Reflections on Water Podcast

John Goodin takes a break from his recent retirement to share invaluable insights with Dave and Anna from his 32-year career in EPA's Office of Water. John talks about the long-running "waters of the United States" rulemaking, provides an insider's perspective on federal decision-making, and connects his passion for travel with EPA's mission to restore and protect our nation's waters.

HDR Utility Services Director Trent Stober joins Dave and Anna to close out their PFAS miniseries, focusing on the real-world application of regulatory developments in the water sector. Trent provides perspective on how engineering consultants advise their water and wastewater utility customers on risk management, integrated planning, and other response strategies to the developing PFAS regulatory framework.

Dave and Anna provide high-level reactions to the Supreme Court's oral arguments in the Sackett v. EPA case, the latest legal battle in a long-running dispute over the meaning of the phrase "waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. They discuss the Court's surprising focus on a little-known parenthetical in the section 404 program, EPA's potential reactions to the arguments, and whether anyone can reasonably predict the outcome of the case in what may be the most closely watched environmental decision of the current term.

Anna and Dave continue their Missouri Water Seminar PFAS miniseries with Assistant Director of Engineering-Environmental Compliance Jay Hoskins of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. Jay, Anna, and Dave discuss integrated planning, source control, rate setting, and risk communication in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

Dave and Anna kick off a PFAS podcast series taped on location at the Missouri Water Seminar to provide an on-the-ground perspective of how state and local governments are dealing with the emerging regulatory framework for PFAS. Our first guest — Water Program Director Chris Wieberg of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources — explains how the "Show-Me" state uses data collection, collaboration, and risk communication to advance PFAS regulatory and management efforts statewide.

Tracy Mehan joins Dave and Anna to discuss his work as executive director of government affairs with the American Water Works Association and the flood of water topics inundating the drinking water sector, including new infrastructure funding, affordability as an environmental justice issue, AWWA's perspective on PFAS and its associated superfund liability question, and updates to the lead and copper rule.

Anna and Dave welcome Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig to talk soil health, creative financing, and the future of watershed management in Iowa. They also discuss the state's ongoing work as part of the Hypoxia Task Force.

WateReuse Association Executive Director Pat Sinicropi joins Anna Wildeman and Dave Ross to talk about the role of water reuse as a water management strategy for the 21st century. Specifically, Pat discusses water reuse technology, the role of the federal government in encouraging water recycling as a national strategy, and state and local community efforts to accelerate the adoption of water reuse in businesses and communities across the country.

Anna Wildeman welcomes Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment Ken Wagner to the podcast. In this episode Ken, Dave Ross, and Anna touch on the diversification of Oklahoma's energy portfolio, including its pursuit of renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen, and its confluence with the water sector.

Dave Ross talks with Radhika Fox as she marks her one year anniversary as EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water. They discuss how her prior experiences prepared her for the role at EPA and her desire to change the narrative around water by connecting it back to the community. They also look at her first year accomplishments, the recently passed infrastructure bill, the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, and more.

Reflections on Water focuses on developments in water law and policy through interviews with water sector leaders.