(October 30, 2018) – EPA held the second of three public listening sessions on its planned peak flow/wet weather blending rulemaking on October 24, hosted at its Region 7 headquarters facility in Lenexa, Kansas.  Similar to the first public listening session held on October 16 in Washington, DC, the Kansas one featured a mix of speakers representing municipal utilities and state regulators. 

All of the speakers were in favor of EPA providing additional regulatory clarity around the practice of blending, noting that it can play an important role for utilities to provide maximum treatment to flows during wet weather events and increase protection of both public health and the environment.  Speakers noted that blending is always done in compliance with existing Clean Water Act discharge permits and stressed the importance that blending not be considered a bypass. The municipal participants also highlighted the significant cost impacts their communities would face if blending were eliminated as a peak flow treatment option. 

Public comments on EPA’s planned rulemaking process are due October 31; NACWA will be submitting comments and will share those with the membership once final.  Any members with questions can contact Cynthia Finely, NACWA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs.