Obama EPA Takes A Bow, Touts #WaterProgress

By Kevin Westerling,
@KevinOnWater
In the years the U.S. EPA has worked under the Obama administration, the agency has been very active. Depending on your perspective, that may be good or bad. While some see new regulations as necessary to protect citizens and the environment (and to drive innovation in the water sector), others argue that recent actions have been overly restrictive and unduly burdensome.
The EPA under Donald Trump will look and act much differently. Both he and his pick to lead the EPA, Scott Pruitt, have been vocal critics of environmental regulations.
So with the curtain closing on 2016 and Obama’s EPA, the agency got a bit reflective. Through a story map, infographic, a message from departing EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, and a Twitter chat, they celebrated the “progress made to advance clean water protection and provide Americans with safe drinking water since 2009.”
During the live #WaterProgress Twitter chat on Dec. 13, Joel Beauvais, the EPA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water (@EPAwater), answered questions from users while pointing to some EPA initiatives that have helped define the agency over the past eight years. Here are some highlights from the conversation.
@EPAwater How is the agency making it easier for utility's to do integrated planning? #WaterProgress
— Josh Reiner (@joshareiner) December 13, 2016
We recently launched long-term stormwater planning tool and are supporting 5 communities as pilots. https://t.co/TmZB7Wz46R #WaterProgress https://t.co/GIJJZzyUQA
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
@EPAwater What does @EPAwater see as the biggest threat to #WaterProgress in the next decade?
— Sierra Club (@sierraclub) December 13, 2016
Aging infrastructure, nutrient pollution, emerging contaminants, climate change are big threats. https://t.co/msCL7VDNil
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
@EPAWater what will EPA do to address drinking water risks from fracking outlined in Assessment finalized today?#WaterProgress
— Lynn Thorp (@LTCWA) December 13, 2016
We're working to help ensure that natural gas extraction doesn't come at expense of health & enviro: https://t.co/ThvRqsiInN #WaterProgress https://t.co/aUECCRTHlh
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
What is @EPAWater doing to help communities fix aging infrastructure? #WaterProgress
— Clean Water Action (@cleanh2oaction) December 13, 2016
We just set up administrative framework for Water Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act! https://t.co/tJZcYyf6U0 https://t.co/nljSo4ppl8
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
@epawater What improvements have been seen since the Ches Bay TMDL was established?#waterprogress
— SELC_DC (@SELC_DC) December 13, 2016
One area - steep cuts in nutrients coming from wastewater facilities. https://t.co/Rfz82r5jKr #WaterProgress https://t.co/5CFvAQlcgq
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
@EPAwater you have been 🌟 members! What more can we do to make #WaterProgress & protect sources of drinking water? A pound of prevention...
— SourceWaterCollabora (@SourceWaterCol) December 13, 2016
Source water protection is vital & part of DW Action Plan and discussed by @GinaEPA in recent speech. https://t.co/CvKgUzKw2U #WaterProgress https://t.co/i2xfaZUUNs
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
How will you to continue coordinating with FEMA's mitigation work to address flooding and water quality? #WaterProgress @EPAwater
— Water Works LA (@WaterWorksNOLA) December 13, 2016
Also see the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard: https://t.co/cJhlV9OZZr #WaterProgress https://t.co/6rPpDMDKvZ
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
@EPAwater what should be the priorities for Canada-U.S. collaboration on transboundary water in 2017 and beyond? #WaterProgress
— Oliver Dumville (@oliverdumville) December 13, 2016
Reducing nutrient pollution in Great Lakes is priority for U.S.-Canada efforts. See recent agreement: https://t.co/DQEowQ2mXS #WaterProgress https://t.co/FK3OZPy8Ky
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
#WaterProgress How can @EPAwater help all Flint residents have safe and affordable drinkingH2O now & prevent simlar crisis elsewhere?
— Gayle Killam (@GayleKillam) December 13, 2016
We issued a national Drinking Water Action Plan to address key challenges, incl. lead and inequity. https://t.co/r1DjAZLjIa #WaterProgress https://t.co/Sjxov8RGXe
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
How is @EPAwater helping states implement the ELGs for steam electric power plants? #WaterProgess
— Jennifer Peters (@earthavenger) December 13, 2016
We're working w/states to support implementation of rules, keeping toxic metals out of waterways. https://t.co/F5MgDTChMC #WaterProgress https://t.co/9xWziPM3ws
— U.S. EPA Water (@EPAwater) December 13, 2016
What will "water progress" look like in the years to come? It may include rolling back some items mentioned above, but the full intentions and impact of the Trump administration's EPA have yet to be revealed. We will surely be watching.