timeline for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project. The diversion project, which is a major initiative in the State’s Coastal Master Plan, would route water and sediment from the Mississippi River into the upper Barataria Basin near Myrtle Grove as part of the effort to rebuild land and sustain wetlands. The project had been included in the Federal Permitting Dashboard in 2017 in an effort to streamline permitting and review process, but this left the review process at five years due to the environmental issues associated with the project. CPRA pushed to expedite the review process further, citing the importance of large scale ecosystem restoration. The agreement outlines a process for state and federal agencies to cooperate on permitting and puts forth a framework for “Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Authorization Process.”

Louisiana Explores Water Pollution Credits Program
Source: DEQ Louisiana, The Times-Picayune
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is developing a program to allow water pollution credits to be traded by industry, farmers, and sewage treatment plants, in which polluters that are unable to meet water quality standards could buy credits from other contributors that have taken steps to reduce their pollution. While business groups have supported the program’s development and DEQ views it as a way of bringing non-point source polluters into compliance, environmental groups warn that it will be difficult to regulate and to monitor whether measures designed to produce credits actually reduce pollution. DEQ is soliciting input on the proposed program until February 28, and information from the January 23 stakeholder kick-off meeting is available on their website.

Sustaining Funds for Water Infrastructure
Source: US Water Alliance
The U.S. Water Alliance has released its latest policy brief, “Sustain Funding for Water Infrastructure”, as part of its seven-part One Water America Policy Framework series that highlights leading issues surrounding sustainable water management. The report discusses funding for water infrastructure as a widespread concern across the United States as communities contend with aging infrastructure, meeting regulatory compliance, and needed upgrades for water, sewer, and stormwater systems to adapt to climate change. Declines in the availability of federal funding has meant water, sewer, and stormwater rates and charges will be the primary source of funding.  Thus, communities must understand the true cost of providing these services and affordability considerations can be taken into account. Locally, utilities will need to optimize financial management, increase operational efficiency, and adopt technological innovations, while state and federal funding programs should be preserved and improved. 

NIBS Releases Natural Hazard Mitigation Report Updates
Source: FEMA
The National Institute of Building Sciences released Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Report in January. The analysis updates a widely-cited 2005 study that found that every $1 spent on mitigation saves an average of $4 in future disaster costs. The 2017 Interim Report found even greater savings and breaks down analyses by hazard category, including riverine flood, hurricane surge, wind, earthquake, and Wildland-Urban Interface Fire. When looking at data from 23 years of mitigation grants from federal agencies, the analysis found that on average every $1 spent on hazard mitigation saves the nation $6 in future disaster costs, while mitigation for riverine flooding had an even higher rate of return of 7:1.

More Water Headlines

• Hopes For Flood Insurance Deal Dim In Congress
• USACE Sued To Block Bayou Bridge Pipeline Permit
• Lousiana Says Thousands Should Move From Coast
• Blessing and Curse of the Wood Screw Pump
• A Floating House to Resist the Floods

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• The Water Challenge 2018 | Mar. 21 from 6:30-8:30PM; Propeller’s annual pitch competition awarding $15k to businesses, nonprofits, and individuals with ideas to improve urban water, coastal environments, and the local water economy. Come out and vote for the $500 Audience Favorite! The Water Challenge is funded by the Greater New Orleans Foundation and supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co. ATTEND
• CPRA FY19 Annual Plan Comments | Deadline Feb. 12; Public comments on CPRA’s FY19 Annual Plan deadline approaching. Plan provides updates on state’s efforts to protect and restore coast, includes inventory of $562M in projects. COMMENT
• Tulane Pro Bono Patent/Trademark Assistance | Deadline ASAP; Tulane Law School is certified by the USPTO to provide limited pro bono legal assistance with patent and trademark applications, and is offering their services during the Spring 2018 semester. APPLY
• GRP Grant For Science/Environmental Education | Deadline Feb. 14;The Gulf Research Program is accepting Letters of Intent for programs to increase scientific and environmental literacy in children and youth related to its Healthy Ecosystems, Thriving Communities, and Safer Offshore Energy Systems initiatives. Minimum requests are for $75k for projects up to two years in duration. APPLY
• Webinar: Advancing Nature-Based Solutions to Urban Challenges | Feb. 14 from 12:00-1:00 PM ; Kresge Foundation and Earth Economics present a webinar focused on using green infrastructure to address urban water challenges. Will include ecosystem valuation concepts and case studies. REGISTER
• EPA Water Quality Modeling Webinar | Feb. 20 from 11-12:30PM; Presenting EPA’s Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) for simulating runoff quantity and quality. Latest version includes low impact development (LID) measures, such as rain gardens and bioswales. REGISTER
• GRP Thriving Communities Grant | Deadline March 8; Three-day Networking and Idea Development Workshop May 30-June 1 in Mobile, AL, focused on increasing community resilience. Applications to participate in workshop due March 8. Grant opportunity expected to open in July. REGISTER