To:
Members, Affiliates, Water Quality Committee & Legal Affairs Committee
From:
National Office
Date:
August 12 , 1998
Subject:
WHOLE EFFLUENT TOXICITY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Reference:
Legal Alert 98-5
Attached please find a copy of the final Settlement Agreement between EPA and the Western Coalition of Arid States (WESTCAS) covering the 40 CFR part 136 Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) test methods. The settlement documents were filed with the court on July 24, 1998, and a joint motion for further stay of proceedings was approved on July 29, 1998. The stay allows EPA and WESTCAS to resolve WET test method issues through the settlement agreement.
Also, attached is a summary of key points in the settlement agreement discussed by George Brinsko, Director, Pima County Wastewater Management, and President of WESTCAS, at a recent AMSA Water Quality Committee meeting.
A key provision of the settlement requires EPA to conduct new studies of interlaboratory precision and accuracy. EPA has committed to conduct studies at nine labs, and AMSA has solicited the membership to participate in the studies (see Regulatory Alert RA 98-16).
ATTACHMENTS:
- July 14, 1998 Memo to AMSA Water Qaulity Committee from George A. Brinsko (Please contact AMSA's National Office at 202/833-2672 for a copy of this document)
- text of July 1998 Settlement