WaterNews for May 28, 1998

WaterNews is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water.

Combined Sewer Overflow Progress Report

EPA recently released a report on progress in implementing the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) policy. The report indicates that despite the progress made over the four years since the CSO policy was finalized, implementation of two key aspects of the policy has lagged behind expectations. About half of the CSO communities have yet to implement the "nine minimum controls," which are low-cost, low-tech measures designed to reduce CSO problems without requiring significant studies or construction. Furthermore, about one-half of CSO communities (not necessarily the same ones) have not yet developed long-term control plans that evaluate various strategies for permanent CSO control.

In an effort to encourage greater progress on implementation of CSO controls, Bob Perciasepe, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water, and Steve Herman, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, issued a joint memorandum to EPA regional directors and state directors on May 19, 1998. The memo observes that implementation of the policy (which affects about 950 communities with combined sewer systems) continues to be a high Agency priority and urges EPA's regional offices and the states to continue working with communities to implement the policy. The memo urges EPA's regional offices and the states to continue working with CSO communities to carry out these two important provisions of the policy. It also encourages states and communities to coordinate in the development of data to foster review and revision of state water quality standards where appropriate.

A copy of the CSO policy report is available at http://www.epa.gov/OWM/cso.htm and the progress memo at http://www.epa.gov/OWM/impmemo.htm

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