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F. X. Browne, Inc.'s

Sustainable Environments

July 2010

"In Wilderness is the preservation of the world."

–Henry David Thoreau

Photo credit: Nicholas_T on Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholas_t/3711662174/
 

EPA to Initiate Rulemaking to Reduce Harmful Effects of Sanitary Sewer Overflows

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating a rulemaking to protect the U.S. from sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups.  These overflows are dangerous because they discharge untreated wastewater that contain bacteria, viruses, suspended solids, toxics, trash, and pollutants into our waterways.  Overflows can also contaminate beaches, shellfish beds, drinking water and other sensitive environments.  EPA is considering modifying the existing regulations to (1) establish a standard National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit conditions for publicly owned treatment works permits that address collection systems and SSOs; and (2) clarify the regulatory framework to applying NPDES permit conditions to municipal satellite collection systems.  They may also address questions about peak wet weather flows at municipal wastewater treatment plants.  The EPA will hold public listening sessions. The public can submit written comments on the potential rule until 60 days after publication in the Federal Register on May 26, 2010. 

EPA News Release, May 27, 2010

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=4

EPA Proposes New Permit Requirements for Pesticide Discharges

On April 9, 2009, a court decision found that pesticide discharges to waterways were pollutants, therefore requiring a permit.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a new permit requirement to decrease the amount of pesticids discharged into waterways.  The proposed permit would require operators to use the lowest effective amount of pesticides, prevent leaks and spills, calibrate equipment and monitor and report adverse incidents.  Additional requirements are added to those who exceed an annual treatment area threshold.   The draft permit covers mosquito and other flying insect pest control, aquatic weed and algae control, aquatic nuisance animal control, and forest canopy pest control.  The permit will be finalized in December and will take effect on April 9, 2011. Public comments are accepted 45 days after publication in the Federal Register on June 4, 2010.

EPA News Release, June 2, 2010

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=410

EPA Proposes Updating Drinking Water Rule to Better Protect Public Health 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise a national primary drinking water regulation to protect against waterborne pathogens in the distribution systems of public water systems.  These pathogens can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, kidney failure, hepatitis or chronic concerns.  The EPA is proposing to revise the 1989 Total Coliform Rule to incorporate recommendations from a federal advisory committee.  The revised rule will require water systems to take action when monitoring results are positive for microbial contamination, and find and fix any pathways leading to microbial risk.  Incentives of reduced monitoring will be provided for better system operation.  It will also improve public notices of failures.  Public comment will be accepted for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.

EPA News Release, June 17, 2010

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/tcr/index.html

EPA Supports Superfund “Polluter Pays” Provision

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to Congress in support of reinstating the lapsed Superfund “polluter pays” taxes, which provides a stable source of revenue for the Superfund program.  Superfund is the federal program that studies and cleans up abandoned hazardous waste sites.  The “polluter pays” taxes would bear the cost of cleanup from those who manufacture or sell hazardous substances.  The Superfund taxes expired on December 31, 1995.  Since then, taxpayers have been covering the costs.  Their proposal states that these taxes would be reinstated for a period of ten years starting in January 2011.

EPA News Release, June 21, 2010

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/
6e61eb7ab20b163c8525774900592657!OpenDocument

For more information on the Superfund program, visit http://www.epa.gov/superfund/

EPA Proposes Requiring the Use of Sufficiently Sensitive Test Methods for NPDES Permit Applications and Reporting

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing minor amendments to its Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations.  They are proposing that only “sufficiently sensitive” analytical test methods be used when completing an NPDES application or when complying with monitoring requirements in an NPDES permit. The goal is to clarify existing NPDES application, compliance monitoring, and analytical methods regulations.  They are accepting public comments for 45 days after publication in the Federal Register on June 23, 2010.

For more information, visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/.

EPA Releases the Fiscal Year 2011 National Water Program Guidance

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 National Water Program Guidance has been released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  It defines the environmental and public health goals and program strategies for the National Water Program for FY 2011.  It includes new sections on children’s health, the Urban Waters Initiative, climate change, and the San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary.  To view the guidance, visit http://www.epa.gov/water/waterplan/fy11.html.