Clean Water Advocacy - News Releases - August 6, 2003
For Immediate Release: August 6, 2003
Contact: Lee Garrigan, 202/833-4655, AMSA
Orange County Sanitation District First to Complete Biosolids Certification
The Association for Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) is pleased to
recognize the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), California, as the first
public wastewater agency in the nation to receive third-party audit
certification for its biosolids Environmental Management System (EMS). The EMS
program is part of the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP), founded by AMSA,
the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), to promote the safe and effective reuse of biosolids. By
implementing this set of national management protocols, OCSD has demonstrated
its dedication to its community and advancing environmentally sound and accepted
biosolids management practices.
A presentation ceremony will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2003, at 3:30 p.m. at OCSD’s reclamation plant, in Fountain Valley, Calif., where Board members and the general manager will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement by officials from EPA, the NBP, AMSA, and WEF for completing the EMS program.
The EMS program allows publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) to achieve higher standards that go beyond the already stringent federal criteria for biosolids; improve communications with the general public; ensure protection of public health; tailor biosolids management practices to community needs and environmental performance concerns; and gain public acceptance. OCSD was independently certified by KEMA-Registered Quality, Inc. to meet all regulatory compliance obligations.
As Ken Kirk, AMSA’s Executive Director, noted “This is an important step in the NBP’s goal of ensuring the broad implementation of sound biosolids management programs and AMSA is proud to recognize OCSD as a pioneer in being the first (public wastewater treatment facility) to complete this EMS certification process. This is a remarkable achievement for OCSD and for the people and businesses they serve. We now look forward to other agencies following the lead of OCSD and becoming EMS certified.”
Again, AMSA congratulates OCSD on becoming the nation’s first wastewater utility to complete this rigorous certification process. It is the Association’s hope that the success enjoyed by OCSD will be an inspiration to other POTWs to implement the EMS program. Currently, there are over 50 agencies enrolled in the NBP EMS program and AMSA believes OCSD’s success will lead to more enrollments in the program.
AMSA is a national trade association representing nearly 300 of the nation's public wastewater utilities who service the majority of Americans. These wastewater treatment officials are environmental practitioners dedicated to protecting and improving the nation's public health and its water, and collectively treat and reclaim over 18 billion gallons of wastewater every day.
1816 Jefferson Place, Washington, DC 20036-2505 • 202.833.AMSA • 202.833.4657 FAX