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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: T L Comiskey who wrote (58311)	10/4/2004 9:09:01 AM
From: T L Comiskey	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

October 4, 2004 ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES TO ALLOW RELEASE OF PARTIALLY TREATED SEWAGE ON RAINY DAYS Sewage that has not been properly treated would be routinely released into American waterways on rainy or snowy days, under an administration proposal that may soon become final. Under the Clean Water Act, it is illegal to mix largely untreated sewage with fully treated wastewater (a process known as "blending") prior to releasing it -- except in dire emergencies, such as hurricanes, said Nancy Stoner, director of the Clean Water Project for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). "Current law allows this only when there are no feasible alternatives," she told BushGreenwatch. "This proposal would make it routine, and that's unacceptable." Typically, sewage goes through three types of treatment before it is discharged into the water system. First, solids are removed. Then, the sewage is treated for the removal of viruses, parasites and nutrient pollution, which can reduce the oxygen level in water. Last, the sewage is disinfected to remove bacteria. In "blending," the second phase of treatment is skipped, which makes the third phase far less effective as well, said Stoner. NRDC tests found a 1,000-times greater likelihood that people would become ill with gastrointestinal problems from swimming near blended sewage than they would from swimming near fully treated sewage releases, said Stoner. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal would allow "blending" practices anytime it rained, as well as during snow melts. According to Clean Water Action, the proposal is the administration's answer to "insufficient maintenance of aging sewer systems." [1] The administration has also proposed substantial budget cuts to a fund that provides assistance to states to maintain aging sewer systems. The Clean Water Action website emphasizes that releasing blended sewage into the nation's waterways can have serious public health consequences. Sewage spillovers resulting from heavy rainfall preceded "more than half of U.S. waterborne disease outbreaks in the past 50 years," the website notes. "The Centers for Disease Control estimates 7.1 million annual cases of mild to moderate and 560,000 cases of moderate to severe infectious waterborne diseases." "Sewage in our waterways closes beaches, kills fish, shuts down shellfish beds, and causes gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses," the website notes. "In 2000 alone, sewage contamination caused or contributed to over 2,000 beach closings and advisories." More than 100,000 comments have been submitted to the EPA in opposition to its proposal. While the public comment period is now closed, the agency has not yet published its final rule. ### SOURCES: [1] Clean Water Action website, ga3.org.