Document 4aXmjVm3k8drZOL3a3bXpMMO1

Message From: Sent: To: CC: Subject: Jones, Enesta [/0=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=65B8E6C6E5CA4A7A9AE85D98A4C8EEDB-EJONES02] 1/19/2018 7:48:40 PM Peter Chawaga [pchawaga@vertmarkets.com] Press [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=b293283291dc44eOb5dlc36be9281d8a-Press] Re: Water Online Interview Request: E-Mail Interview With Alexandra Dunn Hi Peter, "While most states have the authority to enforce most parts of the Clean Water Act, EPA continues to be committed to working closely with states and, where appropriate, to identifying and addressing instances of non-compliance in order to ensure national consistency and that communities across the United States have clean and safe water." - EPA spokesperson On background: Since the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act were signed in the early 1970s, EPA has worked with the States to ensure national water quality limits are met by water and wastewater treatment utilities. By administering laws enacted by Congress and issuing environmental rules tethered to those statutes, EPA works to protect human health and our environment. To support communities across the country addressing drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, EPA offers several innovative water financing tools: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund have provided more than $161 billion in low-interest loans to state and local water infrastructure projects since 1987. In June 2017, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program invited 12 projects in nine states to apply for WIFIA loans. In FY 2017, the WIFIA program received $25 million in funding, including $8 million in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 that President Donald Trump signed into law on May 5, 2017. The projects will also leverage more than $1 billion in private capital and other funding sources including EPA's State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans, to help finance a total of $5.1 billion in water infrastructure investments. In June 2017, EPA launched the Water Finance Clearinghouse, a web-based portal to help communities make informed financing decisions for their drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure needs. The Clearinghouse provides communities with a searchable database with more than $10 billion in water funding sources and over 550 resources to support local water infrastructure projects. With these funds and resources, we have supported state and local water infrastructure investment that provides essential services and reduces pollution in our waterways. From: Peter Chawaga [mailto:pchawaga(5)vertmarkets.com1 Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2018 12:44 PM To: Jones, Enesta <Jones.Enesta(5)epa.gov> Cc: Lynn, Tricia <lynn.tricia(Sepa.gov> Subject: Re: Water Online Interview Request: E-Mail Interview With Alexandra Dunn Hi Enesta, The end of this week would be ok. Thanks, Peter Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 13 ED 002061 00020762-00001 From: Jones, Enesta <Jones.Enesta@epa.gov> Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2018 12:35:36 PM To: Peter Chawaga Cc: Lynn, Tricia; Jones, Enesta Subject: FW: Water Online Interview Request: E-Mail Interview With Alexandra Dunn Hi Peter: We have your inquiry below. What's the latest you can wait for a response? From: Peter Chawaga [mailto:pchawaga@vertmarkets.com1 Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2018 11:48 AM To: Bender, Emily <Bender.Emilv@epa.gov> Subject: Water Online Interview Request: E-Mail Interview With Alexandra Dunn Hi Emily, To follow up on my voicemail just now, I am a reporter with Water Online working on a story about the shift in federal led drinking and source water quality enforcement from the EPA to a more state-led approach. I have spoken with Alexandra Dunn, who seems interested in providing written answers to the questions below. I was told that you might have a sense of the status of answers to my questions. Can you please let me know where things stand? Thanks, Peter 1. How would you describe the regulatory landscape for water and wastewater treatment operations today compared to the landscape two years ago? 2. What do you think has motivated the U.S. EPA to relax its actions against water polluters and shift toward cutting back on regulatory action? 3. What are the benefits of this shift for local water utilities? What are the potential downsides? 4. How do you think state-level environmental protection and enforcement agencies can and should shift their practices under the Trump/Pruitt led EPA? 5. What opportunities, if any, have you seen local protection agencies seize to better manage their water resources under this administration? What more would you recommend they do? 6. On the industrial water/wastewater treatment level, has there been a marked lax in regulatory enforcement that has made the work of treatment operators easier? 7. How do you compare federal funding opportunities for water quality efforts today as compared to those under the Obama administration? Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 13 ED 002061 00020762-00002