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Regional Program Priority
Issue Areas
Regional Initiatives
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The
following is a brief summary of the water quality issues, work
to date, and capabilities associated with Onsite Wastewater
Treatment System Management:
During regional meetings with LGU faculty
and stakeholders, the Region 2 Project principals identified
on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) as a significant
issue region-wide, with nutrients and pathogens being the
significant contaminants from these sources. This issue falls
under the NIWQP themes of Watershed Management and Nutrient
and Pesticide Management. The first major step towards a region-wide
vision on an approach to reducing OWTS as a threat to water
resources was the Regional Symposium on OWTS Management (Symposium),
an event organized by the Cornell Local Government Program
working with the Region 2 Program and US EPA Region 2. Held
at Mt. Kisco, New York, the purpose of the Symposium was to
determine gaps in resources and activities for addressing
OWTS in Region 2. Symposium participants came from all four
jurisdictions and included local, state, and federal government;
LGU and other university faculty and educators; installers
and contractors; and wastewater treatment design consultants.
The participants identified education of OWTS owners, installers
and contractors; management of OWTS; and education of potential
managers (particularly local government) as key actions needed
to address OWTS impacts. Other related concerns, including
state legislation and clarification of state policy, were
identified as having varying degrees of significance in the
four jurisdictions.
Through the assessment process, the
principals recognized that the role for the Land Grant Universities
should include a strong educational component, including pilot
and demonstration projects, materials development, and educational
programming. Some materials for education exist, including
Home*A*Syst and the Cornell LEAPE Program (Locally-led Education
and Action for Protecting the Environment -- nonpoint source
education for municipal officials). However, available educational
materials need updating and expanding to include management
and alternative technologies and need adapting for use region-wide.
Education on alternative technology and demonstrations of
management would be critical for stimulating change.
Further conversations with Symposium
participants led to identification of two municipalities interested
in demonstrating OWTS management by local government and assistance
from Land Grant Universities in such an effort. Other efforts,
including educational workshops for audiences including local
government officials and OWTS designers and contractors, would
allow testing of approaches and materials for region-wide
application. Partners and stakeholders also were identified
and approached for this work. The following tasks and steps
to a regional OWTS research, extension, and education program
were undertaken:
• The University of Rhode Island Onsite Training Center
(URI OTC) and EPA were recruited as partners; national expertise
and materials being developed on a national level will be
used in developing a region-wide approach to OWTS education
and management.
• Site visits with local and URI OTC partners in Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands were made to gather soils and regulatory
data for program development.
• Financial and technical assistance was committed to
projects demonstrating OWTS management by local government
in New York and New Jersey in order to test approaches and
existing materials, identify additional needs in terms of
materials and assistance, and identify research gaps. These
activities include encouraging resident buy-in by providing
education, opportunities for voluntary participation in local
government management of OWTS, and by providing assistance
to local government in developing management techniques. Demonstration
projects are being planned for Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands.
• Cornell University participated in planning and delivery
of an OWTS conference/workshop for local government in New
York (February, 2004); including providing funding towards
conference expenses.
• A search for published, reviewed literature on OWTS
research and management and compiling existing educational/technical
materials on function, siting, design, and management is underway.
• The Cornell LEAPE program is being revised to reflect
literature search and EPA Guidelines.
The Cornell Local Government Program
conducted a study of management of OWTS by local government
in New York State (NYS). Levels of management, barriers, and
keys to successful implementation were identified and long-term
management examples were found and examined during the study.
Deborah Grantham, Department of Crop & Soil Sciences,
participated in review of the Home*A*Syst materials and worked
with the Cornell Local Government Program to adapt their research
on local government management of OWTSs to be included in
the Cornell LEAPE Program. The University of Virgin Islands
has a strong record of providing in-depth education and training
for OWTS designers and installers and promoted alternative
technologies and water conservation. Both Rutgers University
and University of Puerto Rico have experience in providing
education to landowners and working with local and state government
on OWTS management.
Project leads:
Jeffrey Potent
USEPA Region 2
290 Broadway, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10007-1866
Phone: 212-637-3857
Fax: 212-637-3887
potent.jeffrey@epa.gov
Donna Somboonlakana
US EPA Region 2
290 Broadway, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10007-1866
212 637-3700
somboonlakana.donna@epa.gov
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