EPA hosting free webinar on integrated planning

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a free webinar for local officials on navigating the integrated planning process. The webinar will showcase how local officials can utilize the EPA’s Environmental Finance Centers to successfully complete wastewater and stormwater integrated plans. The webinar, “EFC Integrated Planning Peer-to-Peer Exchange for Municipalities,” will be held on March 22 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET. Click here to register.

The webinar will address barriers and concerns for local governments throughout the integrated planning process and will feature presentations of local success stories. Participants will have the opportunity to join breakout groups for a peer-to-peer exchange. Speakers include:

• Errin Kemper, PE, Director of the Department of Environmental Services, Springfield, Mo.
• Megan Moir, Water Resources Division Director, Department of Public Works, Burlington, Vt.

Integrated planning allows counties to prioritize and bundle Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements, which results in both more efficient environmental protection and cost savings for residents and local governments. Counties play pivotal role in the CWA as both a co-regulator and a regulated entity in protecting the environment and providing water services for our residents and businesses. As a regulator, counties are tasked to protect water quality in their jurisdictions. As a regulated entity, counties own and maintain a vast amount of public infrastructure including drinking water utilities, wastewater treatment plants and stormwater infrastructure, which is subject to federal CWA rules and regulations.

During the 2021 NACo Virtual Legislative Conference, Jamie Piziali, EPA’s Municipal Ombudsman, briefed the Environment, Energy and Land Use Policy Steering Committee on her role and noted the importance of this webinar. Click here to learn more.