We are a citizen-led coalition partnering with local and state level organizations to improve procedures and regulations for wastewater treatment management locally (Red Hook, NY) and across New York State.
Embedded Files
- OUR GOALS FOR STATE-LEVEL REFORMS -
Remediation
Improved Rules & Regulations
Fiscal Responsibility
- WHY WE CARE -
Public Health & Safety
Environmental Protections
A Better Infrastructure
Legislative & Regulatory Goals - Jump to a section
Legislative & Regulatory Goals - Jump to a section
See our list of detailed reforms and new regulations that are essential to stop the ongoing pollution issues with current management of WWTPs.
Section 1 - Improve oversight of WWTPs (CSO and SSOs) under SPDES Permit Regulations.
Section 1 - Improve oversight of WWTPs (CSO and SSOs) under SPDES Permit Regulations.
The DEC's supervision & enforcement of WWTPs under the EPA needs more consistency in the clarity, compliance, and enforcement of these regulations.
Require an Environmental Scientist to fill out a FEAF under the Lead Agency.
Require annual inspections for the following year when any noted violations were based on the physical plant or discharge limits.
Provide clearer guidance on wetlands permits and when they are needed in addition to SPDES permits.
Section 2 - Remediation
Section 2 - Remediation
New York State, DEC, and EPA need produce more guidance and clear regulations on remediation requirements and who is responsible when WWTPs fail or cause excessive damage to local environments.
Create a law to require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and remediation plan when WWTPs have documented cases of untreated discharge that run beyond maximum threshholds.
Require signage along discharge routes for a stated length proportionate to the amount of effluent discharged on average, including required postings near residential areas and spots where people are known to interact with areas of discharge. Signage must note that it receives effluent from WWTPs. and also note health risks may be increased due to unintented untreated discharge and to use caution.
Require all Brownfield sites, especially those which host WWTPs, must be permanently fenced and maintained by the owner(s) with signage that it is a Brownfield site unless it has been fully remediated (not just a partial but completed remediation).
Require disclosure when purchasing a home that it is within .25 miles of a Brownfield and/or WWTP site before such purchase is finalized.
Section 3 - Health & Safety and Sewer Pollution Right to Know Law (SPRTK)
Section 3 - Health & Safety and Sewer Pollution Right to Know Law (SPRTK)
Clearer guidance on SPRTK requirements is needed since many WWTP full or partial untreated discharges still go unreported, as is the case in our Village.
Improve rules and communicate clear examples about what is and what is not required under SPRTK. For example, if a WWTP released partially untreated discharge due to faulty equipment, the public should be informed through the NY Alert system. (In our Village, untreated discharges happened for 6-8+ months without any public notifications. We feel notice should've been required.)
Develop a checklist for municipalities for what needs to be done with common oversights and note assigned roles for each. (Ex: registering with NY Alert & noting who will complete that action, or confirming sewer operator certification is still valid.)
Require the DEC to include NY Alert registration as part of permit application approval.
Require municipalities provide bioaerosol, soil, and waterway testing for affected residents with odor or property damage when discharge events are continuous for more than a defined period, or when they exceed so many events within a defined amount of time.
Section 4 - Financials & Municipal Actions
Section 4 - Financials & Municipal Actions
Small municipalities do not have the resources to manage the costs and maintenance needs associated with larger infrastructure like WWTPs.
Enact state-level regulations to require larger municipalities, counties, or even the state, to manage public WWTP public and ban villages or smaller municipalities from running them.
Require municipalities to develop long-term plans to address aging infrastructure or replacement plans, with reviews & updates every 5 years.
Require municipalities to mail notice of WWTP public hearings for new or expansion plans to all residents who will reside within .5 miles of the proposed site.
Provide annual tax credit or % off property assessments for all property owners who live within .25 miles of WWTP sites.
See the documented violations from our Village as a case study for why these reforms are needed now.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse