The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule that amends permit application requirements and application forms for publicly owned treatment works and other treatment works treating domestic sewage (TWTDS).
The rule consolidates Publicly Owned Treatment Works application requirements, including information regarding toxics monitoring, whole effluent toxicity testing, industrial user and hazardous waste contributions, and sewer collection system overflows. The most significant revisions require toxic monitoring by major Publicly Owned Treatment Works (and other pretreatment Publicly Owned Treatment Works) and limited pollutant monitoring by minor Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
EPA defined treatment works treating domestic sewage to include facilities that generate sewage sludge, provide commercial treatment of sewage sludge, manufacture a product derived from sewage sludge, or provide disposal of sewage sludge.
The regulations clarify the requirements for TWTDS and allow permitting authorities to obtain the information needed to issue permits that meet the requirements of the 40 CFR Part 503 sewage sludge use or disposal regulations.
The permit revisions are designed to make the process more efficient, according to EPA. The new forms make it easier for permit applicants to provide the necessary information with their applications and minimize the need for additional follow-up requests from permitting authorities. EPA expects the rule to reduce current annual reporting and record keeping burdens by 21 percent, by standardizing the forms to match information requests with information needs.
Former WWTP Operator Pleads to CWA Charges
John Martin of Youngsville, Pa., pleaded guilty on Aug. 20, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in Erie, to conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act and falsifying discharge monitoring reports.
Former WWTP Operator Pleads to CWA Charges
Martin was employed as an operator at the Borough of Youngsville?s sewage treatment plant from 1988 to 1994. He was accused of causing raw sewage to bypass the treatment portion of the plant and discharge directly into Brokenstraw Creek. In addition, he also failed to remove sludge from the plant in a timely manner, causing the discharge of waste sludge into the creek. Finally, he covered up the fact that the plant was overloaded by failing to provide adequate flow monitoring, by tampering with flow monitoring equipment, and by filing false flow reports.
Former WWTP Operator Pleads to CWA Charges
When sentenced, Martin faces a maximum of up to seven years in prison and/or a fine of up to $500,000. The case was investigated by EPA?s Criminal Investigation Division, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Attorney General Office and was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
District Agrees to Fine
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled an enforcement case in Massachusetts with the Charles River Pollution Control District, with the district agreeing to pay a $26,740 penalty and provide $60,000 to help recharge a well field in the town of Franklin.
District Agrees to Fine
The settlement stems from a complaint against the district for its failure to properly implement an industrial pretreatment program, which would help limit the amount of pollutants entering the district?s wastewater treatment plant in Medway.
District Agrees to Fine
Specifically, EPA?s complaint cited the district for failing to: inspect and sample all industrial users at least once a year; identify all industrial users subject to federal pretreatment standards; and submit annual pretreatment reports to EPA.
District Agrees to Fine
The Clean Water Act violations, discovered during EPA compliance inspections, took place from January 1997 to March of this year. In addition to paying the penalty, the district has agreed to a $60,000 Supplemental Environmental Project involving a pilot groundwater project to help recharge Franklin?s Well #8.
