'Uncertainty' about federal funding as directed by NEPA and the CWA is prevalent among utilities, according to Sigl, who said NEPA “has been extremely volatile since late” 2024.
ince the IIJA’s inception, “thousands of projects have started, including projects to upgrade treatment plants, replace aging systems, and support the needs of small communities.”
The new initiative will enable EPA to tackle “PFAS from all of EPA’s program offices, advancing research and testing, stopping PFAS from getting into drinking water systems, holding polluters accountable, and providing certainty for passive receivers,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
This effort is part of the EPA’s broader Powering the Great American Comeback initiative, which aims to make sure everyone—no matter where they live—can count on clean air, land, and especially water.
Laredo has long sought a secondary water supply to supplement the Rio Grande. A development in Webb County could provide a solution—but one with a hefty price tag.
The broader water well drilling industry is bracing for the long-term consequences of increased tariffs, which could lead to rising equipment and material costs.
Some warn that streamlining development too aggressively could create economic instability in rural areas if mining booms aren’t matched by long-term infrastructure or diversification planning.
The Office of Water will 'be aimed at ensuring that we can make things better,' which has prompted the Office to plan 'listening sessions' that 'cross a wide range of stakeholders' in order to help 'chart our path,' she said.