enforcement of the clean water act involving the federal, state and local governments epa hq
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Enforcement of the Clean Water Act Involving the Federal, State and local governments EPA HQ EPA Regions DOJ State Water State AGs District Attorneys Sewer Districts Municipals Counties Greg V. Arthur, US EPA Region 9, San Francisco, California, USA. EPA Environmental Engineer - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActInvolving the Federal, State and local governmentsInvolving the Federal, State and local governments
• EPA HQEPA HQ
• EPA RegionsEPA Regions
• DOJDOJ
• State WaterState Water
• State AGsState AGs
• District AttorneysDistrict Attorneys
• Sewer DistrictsSewer Districts
• MunicipalsMunicipals
• CountiesCounties
Greg V. Arthur, US EPA Region 9, San Francisco, California, USAGreg V. Arthur, US EPA Region 9, San Francisco, California, USA
EPA Environmental EngineerEPA Environmental EngineerEPA Region 9, Clean Water Act Compliance OfficeEPA Region 9, Clean Water Act Compliance Office
• Sewage TreatmentSewage Treatment
• Industrial WastewaterIndustrial Wastewater
• Municipal / State AuditsMunicipal / State Audits
• Civil EnforcementCivil Enforcement
inspections / auditsinspections / audits
administrative orders administrative orders
judicial settlementsjudicial settlements
• Criminal EnforcementCriminal Enforcement
investigationsinvestigations
judicial trialsjudicial trials
Federal EPA regional guy
local sewer district guys
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
Mostly Above BoardMostly Above Board
• Little corruptionLittle corruption
• Diffused powerDiffused power
• Defined complianceDefined compliance
achievableachievable
clear pathwaysclear pathways
measurablemeasurable
consistentconsistent
• Open accessOpen access to to
recordsrecords batch industrial wastewater treatment unit batch industrial wastewater treatment unit for oil and toxic shipyard process watersfor oil and toxic shipyard process waters
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
National StandardsNational Standards
• Best-Available-Best-Available-
TechnologyTechnology
treatment (BAT)treatment (BAT)
• BAT defined forBAT defined for
most high-strengthmost high-strength
wastewaterswastewaters
• The end result hasThe end result has
been widespreadbeen widespread
treatmenttreatment activated sludge aeration tanks at a activated sludge aeration tanks at a municipal sewage treatment plantmunicipal sewage treatment plant
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
Broad Public SupportBroad Public Support
• clean airclean air
• clean waterclean water
• unspoiled landsunspoiled lands
• getting rid of getting rid of
toxic dumpstoxic dumps
• wildlife protectionwildlife protection
• The public benefitsThe public benefits
but does not bearbut does not bear
the costs directlythe costs directly industrial wastewater treatment unit for industrial wastewater treatment unit for toxic metals and acids at a plating toxic metals and acids at a plating
shopshop
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
But, no broad agree-But, no broad agree-
ment on the valuement on the value
of environmentalof environmental
protection by thoseprotection by those
who are regulated who are regulated
So … what motivatesSo … what motivates
dischargers todischargers to
comply with watercomply with water
pollution laws?pollution laws?
facultative lagoon for organics destruction facultative lagoon for organics destruction and nitrogen capture at an animal and nitrogen capture at an animal
feed lotfeed lot
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
Level Playing FieldLevel Playing Field
• national standardsnational standards
• national enforce-national enforce-
ment policiesment policies
• recovery of therecovery of the
economic benefiteconomic benefit
of non-complianceof non-compliance
• states / locals muststates / locals must
be as stringentbe as stringent
• political independence political independence deep shaft bioreactors with dissolved air deep shaft bioreactors with dissolved air flotation of solids from cheese wastesflotation of solids from cheese wastes
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
Protection of Protection of
Public InvestmentPublic Investment
• domestic sewersdomestic sewers
• storm sewersstorm sewers
• sewage treatmentsewage treatment
• water supplieswater supplies
• irrigation districtsirrigation districts
• landfillslandfills
metal cleaning and plating wastewaters atmetal cleaning and plating wastewaters ata faucet company captured for off-haulinga faucet company captured for off-hauling
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
Data-driven andData-driven and
PredictablePredictable
• compliance deter-compliance deter-
mined by sampling mined by sampling
• national guidelinesnational guidelines
for test methodsfor test methods
• national policy:national policy:
not samplingnot sampling is is
equal to a failureequal to a failure
to meet standardsto meet standards biotower preceding activated sludge contact biotower preceding activated sludge contact at a municipal sewage treatment plantat a municipal sewage treatment plant
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
Most work done byMost work done by
state / local agenciesstate / local agencies
• delegation ofdelegation of
authoritiesauthorities
• partial nationalpartial national
funding for statesfunding for states
• national oversightnational oversight
• national reportingnational reporting
• mandatedmandated
requirements requirements rotating-drum electrowinning silver recovery rotating-drum electrowinning silver recovery for a movie film processing plant in Californiafor a movie film processing plant in California
control room for a sewage treatment plant control room for a sewage treatment plant owned by a small city, under a State permitowned by a small city, under a State permit
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the USReasons for effective environmental enforcement in the US
• Little corruptionLittle corruption
• National standardsNational standards
• Broad public supportBroad public support
• Level playing fieldLevel playing field
• Protection ofProtection of
Public investmentPublic investment
• Data-driven andData-driven and
PredictablePredictable
• State delegationState delegation
• Locally mandatedLocally mandated
As a result,As a result,
Most complianceMost compliance
is achieved throughis achieved through
voluntary compliance.voluntary compliance.
Some is achievedSome is achieved
through administrativethrough administrative
enforcement.enforcement.
Use of governmentalUse of governmental
power through courtspower through courts
is rarely necessary.is rarely necessary.
chemically-aided de-emulsion and oil water chemically-aided de-emulsion and oil water separation unit for oily ships bilge watersseparation unit for oily ships bilge waters
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActSome weaknesses in environmental enforcement in the USSome weaknesses in environmental enforcement in the US
• Data managementData management
• GovernmentalGovernmental
Sources of PollutionSources of Pollution
Federal installationsFederal installations
State agenciesState agencies
City utilities City utilities
• Developing StateDeveloping State
capabilitycapability
• National goalsNational goals
• New technologiesNew technologies
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Cooperative DischargerCase Study – Cooperative Discharger
Arizona copper mine – smelter, concentrator, open pit mining, Arizona copper mine – smelter, concentrator, open pit mining, heap leaching, solvent extraction / electrowinning, rod plantheap leaching, solvent extraction / electrowinning, rod plant
Heap LeachHeap Leach
Mining AreaMining Area
TailingsTailings
Pinal CreekPinal Creek
Old Webster LakeOld Webster Lake
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Cooperative DischargerCase Study – Cooperative Discharger
Old Webster Lake – Dry since 1989Old Webster Lake – Dry since 1989
Pre 1989 – artist’s renditionPre 1989 – artist’s rendition
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Cooperative DischargerCase Study – Cooperative Discharger
• Mining startedMining started
100 years ago100 years ago
• Acidic drainageAcidic drainage
impounded inimpounded in
Webster LakeWebster Lake
• 1.4 billion gals1.4 billion gals
• Leaked throughLeaked through
undergroundunderground
stream gravelstream gravel
• pH ~ 2.0pH ~ 2.0
Webster LakeWebster Lake
Perennial Flow Perennial Flow 14 stream miles14 stream miles
Lower Pinal CreekLower Pinal Creek
LPC Wellfield and LPC Wellfield and Slurry Barrier WallSlurry Barrier Wall
LPC Ground Water LPC Ground Water Treatment PlantTreatment Plant
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Cooperative DischargerCase Study – Cooperative Discharger
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Cooperative DischargerCase Study – Cooperative Discharger
• Leading edgeLeading edge
captured andcaptured and
pumped to thepumped to the
LPC GroundLPC Ground
Water Treat-Water Treat-
ment Plantment Plant
• All undergroundAll underground
stream flowsstream flows
intercepted intercepted LPC Wellfield and Slurry Barrier WallLPC Wellfield and Slurry Barrier Wall
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Cooperative DischargerCase Study – Cooperative Discharger
• Two-stage Two-stage
metals precipi-metals precipi-
tation at pHs tation at pHs
of 7 and 10of 7 and 10
• Floc / settlingFloc / settling
• Tertiary filtersTertiary filters
• $2 million per$2 million per
year to operateyear to operate
• 30% total cost30% total cost
of mine closureof mine closureLower Pinal Creek Water Treatment FacilityLower Pinal Creek Water Treatment Facility
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Cooperative DischargerCase Study – Cooperative Discharger
• RestorationRestoration
of the creekof the creek
• No surfacing ofNo surfacing of
acidic oracidic or
metals-bearingmetals-bearing
ground watersground waters
• Salts are stillSalts are still
flushing out offlushing out of
stream bedstream bed
Discharge from LPC Water Treatment PlantDischarge from LPC Water Treatment Plant
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Cooperative DischargerCase Study – Cooperative Discharger
• 1983 CAAG Study1983 CAAG Study
• 1987 EPA Order1987 EPA Order
• 1988 USGS Study1988 USGS Study
• 1990 Arizona Ground1990 Arizona Ground
Water PermitWater Permit
• 1992 Arizona WQARF1992 Arizona WQARF
“ “state superfund”state superfund”
• 1997 Discharger Study1997 Discharger Study
• 2000 NPDES permit2000 NPDES permit
• 2007 NPDES renewal2007 NPDES renewal Pinal Creek downstreamPinal Creek downstream
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActCase Study – Uncooperative DischargerCase Study – Uncooperative Discharger
California job-shop electroplater discharging to a California job-shop electroplater discharging to a municipal sewer system under municipal permitmunicipal sewer system under municipal permit
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
Plating ShopPlating Shop
Plating Shop
Warehouse
Wastewater Treatment
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
treatment
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
dye bypassed dye bypassed treatmenttreatment
concealed standpipe #1concealed standpipe #1
standpipe coverstandpipe cover
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
treatment
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
treatment
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
concealed under concealed under pump assemblypump assembly
concealed standpipe #2concealed standpipe #2
dye bypassed dye bypassed treatmenttreatment
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
treatment
Cr 0.9 mg/lCr 0.9 mg/l Zn 18.0 mg/lZn 18.0 mg/l Cd 1.7 mg/lCd 1.7 mg/l
Cr 1.0 mg/lCr 1.0 mg/l Zn 20.7 mg/lZn 20.7 mg/l Cd 0.8 mg/lCd 0.8 mg/l
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
treatment
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
best-available-technologybest-available-technology• cyanide destructioncyanide destruction• chromium reductionchromium reduction• metals precipitationmetals precipitation• flocculationflocculation• settlingsettling• sand filtrationsand filtration• filter press and dryerfilter press and dryeradequate capacityadequate capacitysegregated treatmensegregated treatmenbatch treatment of spentsbatch treatment of spents• acidsacids• cyanide-bearingcyanide-bearing
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
chromechromereduxnreduxn
metalsmetalsprecipprecip
cyanidecyanidedestructdestruct
flocfloc clarifierclarifiersandsand
filtfilt
sludge holdsludge hold
cyanide destructcyanide destruct
filterfilterpresspress dryerdryer
acid-sumpacid-sump gen-sumpgen-sump cn-sumpcn-sump
influent wastewatersinfluent wastewaters
samplesamplepointpoint
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
chromechromereduxnreduxn
metalsmetalsprecipprecip
cyanidecyanidedestructdestruct
flocfloc clarifierclarifiersandsand
filtfilt
sludge holdsludge hold
cyanide destructcyanide destruct
filterfilterpresspress dryerdryer
acid-sumpacid-sump
influent wastewatersinfluent wastewaters
samplesamplepointpoint
cn-sumpcn-sumpgen-sumpgen-sump
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
diversion valvediversion valveclosedclosed
discharge linedischarge line
cyanide return linecyanide return line
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
diversion valvediversion valveopenopen
sewersewer
cyanide return linecyanide return line
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
metalsmetalsprecipprecip
cyanidecyanidedestructdestruct
flocfloc clarifierclarifiersandsand
filtfilt
sludge holdsludge hold
cyanide destructcyanide destruct
filterfilterpresspress dryerdryer
acid-sumpacid-sump
influent wastewatersinfluent wastewaters
samplesamplepointpoint
cn-sumpcn-sumpgen-sumpgen-sump
chromechromereduxnreduxn
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
diversion valve closeddiversion valve closedCd – 0.7 mg/lCd – 0.7 mg/lZn – 1.3 mg/lZn – 1.3 mg/l
diversion valve opendiversion valve openCd – 48.0 mg/lCd – 48.0 mg/lZn – 2490. mg/lZn – 2490. mg/lCN – 18.0 mg/lCN – 18.0 mg/lPb -2.07 mg/lPb -2.07 mg/lCr – 67.6 mg/lCr – 67.6 mg/lCu – 10.9 mg/lCu – 10.9 mg/lNi – 2.36 mg/lNi – 2.36 mg/l
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water Act
1983 – quarterly local inspections1983 – quarterly local inspections1993 – EPA audit of local program1993 – EPA audit of local program1999 – informant tip to FBI1999 – informant tip to FBI2000 – joint search under warrant2000 – joint search under warrant2001 – local daily sampling2001 – local daily sampling2002 – Federal criminal settlement2002 – Federal criminal settlement
Enforcement of the Clean Water ActEnforcement of the Clean Water ActQuestions or CommentsQuestions or Comments
• EPA HQEPA HQ
• EPA RegionsEPA Regions
• DOJDOJ
• State WaterState Water
• State AGsState AGs
• District AttorneysDistrict Attorneys
• Sewer DistrictsSewer Districts
• MunicipalsMunicipals
• CountiesCounties
Greg V. Arthur, US EPA Region 9, San Francisco, California, USAGreg V. Arthur, US EPA Region 9, San Francisco, California, USA