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Eliminating Sanitary Sewer Overflows in Rhode Island: Enforcement
A Rhode Island beach posted because of the
health risk associated with SSOs
Click image for sign detail (Source: EPA Region 1)
In our effort to address Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) in Rhode Island, EPA, in cooperation with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM), is combining traditional enforcement tools with a strong technical assistance program. Enforcement actions include conducting inspections of collection systems, issuing information requests and non-penalty Administrative Orders, and, as warranted, Penalty Actions. The goal of these efforts is to acquire the information needed to assess the condition of wastewater collection systems and to put into place specific maintenance and operational requirements to address deficiencies and help ensure appropriate collection system management.
A number of Municipalities and wastewater utilities have already received non-penalty Orders that require the following actions:
- Assess the adequacy of their collection system preventative and reactive maintenance programs. To do this they must complete the Wastewater Collection System Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance Program Self-Assessment Checklist.
- Develop and submit a plan and schedule to correct the deficiencies identified utilizing the Checklist provided by EPA for this purpose and other tools.
- Implement the corrective actions identified to maintain and preserve the collection system infrastructure and to prevent future SSOs.
- Consolidate collection system preventative and reactive maintenance programs and collection system capital improvement plans into a single Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance (CMOM) Program document.
- Submit annual reports to EPA and RI DEM that provide information regarding, among other things, the measures taken to prevent SSOs, SSOs that occurred in the past calendar year and progress implementing the measures taken to remedy identified deficiencies.
The following press releases identify the utilities and municipalities in Rhode Island that have received Administrative Orders:
Copies of these orders can be obtained by contacting David Turin.
For more information about enforcement please contact:
| David Turin turin.david@epa.gov (617) 918-1598 |
Toni Bandrowicz, EPA Legal
Counsel bandrowicz.toni@epa.gov (617) 918-1734 |