17837_Authority_Oct

municipalauthorities.org | 63 Municipalities and public authorities often face unique legal needs. Members of Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. have extensive experience with these special issues, and we keep current on various developments and trends affecting public entities. Clients benefit from our vast breadth of knowledge and practical approach, which produces prompt and cost-effective service. PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE State & Local Government • Education Law Public Finance • Labor & Employment Zoning & Land Use • Environmental Law Litigation • Collection • Intellectual Property Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. Erie | Pittsburgh | Jamestown, NY 814-459-2800 | www.kmgslaw.com assessment and risk management plan by January 2025. As we enter 2025, cybersecurity- related issues need to be a “top of the agenda” item for all water and wastewater systems. Monitoring all federal/state initiatives should be a priority, whether such initiatives originate with EPA or other agency. By way of example, such initiatives include the April, 2024 National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (also known as NSM-22) which, as its title implies, addresses critical infrastructure security and resilience in the United States. The important takeaway here is that there is a growing “library” of information related to cybersecurity, with more information being added to the “library” on a regular basis. Now, practically, it goes without saying that Solicitor’s Corner continued from page 35. A practical result of this lack of separation is that a cyberattack on a “business” IT system can spread to a system’s operational infrastructure. most water and wastewater systems already have a “table full of priorities” which need to be addressed, not the least of which involve the ever- changing landscape of environmental regulations (e.g. PFAS); however, given the potentially severe consequences associated with cyberattacks, the issue of cybersecurity cannot be ignored, but must be affirmatively managed. For further information on cybersecurity issues relating to water and wastewater systems, please contact Steven A. Hann, Esquire, PMAA East Region Solicitor, at shann@hrmml.com. S