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December 16, 1999
AMSA Prepares for EPA Biosolids Land Application Proposal
This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner signed proposed regulations on the land application of biosolids. Upon receiving a copy of the proposed regulations, AMSA will distribute the proposal to the membership via Regulatory Alert. According to the latest information from EPA, the proposal contains standards for 27 pollutants in all, including dioxin and its congeners, furans, and coplanar PCBs. As expected, the standard for dioxin and furans is 300 parts per trillion (ppt) for land-applied biosolids. The proposal contains no new standards for either incineration or land disposal of biosolids for these pollutants, and the new standards do not apply to plants that treat less than one million gallons per day (MGD). For plants over 1 MGD, monitoring of land-applied biosolids is required every five years if dioxin levels are below 30 ppt. If dioxin is detected at levels above 30 ppt, however, annual monitoring will be required. The proposal's preamble outlines options for approaching the final rule — which is due in two years — including a no-regulation option. EPA also plans supplemental studies to collect additional data from publicly owned treatment works. AMSA's biosolids committee is currently considering its involvement in these future studies and data collection efforts.AMSA Plans Early Legislative Push on Clean Water Priorities
In order to make the most of a compressed legislative calendar next year, AMSA is encouraging all member agencies to submit a list of the zip codes (or Congressional District if known) that are wholly or partially within our members'service areas. Please fax, 202/833-4657 or e-mail rdavis@amsa-cleanwater.org the list to Robin Davis at the AMSA National Office.AMSA Receives EPA Y2K Reminder
This week, AMSA received a Y2K action alert for wastewater agencies from EPA Office of Wastewater Management Director Mike Cook. The alert reminds wastewater agencies to “focus their efforts on contingency planning.” The alert also reminds agencies to monitor smaller remote pumping stations in the case of power outages and to contact drinking water facilities that would be effected in the event of an overflow.January 7 Hotel Cutoff for AMSA Winter Conference
The block of rooms reserved for AMSA's 2000 Winter Conference — Utility Leadership in the New Millennium, Feb. 1-4 in Albuquerque, N.M . — will be held at the special conference rate until January 7, 2000. Space is filling up rapidly — reserve your room today by calling the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque at 800/233-1234 or 505/842-1234. Further information on the Winter conference is available online.Happy Holidays . . .
Due to the holiday schedule, this will be the last AMSA FaxAlert of 1999. AMSA's FaxAlerts will resume their regular schedule on Friday, January 7, 2000. Best wishes for a Happy New Year from the AMSA National Office!