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Draft EPA Guidelines for Management of Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Systems and Guidance Manual Outline

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: October 6, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 195)]
[Notices]
[Page 59840-59841]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06oc00-78]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6883-2]


Draft EPA Guidelines for Management of Onsite/Decentralized
Wastewater Systems and Guidance Manual Outline

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability for comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making
available for review and comment a draft of its Guidelines for
Management of Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Systems and an outline
for a guidance manual that will be developed to supplement the
guidelines. The purpose of the guidelines is to raise the level of
performance of onsite/decentralized wastewater systems through improved
management programs. Onsite/decentralized wastewater treatment systems
include individual onsite or cluster wastewater systems (commonly
referred to as septic systems, private sewage systems, individual
sewage systems, etc.) used to treat and dispose of relatively small
volumes of wastewater, generally from individual dwellings, or groups
of dwellings and businesses which are located relatively close
together. EPA is proposing the voluntary national guidelines in order
to raise the quality of management programs, establish minimum levels
of activity, and institutionalize the concept of management.
Implementation of the guidelines will provide a greater range of
options for cost-effectively meeting wastewater needs and meeting water
quality and public health goals.
    The guidelines contain a set of model programs, based on a
comprehensive approach that relies on coordinating the responsibilities
and actions among the state, tribal or local regulatory agency, the
management entity or service provider and the system owner(s). These
model programs are structured to reflect a need for more comprehensive
management as the sensitivity of the environment and/or the degree of
technological complexity increases. A program's designation increases
progressively from Model Program 1 through Model Program 5, reflecting
the increased level of management activities needed to achieve water
quality and public health goals. Adoption of the guidelines is
voluntary and EPA encourages that communities to consider the
guidelines as a basis for their onsite/decentralized wastewater
management program.
    The guidelines apply to both existing communities and to areas of
new development that use onsite/decentralized systems of any size for
residential and commercial wastewater treatment and disposal.

DATES: Email or written comments are requested by December 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted online at http://www.epa.gov/owm/
smallc/guidelines.htm, emailed to decentralized@epa.gov, via U.S. mail
to Joyce Hudson, US EPA, Office of Wastewater Management (4204), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, or faxed to (202) 260-
0116.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any questions regarding the content of
EPA's Guidelines for Management of Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater
Systems can be addressed to Joyce Hudson by email at
hudson.joyce@epa.gov. Additional copies of the documents may be
obtained by calling Melanie Montalvo, the EPA contractor, at (703) 934-
2323 or by downloading the documents at    http://www.epa.gov/owm/
smallc/guidelines.htm

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In April, 1997, EPA prepared a ``Response to
Congress on the Use of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems.''
The report concluded that alternative treatment technologies offer a
cost-effective, long term wastewater solution for many communities.
However, the report emphasized that these ``decentralized'' (onsite and
small cluster) technologies must be implemented in the context of a
responsible management program to consistently achieve water quality
and public health goals. The report identified the current lack of
management as a barrier to successfully applying these otherwise
promising technologies.
    The development of management standards for decentralized
wastewater treatment systems was therefore included in the Clean Water
Action Plan (CWAP) as Action Item 77B . In fulfillment of this action
item, EPA prepared a concept paper in the spring of 1999, which was
gradually developed into a set of voluntary national guidelines for the
management of onsite and decentralized wastewater systems. The
guidelines which we are proposing for formal public comment have been
developed with considerable input from

[[Page 59841]]

various stakeholders, including other Federal agencies, State health
agencies, environmental groups, trade associations and public interest
groups. Based on comments received, a detailed outline was developed
and comments were once again solicited, which led to the draft document
in this notice.
    Onsite/decentralized systems currently serve about 25 percent of
the U.S. population and approximately 40 percent of new development.
The vast majority of these systems are conventional onsite wastewater
systems (septic systems). States report that these wastewater systems
have failed because of inappropriate siting or design or inadequate
long-term maintenance and that septic tank systems constitute the third
most common source of ground water contamination.
    The final guidelines will be accompanied by a guidance manual. An
outline of this guidance manual is also available for review and
comment. The final manual will provide details on assessing,
developing, implementing, and sustaining a viable management program.
The guidelines for management and the accompanying guidance manual are
scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2001. Prior to completion,
EPA will reach out to interested parties, primarily through discussions
with national and State-level organizations to gain input.

    Dated: September 27, 2000.
J. Charles Fox,
Assistant Administrator for Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response.
[FR Doc. 00-25743 Filed 10-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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