Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - September 1, 2006
Click Here
for the FaxAlert ArchiveSeptember 1, 2006
NACWA Releases Biosolids Management Handbook
NACWA this week released its Biosolids Management: Options, Opportunities & Challenges – A National Association of Clean Water Agencies Handbook, providing an overview of current regulatory, policy, and legal developments concerning biosolids management practices and strategies to address these issues. Developed by a team of NACWA member agencies and affiliates under the direction of NACWA’s Biosolids Management Committee, the Handbook focuses on the five most common management options — agricultural land application; distribution and marketing (includes pelletizing, composting, and packaging for commercial use); incineration; landfilling; and surface disposal.The Handbook also features an online library of key biosolids reference documents and other hard-to-find materials as well as a comprehensive explanation of what is required under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Many biosolids management facilities, such as incinerators, pelletizers, and dryers, must meet Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements, which are also addressed in the Handbook. An effective biosolids management program must incorporate a sound strategy for communicating with the public, and the Handbook provides helpful information on how to accomplish this vital objective. NACWA members will be provided one complimentary copy of the Handbook. Additional copies may be purchased from the NACWA bookstore at www.nacwa.org/pubs/.
NACWA Pretreatment Workshop
to Feature Panel on New Orleans Recovery Efforts
NACWA’s 2006 Pretreatment and Pollution Prevention Workshop, set for October 4-6 in New Orleans, is gearing up with fascinating panels including a discussion by officials from the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans on how they managed during and after Hurricane Katrina. This will be followed by a virtual tour of the plant and its system equipment, detailing the damage and recovery efforts. Join your pretreatment colleagues at this important conference and also support your friends in New Orleans in their recovery efforts. The deadline for reserving a room at the Royal Sonesta for the conference rate of $153 is Sept. 12. You can also register for the conference online at http://www.nacwa.org/meetings/06pret/.NACWA Comments on
New Air Toxics Standards for Internal Combustion Engines
NACWA submitted comments to EPA this week on proposed regulations setting new source performance standards for some internal combustion engines (ICE) and hazardous air pollutant standards for others (http://www.nacwa.org/getfile.cfm?fn=2006-08-25cmts.pdf). NACWA said the proposal would pose problems for clean water agencies that use unconventional fuels such as digester gas in their equipment engines, which would have to be certified under the new standards. Engine manufacturers may be reluctant to certify their engines for these unconventional fuels, leaving the responsibility for performance testing and reporting in the hands of the public agency owner. NACWA also recommended that EPA develop flow charts or other visual aids to more clearly explain the applicability of the requirements. Comments on the proposal are due October 11, and members are welcome to use the information from NACWA’s comment letter in their own comments.EPA to Post Penalty Notices on Internet
EPA announced in the Federal Register this week (http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-14315.pdf) that it will provide public notice on the Internet for Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act penalties. These notices have traditionally been posted in local newspapers. EPA said posting notices on the Agency’s website is a cost- effective way of making them easily accessible for a wider audience and for a longer period of time. In some cases where Internet access may be limited, the Regions may still post notices in other media to supplement the Internet notice. NACWA wants members to be aware of this change and to forward any concerns to Cynthia Finley, NACWA’s Director for Regulatory Affairs, at cfinley@nacwa.org.
.