News Briefs: (1) Tools Released to Help Small Drinking-Water Systems; (2) EPA Revokes Burdensome Federal Gas Formula Mandate
*News Briefs *If you need more information on any of these subjects, call the listed Press Officer. For Release: (Washington, D.C. -- Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006) * (1) Tools Released to Help Small Drinking-Water Systems * *(2) EPA Revokes Burdensome Federal Gas Formula Mandate * * (1) Tools Released to Help Small Drinking-Water Systems *Contact: Dale Kemery, 202-564-4355 / kemery.dale@epa.gov EPA has released two new tools and a suggested affordability approach for small water utilities trying to balance the demands for quality water with their financial ability to deliver. Today's action is part of an overall program to protect public health, support small water systems and keep costs of water manageable. The targeted systems serve 3,300 customers or fewer. The first document, "Setting Small Drinking Water System Rates for a Sustainable Future," will help owners and operators understand the full costs of providing a quality and adequate supply of drinking water to their customers and guide them in setting water rates that will support these costs. The second document, "Case Studies of Sustainable Water and Wastewater Pricing," provides real-world examples of eight drinking-water systems and their approach to determining and establishing rates. In another action, EPA is requesting public comment on several proposed revised methods to determine when variances can be granted by state agencies to small systems that cannot afford to comply with future drinking water standards. A small-system variance allows a drinking water system to use a treatment technology that is both affordable and protects public health. Variances are not available for microbial contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, or other organisms. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to identify affordable treatment technologies for small systems for each new drinking-water standard. This proposal responds to a request from Congress and other stakeholders that EPA review its approach for assessing the affordability of drinking water regulations. EPA is seeking public comment and will further refine the proposal to reflect the best information available. Comments will be accepted for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. A pre-publication copy of the proposal and more information on small-system variances is at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/affordability.html [ http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/affordability.html ] The documents and additional information on EPA's sustainable infrastructure efforts are available at: http://www.epa.gov/water/infrastructure [ http://www.epa.gov/water/infrastructure ] *(2) EPA Revokes Burdensome Federal Gas Formula Mandate * * *Contact: John Millett, 202-564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov* *In a move to provide greater flexibility in producing clean-burning gasoline to protect and improve air quality, EPA is revoking the two percent oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline (RFG) nationwide. The Energy Policy Act authorized the action, which reduces production burdens while continuing to protect the environment with clean fuel blends as the use of ethanol increases. Currently, about 30 percent of gasoline is RFG. The revocation takes effect nationwide on May 6 and in California 60 days after the regulation's publication in the Federal Register. More information is at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg_regs.htm [ http://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg_regs.htm ] R041 You can update or cancel your subscription at any time [ https://www.govdocs.com/service/user.html?code=USAEPA ]. You need only your e-mail address (and your password if you have selected one). This service is provided free of charge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you have any questions or problems about this service, please contact help@govdelivery.com [ mailto:help@govdelivery.com ] for assistance. Sent by the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW . Washington DC 20460 . 202-564-4355