Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - December 4, 2003
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December 4, 2003
Environmental Defense Calls on Treatment Works to End Use of Chlorine Gas
The Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) wants to make all members aware of a report released this week titled Eliminating Hometown Hazards: Cutting Chemical Risks at Wastewater Treatment Facilities. This report, released by Environmental Defense (formerly the Environmental Defense Fund), provides a list of wastewater treatment facilities, many of whom are AMSA members, that continue to use chlorine gas in populated areas. The report urges the federal government to crack down on these facilities by taking three enumerated actions to force wastewater treatment facilities that have not already done so to switch from chlorine gas to alternative treatment methods. First, withhold any public funds, such as state revolving loan funds, from these facilities. Second, heighten awareness by maintaining public access to information, such as Risk Management Plans, about the potential consequences of chemical accidents or incidents, including chlorine gas. Third, set federal standards to reduce hazards whenever practicable. The report is available at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/home.cfm.This report, coupled with the continued interest of the Department of Homeland Security, Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency, the media and local and national stakeholder groups regarding this issue may lead to local media and/or citizen inquiries. As such, AMSA believes it is critical that members review, and be prepared to respond to, the report’s claims. Among the key claims made by Environmental Defense are: (1)storing chlorine gas onsite in large tankers puts surrounding communities at risk from accidental release or even an attack; (2)19 million Americans remain at risk from facilities that continue to use chlorine gas in heavily populated areas; and (3)alternative treatments such as Sodium Hypochlorite and Ultraviolet Light are safer than chlorine gas and are cost-effective.
AMSA Urges Members to Join Conference Call to Discuss Chlorine Gas Issues
AMSA is asking that all utilities listed in the Environmental Defense report join AMSA’s Wastewater Infrastructure Security Task Force on a conference call to discuss this issue. While fully aware that publicly owned treatment work (POTW) representatives may be unable to discuss the specifics relating to chlorine gas at their respective facilities due to security concerns, this discussion will focus on anecdotal and technical information regarding such issues as the cost-effectiveness of alternatives to chlorine gas, the effectiveness of treatment with such alternatives, the intentions of members regarding switching to such alternatives, and other similar issues.Simply stated, with the use and storage of chlorine gas at treatment works garnering continued attention from numerous agencies and stakeholders, AMSA believes that it is important for POTWs to share perspectives on this issue. This call will also provide AMSA with valuable information and an increased understanding of this issue. The conference call will be held on December 11 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please contact AMSA’s Chynita Stone at cstone@amsa-cleanwater.org, who will provide you with the necessary call-in information. Thank you for your thoughtful attention to this matter.