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House Bill to Fund Wastewater Security
Approved by Transportation Committee
Legislation that would authorize $220 million for security efforts at wastewater
treatment plants was approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee Feb. 26.
The Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2003 (H.R. 866) would authorize
$200 million for the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to utilities
to conduct vulnerability assessments and make security-related improvements.
Utilities receiving grants must pay at least 25 percent of the costs for
improvements, and no utility would receive more than $150,000.
No amendments were offered during the markup of the bill to revise the Clean
Water Act, introduced Feb. 13 by Reps. Don Young (R-Alaska) and James Oberstar
(D-Minn.).
The measure would provide $15 million for technical assistance to small
wastewater treatment plants and $5 million to improve wastewater vulnerability
self-assessment methodologies and tools.
Assessments Voluntary
Vulnerability assessments are not mandatory under the measure. The bill defines
such assessments as a review of:
facilities, systems, and devices used in the storage, treatment, recycling, or
reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes;
intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, sewage collection systems, and other
constructed conveyances;
electronic, computer, and other automated systems;
pumping, power, and other equipment;
use, storage, and handling of various chemicals; and
operation and maintenance procedures.
The House passed an identical bill in October 2002, but the Senate did not act
on its version of the legislation (S. 3037) (195 DEN A-6, 10/8/02 ).
Sen. James Jeffords (I-Vt.), who introduced a wastewater security bill in 2002,
is likely to introduce another one this year, according to a water utility
source. Phone calls to Jeffords's office were not returned.
An aide to Sen. Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) said wastewater security is one of many
issues he is working on, but no legislation is prepared yet.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) may also introduce a wastewater security source, the
utility source said. Aides to Inhofe were not available.