Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - October 10, 2003
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October 10, 2003
AMSA Testifies Before House Subcommittee on Mercury Removal Strategy
Norm LeBlanc, Chair of AMSA’s Water Quality Committee and Chief of Technical Services at Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Virginia Beach, Va., testified this week before the House Government Reform Committee’s, Subcommittee on Wellness and Human Rights, to discuss AMSA’s initiatives on mercury with a focus on the issue of mercury in dental amalgam. In his testimony, LeBlanc referred to a 2002 AMSA study, Mercury Source Control and Pollution Prevention Program Evaluation, that found that 35- 40% of mercury entering publicly owned treatment works (POTW) comes from dental offices – an estimate that is bolstered by American Dental Association’s (ADA) statistics, as well. LeBlanc noted that mercury entering POTWs is a de minimis part of the national mercury problem and urged Congress to develop a national mercury strategy that looks holistically at mercury sources, from coal fired plants to abandoned mines. LeBlanc added that pollution control programs alone will not fully remove mercury entering POTWs because pretreatment programs apply only to commercial and industrial sources, not domestic mercury sources. As LeBlanc said, “Only a coordinated effort involving all levels of government, federal, state, and local, will be able to address the mercury problem as a whole and be able to ensure that the resources being applied to control mercury across the nation have a real impact on improving the environment and protecting public health.” LeBlanc also detailed AMSA’s Technical Action Fund project that will determine the effectiveness of amalgam separators in reducing the mercury loads to POTWs from dental offices. The hearing received significant media attention and these stories can be reviewed on AMSA’s Newsroom site at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/news.cfm. To view AMSA’s testimony, please visit http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/testimony/10-08-03wtestimony.cfm.AMSA Submits Comments to EPA on Centralized Waste Treatment Effluent Guidelines
AMSA submitted comments today to EPA on its Centralized Waste Treatment Effluent Limitations Guideline (CWT ELG) proposed rule, urging the Agency to delete molybdenum from the Organics subcategory and supporting the Agency’s decision to remove selenium, antimony, and other metals, from various subcategories of the CWT ELG. In its comments, AMSA noted that removal of molybdenum and other metals is not effective using the Agency’s recommended biological treatment for organic wastestreams. The Association also cited the unnecessary financial burden that would be associated with monitoring and enforcing these limits for POTWs. AMSA supports EPA’s proposal to delete molybdenum from the Organics subcategory and has encouraged the Agency to take final action on the proposal and provide implementation guidance to the regulated community. To view the comments, please visit AMSA’s website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/comments/2003-10-10CWTComments.pdf.Hotel Reservation Deadlines Near for Two Key AMSA Conferences
Members planning to attend AMSA’s 2003 Law Seminar, Developments in Clean Water Law, November 4-6, in Miami, Fla., are urged to register without delay and reserve your room by Tuesday, October 14, to receive the discounted rate of $175 for a single/double, at the Sonesta Beach Resort Key Biscayne. To reserve your room, call the hotel at 305/361-2021.AMSA will also be holding its 2003 Pretreatment Coordinators Workshop, November 19-21, in Seattle, Wash. The deadline to reserve a hotel room at the special conference rate for the Workshop is Friday, October 24. For room reservations, please call the Renaissance Madison Hotel at 206/583-0300 to receive the discounted rate of $155 for a single/double. For registration information on these conferences, please visit AMSA’s website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/.