Sept. 17, 2003 -- The U.S. EPA has released several news items from its Office of Water, covering Monitoring Month and World Water Monitoring Day, National Estuaries Day, and proposed changes for centralized waste treatment.
Celebrate Monitoring Month and World Water Monitoring Day
From September 18 to October 18, people around the world will be taking to their local waters to sample water quality and post their data as part of World Water Monitoring Day events. Monitoring activities and events will culminate on World Water Monitoring Day, Oct. 18, 2003-- which is the 31st anniversary of the Clean Water Act.
EPA is partnering with America's Clean Water Foundation and others to encourage participants to use a simple test kit to take water quality samples of local streams, lakes bays or wetlands, enter their data into an international database, and take part in activities that educate us all about our role in protecting clean water.
For more information on ordering water test kits and to register your monitoring location, visit http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org. In addition, EPA has developed a number of new outreach materials for Monitoring Month and World Water Monitoring Day, and more information on these materials is available at: http://epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/monitoringmonth.html . Available outreach materials include:
"Be Part of Something BIG! World Water Monitoring Day, October, 18, 2003," 1-page trifold brochure, EPA 841-F-03-010,
"Monitor Your Watershed," magnet, EPA 841-E-03-005
These 2 items and others related outreach materials are listed on EPA's website listed above and may be ordered at National Service Center for Environmental Publications at 1-800-490-9198 or by emailing them at: [email protected] - please include document numbers and quantity desired.
EPA will be ordering monitoring kits and holding demonstrations for interested staff. For more information, please contact Alice Mayio at [email protected].
National Estuaries Day - September 27, 2003
EPA and NOAA are once again sponsoring an interactive Web session of EstuaryLive 2003 to celebrate National Estuaries Day. EstuaryLive 2003, scheduled for September 25 - 26, 2003, offers students worldwide the opportunity to take real-time interactive tours through eight National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) and National Estuary Programs (NEPs)
For more information, please go to www.estuarylive.org or contact Betsy Salter at 202-566-1244 ([email protected]) or Becky Weidman at (617) 472-7760 ([email protected]).
Proposed Changes for Centralized Waste Treatment
On September 10th, the Office of Water proposed minor changes to the effluent guidelines for the Centralized Waste Treatment industry made up of facilities that treat or recover hazardous and non-hazardous industrial wastes from other manufacturing facilities.
EPA is deleting limitations for five metals from certain parts of the regulation and correcting an error in the December 2000 rule. EPA will accept public comment on the proposed changes until October 10, 2003. In particular, the agency hopes to receive information on the achievability of the molybdenum limitations in the Organics Treatment and Recovery Subcategory.
To learn more about the proposal, where to send your comments, and the Effluent Guidelines for the Centralized Waste Treatment industry, visit the Internet at http://epa.gov/guide/cwti.html.
