In response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. EPA has received a supplemental appropriation from Congress to improve the safety and security of the nation's water supply. The $89 million is intended to reduce the vulnerability of water utilities to terrorist attacks and to enhance their security and ability to respond to emergency situations.
EPA is soliciting grant applications from publicly owned, large drinking water systems that serve populations of over 100,000 through a Request for Applications (RFA). Collectively, these large systems provide drinking water to nearly half of Americans served by public water systems.
EPA will work with states, tribes, and utility organizations to determine the best ways to meet small and medium drinking water and wastewater system needs. The agency will use a significant portion of the FY'02 funds to provide training, development and distribution of tools, and technical assistance.
The value of the individual grants will not exceed $115,000. The grant monies may be used to develop a vulnerability assessment, emergency response/operating plan, security enhancement plans and designs, or a combination of these efforts. Utilities may use grant funds for in-house or contract support, assuming demonstration of qualifications. Acceptable qualifications include proof of training in performing vulnerability assessments or technical qualifications to carry out all of the elements of a satisfactory assessment as defined in the RFA.
EPA Report Examines Health of Coastal Water
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the first environmental report card on the condition of the nation's coastal waters. The report, primarily evaluating estuaries, describes the condition of U.S. coastal waters as fair to poor.
While the current condition of coastal waters is less than ideal, the findings provide EPA with baseline estimates of conditions for select regions. The report was developed in collaboration with the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This information will allow EPA to monitor the progress of ongoing coastal water quality protection programs, analyze trends, and identify data gaps.
The Bush Administration is taking several new steps to address coastal issues highlighted in the report. The President's budget proposes $21 million in new funding for watershed protection. By protecting watersheds, EPA helps improve water quality in all waters of the country, including coastal areas.
The report is available at: http://www. epa.gov/owow/oceans/nccr/.
Agency Plans Arsenic Study
EPA plans to conduct a demonstration program on the treatment (reduction and/or removal) of arsenic in drinking water. The agency recently promulgated a standard that limits arsenic concentrations in drinking water to 10 ug/l. Through this demonstration program it intends to identify and evaluate the ability of commercially available technologies and engineering or other approaches to cost effectively meet the new standard in small water systems (10,000 customers).
EPA has invited the public at large, governmental and regulatory agencies, public health agencies, and drinking water utilities to identify small water utilities that may be interested in hosting a demonstration at their facility. Such utilities should be those which will require treatment to comply with the new arsenic standard.
Proposals must be submitted by June 28. Details on participation in this study can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ ORD/NRMRL/arsenic.
