BEACHNET==> HR 2452 to require wwtps to alert re: overflows

["Shannon Briggs" <briggss4@michigan.gov>]

Sewage monitoring bill cruises through House subcommittee (05/08/2008)
Katherine Boyle, E&E Daily reporter

The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee easily approved a
bill yesterday that would ensure wastewater treatment plant operators
keep the public informed of raw sewage discharges into rivers and
streams.

H.R. 2452
<http://www.eenews.net/features/bills/110/House/121007182614.pdf> ,
sponsored by Reps. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) and Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.),
would require sewage treatment plants to monitor for and report
hazardous sewage releases to the public within 24 hours.

The subcommittee unanimously approved a substitute amendment for the
bill requiring wastewater treatment plants to have a feasible system in
place to alert owners or operators about sewer overflows in a timely
manner. The amendment also directs U.S. EPA to conduct a formal
rulemaking to define four phrases from the bill: "feasible," "timely,"
"potential to affect public health" and "imminently and substantially
endanger public health."

LoBiondo said the legislation is a short-term way to address the problem
of sewer spills while making improvements to the nation's water
infrastructure.

Bishop noted that making the public aware of the overflows would give
communities a chance to protect themselves from the potentially harmful
chemicals and pathogens in sewage water. Between 1.8 million and 3.5
million Americans become sick every year from swimming in contaminated
waters.

The White House has expressed support for the legislation, although EPA
opposes the use of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, a low-interest
wastewater loan program that helps states construct water treatment
facilities, to pay for the monitoring.

 



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