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WaterNews for March 4, 2003WaterNews is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water. Inside this week’s WaterNews
EPA Provides Tools to City and County Public Health Officials to Improve Septic System ManagementStressing the environmental importance of proper septic tank management to prevent pollution from entering the nation’s rivers, lakes, coasts, and groundwater, EPA is providing approximately 4,000 city and county public health officials with materials to continue efforts to educate citizens about proper septic system management. Failing and improperly managed septic systems are a significant source of water pollution, potentially causing contamination of drinking water wells or restricting shellfish harvest. Septic systems serve approximately 25 percent of U.S. households, and one in every three new homes built today uses these systems – making proper maintenance essential for protecting America’s waters. "Public education is the key to improving septic system management. Citizens need to better understand the potential harm improperly managed septic systems can have on the environment and public health and what they can do to help," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water G. Tracy Mehan, III. As part of EPA’s year-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the Agency has developed a CD-based kit that communities can use to reach out to citizens. Using the CD, communities can inexpensively produce customized versions of brochures, utility bill inserts, and other useful information. Each document contains space where communities can add local information, so citizens will know how to obtain additional information. To download these materials please visit the website at http://www.epa.gov/water/yearofcleanwater/. Metal Products & Machinery RegulationOn Feb. 14th, EPA’s Administrator signed a final rule to establish wastewater controls for the Metal Products and Machinery (MP&M) industry. It establishes technology-based effluent limitations and new source performance standards for wastewater discharges from new and existing facilities that manufacture, rebuild, or maintain finished metal products, parts, or machines. The regulation applies to about 2400 facilities that generate oily wastewater. While we have posted a pre-publication version on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/mpm/rule.html, it is not the official version. The official version will be available upon publication in the Federal Register. Vanderbilt University and EPA Host National Technologies ConferenceVanderbilt University and the Environmental Protection Agency hosted a national technologies conference “Industrial Wastewater and Best Available Treatment Technologies” on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in Nashville, Tennessee. Benjamin Grumbles, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water, gave the keynote address. He discussed finding ways to foster innovation. Attendees included representatives of academia, government, and industry. Please visit http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/pollcontrol/bat.htm for further information. EPA’s National Homeland Security Research CenterThe National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) is part of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and is collaborating with the Office of Water=s (OW) Water Protection Task Force in developing a Water Security Research and Implementation Action Plan. This plan focuses on research and implementation needs to address chemical, biological, and--in the case of water--radiological threats and deliberate attacks including infrastructure protection. To meet the needs addressed in the plan, EPA plans to work in partnership with other offices and organizations. Paul Gilman, EPA Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, and Tim Oppelt, Director of Homeland Security Research Center, led the effort which concluded with the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding to form a partnership with the EPA, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and US Air Force for future collaborative research in the area of homeland security. Participants included Senator George Voinovich, Congress Rob Portman, Congressman Steve Chabot, Major General Paul Neilson, US Air Force, Dr. Mark McClellan, Commissioner of the FDA, and Benjamin Grumbles, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water. The Center manages, coordinates and supports a wide variety of homeland security research and technical assistance efforts. Research at the Center is focused on protecting the nation=s buildings (the Safe Buildings Program), protecting the Nation's water supplies and systems (the Water Security Program), and improving risk assessment techniques (the Rapid Risk Assessment Program). The event was covered by local and regional television stations and print media. For more information on the Center visit www.epa.gov/ordnhsrc. Budget Testimony on WebsiteAssistant Administrator G. Tracy Mehan, III, testified before Congress on the FY 04 budget request for Water Programs. To read the testimony please visit www.epa.gov/water/speeches/. Subscribe to WaterNewsPlease forward this message to your friends and colleagues who share an interest in water-related issues and would like to hear from EPA's Office of Water. To subscribe to the WaterNews listserve: Send an email message, leave the subject line blank, and address it to: In the body of the message write: Subscribe WaterNews firstname lastname (Please leave one blank space between each word, do not include any other message, and use A welcome message will appear in your email box once you are officially subscribed. Following your welcome message, you will begin to receive WaterNews once a week. If you encounter difficulties subscribing to this list server or if you would like to be taken off the WaterNews list server at any time, please send your E-mail address to Gloria Posey at Posey.Gloria@epa.gov. We welcome any comments that you may have.
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