EPA Announces New Allocations for Drinking Water SRF
EPA has revised the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund allocations that determine what share of annual appropriations each state will get in fiscal years 2002 through 2005. Published in the Federal Register on May 18, the allocations are based on the 1999 Needs Survey, which found that states need $139 billion over the next 20 years to meet SDWA regulations and otherwise ensure delivery of safe water. The survey was released earlier this year in a report to Congress.
Allocations range from the baseline 1 percent for 22 states to a high of 10.24 percent for California. Based on this year's budget request of $823.2 million for the drinking water revolving loan fund, and subtracting set-asides, those percentages amount to $7.8 million and $79.8 million, respectively. New York came in with the second highest amount, $60.4 million, followed closely by Texas at $59.9 million. The allocations drop off dramatically after that, with Michigan next at $31.9 million.
States share the amount left over after EPA sets aside funds for certain national programs, which for FY2002 will amount to $30 million for operator certification expense reimbursement, $12.4 million for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages and $2 million to support unregulated contaminant monitoring.
That leaves total a total of $778.84 million available to the states, the District of Columbia and territories. However, the funding amounts are based on the budget proposal and are dependent on whether Congress appropriates the amount requested.
California Man Faces Prison For Toxic Discharges to Sewer
Edward Fixen, a former electroplating operator in San Luis Obispo, CA, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating the Clean Water Act (CWA) by discharging toxics into the community sewer system.
Fixen violated his electroplating facility's CWA discharge permit by intentionally releasing higher than permitted levels of cyanide, nickel and corrosives into the sewer system, which discharges into San Luis Creek and the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, trial witnesses testified that he attempted to conceal his activity by trying to circumvent a monitoring device placed in the sewer by the city.
Cyanide and nickel are highly toxic and can threaten the health of sewage treatment plant workers. Discharging unpermitted levels of cyanide, nickel and corrosives can also damage sewage treatment facilities and lead to the discharge of chemicals and improperly treated sewage into surface waters, creating a public exposure risk and harming fish and wildlife.
BP Amoco faces Fine For CWA Violation
BP Amoco, formerly ARCO Pipeline Company, has agreed to pay a $804,700 civil penalty for violating the federal Clean Water Act by dumping almost 162,500 gallons of oil into the Marais des Cygnes River in Osawatomie, KS, disrupting the city's water supply for 38 days. Osawatomie is 50 miles southwest of Kansas City.
The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lodged a consent decree April 16, 2001, in the U.S. District Court of Kansas against BP Amoco. BP Amoco assumed the liabilities of ARCO when it merged with ARCO last year.
The consent decree resolves a 1999 lawsuit filed by EPA against ARCO for discharging the oil into the river in January 1994. The oil spill was caused by a break in a pipeline owned at the time by ARCO. Residents used bottled water and water trucked in by local and state agencies until a temporary pipeline was built.
In addition to the civil penalty, BP Amoco agreed to spend at least $145,300 on a supplemental environmental project involving reconstruction improvements to Osawatomie's water intake.