Legislative Correspondence & Outreach
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Blending Policy Revisited
5/19/2005 11:57:00 AM
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To: National Desk and Environment Reporter
Contact: Eryn Witcher of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON, May 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Based on review of all public comments and
congressional hearings, EPA will not finalize the sewage blending policy as
proposed in November 2003.
"Blending is not a long-term solution,'' said Benjamin Grumbles, assistant
administrator for the Office of Water. "Our goal is to reduce overflows and
increase treatment of wastewater to protect human health and the environment."
To provide clarity in the ways peak wastewater flows are handled, the agency
proposed a policy in November 2003 that addressed National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) requirements for municipal wastewater treatment
during wet weather conditions. After receiving more than 98,000 public comments,
the agency is now in the process of determining other options to address
pollutant discharges during wet weather conditions.
EPA will continue to review policy and regulatory alternatives to develop the
most feasible approaches to treat wastewater and protect communities, upstream
and downstream. EPA will work with Congress, communities, and citizens on
effective and efficient approaches that protect communities and ensure
compliance with the Clean Water Act.
For more information, go to:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/blending.
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