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[Archived] EPA backs down on sewage

| News | January 01, 2015

From: EPANEWS [mailto:loving.wanda@epamail.epa.gov] 

Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 11:35 AM
To: EPA news releases
Subject: [epanews] News Release: Blending Policy Revisited


News for Release:  Thursday, May 19, 2005


               U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)


                       Blending Policy Revisited


                  Contact:  Eryn Witcher, 202-564-4355



(Washington, D.C.-May 19, 2005) Based on review of all public comments
and congressional hearings, EPA will not finalize the sewage blending
policy as proposed in November 2003.


"Blending is not a long-term solution,'' said Benjamin Grumbles,
assistant administrator for the Office of Water.  "Our goal is to reduce
overflows and increase treatment of wastewater to protect human health
and the environment."


To provide clarity in the ways peak wastewater flows are handled, the
agency proposed a policy in November 2003 that addressed National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements for
municipal wastewater treatment during wet weather conditions.  After
receiving more than 98,000 public comments, the agency is now in the
process of determining other options to address pollutant discharges
during wet weather conditions.


EPA will continue to review policy and regulatory alternatives to
develop the most feasible approaches to treat wastewater and protect
communities, upstream and downstream.  EPA will work with Congress,
communities, and citizens on effective and efficient approaches that
protect communities and ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act.


For more information, go to:  http://www.epa.gov/npdes/blending  .



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