puerto rico water & environment association notiagua · una foto de esta directiva se incluye...

P R W & E A, 1 4 5 8 A v e n i d a P a z G r á n e l a , S a n J u a n , 0 0 9 2 1 , P u e r t o R i c o

De pie de izq. a der.: Jorge Reyes, Warner Palermo, William Carrión, Elpidio González, Roberto Ramos, Roberto Maldonado, Rafael Ortiz, Marcos Carrasquillo, Hector Tarraza, William Rodriguez. Al frente: Johnny Guardiola, Kelvin Rivera, Tamara De Leon, Adelis Cabán, Carlos Ortiz

Junta de Directores PRW&EA 2015-2016

Puerto Rico Water & Environment Association

NOTIAGUA Primera Edición 2015-2016

Roberto Maldonado Presidente

Carlos Ortiz

Presidente Electo

William Carrión Pasado Presidente

Johnny Guardiola Delegado WEF

Albert Ortiz Delegado WEF Electo

Warner Palermo Director AWWA

Elpidio González

Director AWWA Electo

Roberto Ramos Tesorero

Marcos Carrasquillo

Secretario

Hector Tarraza

Tamara De Leon

William Rodriguez

Adelis Cabán

Kelvin Rivera

Jorge Reyes

Vocales

Saludos Nuevamente. Les invitamos a leer y compartir con sus compañeros de trabajo y otros profesionales la información que incluimos en esta edición del NotiAgua.



NOTIAGUA

Mensaje del Presidente Roberto Maldonado

Saludos a todos los Asociados y amigos de la PRWEA. Ya comenzamos un nuevo año. En donde ahora nuestro año fiscal corre de julio a junio, a diferencia que antes era de abril a mayo. La nueva Directiva es diversa y con muchos deseos de trabajar. Una foto de esta directiva se incluye en este Notiagua para que veas quienes pertenecen a la misma. Este año cambia nuestro delegado, J. Guardiola, en la convención anual de WEF en Chicago que está programada del 26 al 30 de septiembre de 2015. Nuestro nuevo delegado lo será el Sr. Rafael A. Ortiz. El próximo año, bajo la presidencia de Carly Ortiz, cambia también nuestro Director y actual Vice Presidente de la AWWA nacional Warner Palermo. Todos en la Junta estamos para aclarar dudas y coordinar actividades que necesiten si está a nuestro alcance. De igual forma siempre hemos dicho que si te interesa trabajar en un Comité o en algo en específico estas invitado a pertenecer o ayudar. En julio asistimos al Regional Meeting for Officers (RMSO) en Denver con nuestro Director. Como siempre se obtiene información valiosa y de mucha utilidad para la nuestra Asociación local. A finales de este mes estaremos en Chicago para el WEFTEC 2015 con nuestro Delegado y Delegado entrante. Hemos asistido a reuniones con los industriales, de igual manera estuvimos en el programa “En Record de Elwood Cruz y nos reunimos con el Presidente de la AAA para hablar de nuestro plan de trabajo. También conversamos en detalle los próximos seminarios de Octubre 15 y 16 en el Hotel Sheraton Convention. Te recuerdo que hay habitaciones en el hotel Sheraton a un buen precio así que apúntate en los seminarios y quédate en el hotel a una de las mejores tarifas. Espero que los estudiantes que se le vencían las membresías, al igual que a los nuevos socios estudiantes, lograran acogerse al costo reducido membresía. Este año y los próximos serán años de mucho trabajo tratando de reinventarnos por los problemas económicos y por los problemas de sequía. Nuestra Asociación está trabajando en como orientar a las personas en el ahorro de agua. Nos estaremos viendo en Octubre 2015.



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NOTIAGUA

2016

OPERCOMP 2016 – 10MAS COMPETENCIAS DE OPERADORES… UN NUEVO RETO, PERO NO NOS QUITAMOS.

Por Carlos Velázquez-Figueroa [email protected]

Creo que todos hemos visto tiempos mejores, la luz del final del túnel se ve lejos, pero no podemos doblar rodillas. OPERCOMP no es inmune. Se hace difícil pensar que desaparezca la única actividad que resalta y hace homenaje a los operadores y todos los profesionales relacionados a la operación y mantenimiento de plantas de tratamiento de aguas usadas en Puerto Rico. OPERCOMP es de todos, y a la vez tiene un sitio especial en cada uno de nosotros. Los primeros pensamientos de unas competencias de operadores que recuerde fueron cerca de finales de los 80”s. Época, que aunque a muchos les parezca extraño, éramos terneritos muchos de nosotros, y comenzando en la PRW&EA (Nótese que me reservo los nombres de dos o tres que como yo todavía están por ahí, pero son más sensitivos con este tópico de la edad). En ese entonces hubo que cambiar muchos pensamientos, costumbres y tradiciones para luego de casi diez (10) años se lograra OPERCOMP ’98, las primeras competencias. Alegría que no nos duró mucho. Pasamos otra vez al cuarto oscuro, y no estábamos en las primeras prioridades. Con las nuevas generaciones, llegaron las nuevas esperanzas. OPERCOMP resurge como el Ave Fénix en el 2008. Esta vez no hemos permitido que la bola pique, y desde entonces ya ustedes saben la historia moderna. Muchas personas me han hecho la pregunta, ¿Por qué ahora sí, y antes no? Creo que la respuesta es sencilla, OPERCOMP solo responde en sus objetivos de los participantes. OPERCOMP pueden verlo como unas Olimpiadas, donde países aún en guerra, compiten unos con otros en una organización neutral donde nadie pone condiciones… ¡Se compite y se trabaja de corazón! Nunca permitan que esto cambie.

mailto:[email protected]



NOTIAGUA

OPERCOMP 2016, otro paso más hacia al frente. Posiblemente todos estamos mal acostumbrados con OPERCOMP. Todos los años pensamos que hemos visto la mejor de todas las competencias, y ya en el estacionamiento una vez terminado, se está hablando de lo que podemos hacer para el próximo. OPERCOMP 2016 no va a ser la excepción. Los trabajos ya comenzaron hace semanas. Dentro de lo que podemos adelantar esta esta edición 2016 es en el Evento de Mantenimiento, que también incluirá un “Elemento Práctico”, y entonces serán cuatro eventos junto con Seguridad, Proceso, y Laboratorio. Posiblemente haya cambios en los elementos prácticos actuales para hacer la competencia más interesante. De OPERCOMP para HOLLYWOOD. Tenemos en planes comenzar con las reuniones de orientación entre noviembre y diciembre de 2015. Ya vayan hablando con el corrillo para que no se quede nadie fuera. Tendremos una presentación con más detalles de OPERCOMP 2016, y el estreno del video de OPERCOMP 2015. ¿Desfilaste?, ¿Gritaste?, ¿Competiste?, ¡Pues de seguro que sales en el video! No te lo puedes perder. Para más información, o si tienes preguntas puedes comunicarte con cualquiera de los voluntarios o los miembros de la Directiva de la PRW&EA. Puedes también comunicarte conmigo al (787) 553-1380 o por correo electrónico a [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]



NOTIAGUA



NOTIAGUA

WEF Notification

2016 WEF Dues Increase

The WEF Board of Trustees approved a membership dues increase effective January 1, 2016. While the increase is part of an overall plan developed in 2013, the WEF Board deliberated carefully before determining the amount of the dues increase. The decision was influenced by the positive feedback we have received on our recent investments in innovation, in new practice areas, and in increased member and Member Association (MA) services. The Board's goal is to continue to grow services while maintaining a sustainable and nimble business model. WEF's dues continue to be low compared with other national and international associations while still delivering the very best value to water professionals...



NOTIAGUA

Grants fuel training for small water systems September 1, 2015, from AWWA connection Sections host in-depth workshops Small water systems operators are lining up throughout the United States and Puerto Rico for free in-depth technical, financial and managerial training hosted by AWWA sections. The workshops are made possible through $1.2 million in federal grants provided to AWWA. In-person workshops are currently underway with the second phase of this comprehensive program scheduled to kick off in early 2016. Participants need not attend the first phase of the program to enroll in the second. Topics include microbial contaminants, a review of regulations, disinfection by-products, distribution system operations and maintenance, source water protection, nitrites/nitrates, radionuclides and arsenic as well as small systems finance and management. It’s part of a mission to reach out to smaller utilities – those serving populations under 10,000 – sometimes overshadowed by the needs of larger utilities. Approximately 2,000 small systems operators are participating in the first round of classes, which are hosted by sections in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. “We have all this really great training for smaller utilities, training which can be tailored to specific needs," said Kami Johle Butt, AWWA's manager of ETS business programs. AWWA’s grant is part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program to competitively award about $24 million over both phases of the program to non-profit organizations to provide training and technical assistance for small public water systems, small wastewater systems and private well owners in urban and rural communities. The $1.2 million is channeled to AWWA through the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and the Environmental Finance Center Network. “AWWA is fortunate to act as a subrecipient to RCAP and EFCN on this amazing opportunity,” Johle Butt said. “Each organization has extensive expertise and strong connections to small systems which enables us to provide free quality training to folks who need it most.” Participants can still sign up for first-round classes at awwa.org/smallsystemstraining. Registration for second-round classes begins in January. Johle Butt said attendees include municipal systems operators as well as managers of hospitals, mobile home parks, campgrounds and ski areas, to name a few. “Anyone that has a water system they have to maintain is welcome. And it’s 100 percent free. I can’t say the word ‘free’ enough.”



NOTIAGUA

Instructors have extensive training in water issues. “They have knowledge of the local landscape and issues that smaller systems in particular areas are constantly faced with,” Johle Butt said. More than 97 percent of the nation’s 157,000 public water systems serve fewer than 10,000 people, and more than 80 percent of those systems serve fewer than 500 people, according to the EPA. Many small systems face unique challenges in providing reliable drinking water and wastewater services that meet federal and state regulations. These challenges can include a lack of financial resources, aging infrastructure and high staff turnover. AWWA is developing workshop content for the second phase of the grant program with RCAP and EFCN, Johle Butt said. The 96 workshops, which last from six to eight hours each, will be taught by instructors from the sections as well as RCAP and EFCN. At the New Jersey section, about 50 small systems operators attended a first round workshop in April that focused on drinking water quality. The workshop included free breakfast and lunch. “We made a conscious effort as a section to have a good location and good food on the section’s dime because we thought it would make a difference to the people in attendance,” said section manager Mona Cavalcoli. The Virginia section hosted a financial workshop in January in Roanoke, which is on the western side of the state and easily accessible to many small systems operators, said Geneva Hudgins, the section’s executive manager. The section had anticipated 20 participants, but got 43. “We were over the moon,” Hudgins said. “We’re trying to take education and training and bring it to them as opposed to have them go to training.” The training by an EFCN instructor focused on financial issues – rate setting, capital planning, controlling costs and available loans and grants, Hudgins said. The workshop also included a question-and-answer period. “They broke into work groups and did some hands-on problem solving and interacting with one another,” Hudgins said. “Networking was a very large component. They were able to learn from each other as well as the training.” Hudgins said the Virginia section will host another workshop in October as part of the first round of the grant.

“We got a lot of positive feedback” after the January workshop, Hudgins said. “They felt the quality of the training was very high. Everybody was very appreciative that we provided the training inside the state.”



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner

Clean Water Rule Protects Streams and Wetlands Critical to Public Health, Communities, and Economy

Release Date: 05/27/2015 Contact Information: Robert Daguillard, (202) 564-6618, (202) 360-0476, [email protected]; En español: Lina Younes, [email protected], (202) 564-9924 Does not create any new permitting requirements and maintains all previous exemptions and exclusions

Washington – In an historic step for the protection of clean water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule today to clearly protect from pollution and degradation the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources.

The rule ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water Act are more precisely defined and predictably determined, making permitting less costly, easier, and faster for businesses and industry. The rule is grounded in law and the latest science, and is shaped by public input. The rule does not create any new permitting requirements for agriculture and maintains all previous exemptions and exclusions.

“For the water in the rivers and lakes in our communities that flow to our drinking water to be clean, the streams and wetlands that feed them need to be clean too,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Protecting our water sources is a critical component of adapting to climate change impacts like drought, sea level rise, stronger storms, and warmer temperatures – which is why EPA and the Army have finalized the Clean Water Rule to protect these important waters, so we can strengthen our economy and provide certainty to American businesses.” “Today's rule marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the Clean Water Act,” said Assistant Secretary for the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy. “This is a generational rule and completes another chapter in history of the Clean Water Act. This rule responds to the public's demand for greater clarity, consistency, and predictability when making jurisdictional determinations. The result will be better public service nationwide."



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner


Protection for many of the nation’s streams and wetlands has been confusing, complex, and time-consuming as the result of Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006. EPA and the Army are taking this action today to provide clarity on protections under the Clean Water Act after receiving requests for over a decade from members of Congress, state and local officials, industry, agriculture, environmental groups, scientists, and the public for a rulemaking.

In developing the rule, the agencies held more than 400 meetings with stakeholders across the country, reviewed over one million public comments, and listened carefully to perspectives from all sides. EPA and the Army also utilized the latest science, including a report summarizing more than 1,200 peer-reviewed, published scientific studies which showed that small streams and wetlands play an integral role in the health of larger downstream water bodies.

Climate change makes protection of water resources even more essential. Streams and wetlands provide many benefits to communities by trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, filtering pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife. Impacts from climate change like drought, sea level rise, stronger storms, and warmer temperatures threaten the quantity and quality of America’s water. Protecting streams and wetlands will improve our nation’s resilience to climate change.

Specifically, the Clean Water Rule:

· Clearly defines and protects tributaries that impact the health of downstream waters. The Clean Water Act protects navigable waterways and their tributaries. The rule says that a tributary must show physical features of flowing water – a bed, bank, and ordinary high water mark – to warrant protection. The rule provides protection for headwaters that have these features and science shows can have a significant connection to downstream waters.



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner


· Provides certainty in how far safeguards extend to nearby waters. The rule protects waters that are next to rivers and lakes and their tributaries because science shows that they impact downstream waters. The rule sets boundaries on covering nearby waters for the first time that are physical and measurable. · Protects the nation’s regional water treasures. Science shows that specific water features can function like a system and impact the health of downstream waters. The rule protects prairie potholes, Carolina and Delmarva bays, pocosins, western vernal pools in California, and Texas coastal prairie wetlands when they impact downstream waters. · Focuses on streams, not ditches. The rule limits protection to ditches that are constructed out of streams or function like streams and can carry pollution downstream. So ditches that are not constructed in streams and that flow only when it rains are not covered.

· Maintains the status of waters within Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. The rule does not change how those waters are treated and encourages the use of green infrastructure.

· Reduces the use of case-specific analysis of waters. Previously, almost any water could be put through a lengthy case-specific analysis, even if it would not be subject to the Clean Water Act. The rule significantly limits the use of case-specific analysis by creating clarity and certainty on protected waters and limiting the number of similarly situated water features.

A Clean Water Act permit is only needed if a water is going to be polluted or destroyed. The Clean Water Rule only protects the types of waters that have historically been covered under the Clean Water Act. It does not regulate most ditches and does not regulate groundwater, shallow subsurface flows, or tile drains. It does not make changes to current policies on irrigation or water transfers or apply to erosion in a field. The Clean Water Rule addresses the pollution and destruction of waterways – not land use or private property rights.



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner


The rule protects clean water necessary for farming, ranching, and forestry and provides greater clarity and certainty to farmers about coverage of the Clean Water Act. Farms across America depend on clean and reliable water for livestock, crops, and irrigation. The final rule specifically recognizes the vital role that U.S. agriculture serves in providing food, fuel, and fiber at home and around the world. The rule does not create any new permitting requirements for America’s farmers. Activities like planting, harvesting, and moving livestock have long been exempt from Clean Water Act regulation, and the Clean Water Rule preserves those exemptions.

Federal Register.

More information: www.epa.gov/cleanwaterrule and http://www.army.mil/asacw

http://www.epa.gov/cleanwaterrule

http://www.army.mil/asacw



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner

Clean Water Rule Published in the Federal Register – Effective August 28, 2015

On June 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army published in the Federal Register the final Clean Water Rule also known as the “Waters of the United States” rule. The final rule is expected to become effective on August 28, 2015. A number of states have filed legal challenges to the rule and litigation is likely to follow in addition to continuous attempts in Congress to stop it.

In general, the Clean Water Rule maintains the current status of municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and encourages the use of green infrastructure to protect water quality. Existing jurisdictional determinations and permits will be valid until they expire. By promoting more consistent and effective implementation of Clean Water Act regulatory programs, the rule sets the stage for permit streamlining during implementation. However, questions remain about the rule’s definition of tributaries and when that definition applies to ephemeral or intermittent streams — which would make them jurisdictional. According to the EPA, 60% of U.S. stream miles flow only seasonally or after rain, and 1 in 3 Americans rely on these sources for drinking water. According to some legal experts, the tributary definition is the part of the rule most likely to be challenged. Based on the rule, a tributary must possess the physical characteristics of a bed, bank, and an ordinary high water mark as well as evidence of the frequency, duration, and volume of flow characteristic of a tributary. Further, to be considered jurisdictional, tributaries must significantly affect the health of downstream waters. Based on these definitions, tributaries primarily include headwater streams. Erosional features and ditches with intermittent flow specifically are excluded along with ditches draining into wetlands. The final rule also further defines adjacent open waters and wetlands as jurisdictional if they are within 100 feet of the ordinary high water mark of a jurisdictional water or within the 100-year floodplain and within 1500 feet of the ordinary high water mark of covered waters. Certain isolated waters also could fall under the scope of the Clean Water Act based on both their connectivity and proximity to traditional navigable waters, interstate waters, and territorial seas. A significant nexus determination is based on the isolated water’s effects on the physical, biological, or chemical integrity of jurisdictional waters, such as through an exchange of pollutants, flow, or organisms. Additionally, scientific analyses assessing connectivity will consider how isolated waters affect the nearest jurisdictional water as a group rather than individually. That analysis will be informed by EPA’s final report published in January, "Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence" where it summarized the current understanding about the connectivity and mechanisms by which streams and wetlands affect the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of downstream waters.

http://echo4.bluehornet.com/ct/64274951:30526746882:m:1:1991826824:AAE14877710F40C7F0F14689A37EE5B2:r





NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner

EPA agrees to deadline for updating storm water regs

Annie Snider, E&E reporter

Published: Wednesday, September 16, 2015

U.S. EPA has agreed to a timeline for updating its stormwater regulations under a settlement agreement with environmental groups.

The chemicals, oils and excess nutrients that wash off city streets and suburban lawns after storms represent a major source of pollution into the country's lakes, ponds and rivers. But curbing it can require expensive design changes for communities -- a fact that has made stormwater regulation a contentious issue for the agency.

"This settlement puts an end to more than a decade of foot-dragging on a huge water pollution problem," Larry Levine, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council's water program, said in a statement. "We welcome the Administration's commitment to act, and we will work to ensure EPA develops new rules that reflect a more modern, green technology approach to protecting the waters where we fish, swim, and drink."

Last December, NRDC and the Environmental Defense Center sued the agency over two stormwater issues stemming from a 2003 court decision (Greenwire, Dec. 19, 2014).

In that earlier case, brought against EPA by environmentalists, the court had ruled that the agency's stormwater general permit for smaller suburbs was flawed because it let most communities set their own plans for controlling pollution with no guarantee that state or federal regulators would review them. The court sent the regulation back to EPA to fix, but the agency never updated it.

Under the new settlement agreement, the agency will propose a new rule by Dec. 17 and finalize it by Nov. 17, 2016.

http://www.eenews.net/staff/Annie_Snider

http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060010879



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner

EPA agrees to deadline for updating storm water regs

Annie Snider, E&E reporter

Published: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Continue…..

Levine said in an interview that his group is hoping the new regulation will define the key Clean Water Act requirement that municipalities reduce stormwater pollution "to the maximum extent practicable," rather than leaving it up to the permittee to propose what it means.

"That would be a more efficient process, and we believe a more effective one," he said.

The second issue addressed in the settlement agreement is related to forest roads, which the court said in 2003 could not be ignored by the agencies when addressing stormwater pollution.

EPA formally exempted logging roads from regulation in 2013, just days before a lawsuit from the Environmental Defense Center was to be heard before the Supreme Court. But the question of whether other types of forest roads -- for instance, those relating to mining or oil and gas drilling -- should be regulated has remained open.

Under this week's settlement agreement, EPA has until May 2016 to decide whether forest road runoff should be regulated.

While the settlement agreement deals only with timelines, rather than the substance of the issues, it does lay the path to future litigation from greens if they find faults in the agency's decisions.

http://www.eenews.net/staff/Annie_Snider



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner

Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority to Upgrade Sewage Infrastructure; Sewage Pollution in Martín Peña Canal, San Juan Bay, Condado Lagoon, and Atlantic Ocean will be Reduced

Release Date: 09/15/2015 Contact Information: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, [email protected]

(New York, N.Y.) Under a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) has agreed to make major upgrades, improve inspections and cleaning of existing facilities within the Puerto Nuevo system and continue improvements to its systems island-wide. The Puerto Nuevo sewer system serves the municipalities of San Juan, Trujillo Alto, and portions of Bayamón, Guaynabo and Carolina. The settlement updates and expands upon legal settlement agreements reached with PRASA in 2004, 2006 and 2010. The improvements will supplement projects already being implemented under the previous settlements and PRASA’s Capital Improvement Program, which includes construction of necessary infrastructure at wastewater treatment plants and sludge treatment systems, as well as the Puerto Nuevo collection system. Under this agreement, PRASA will prioritize island-wide capital improvement projects and take into consideration the effect of each requirement on the population served. In recognition of the financial conditions in Puerto Rico, the U.S. government waived the payment of civil penalties associated with violations alleged in the complaint filed today. “These upgrades are urgently needed to reduce the public’s exposure to serious health risks posed by untreated sewage,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The United States has taken Puerto Rico’s financial hardship into account by prioritizing the most critical projects first, and allowing a phased in approach in other areas, but let me be clear that these requirements are necessary for the long-term health and safety of San Juan area residents.” “This agreement will reduce the massive amount of untreated sewage and other pollutants that harm major waterways in the San Juan area, improving water quality and public health conditions for thousands of people,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator.



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner


PRASA’s violations include releases of untreated sewage and other pollutants into waterways in the San Juan area including the San Juan Bay, Condado Lagoon, Martín Peña Canal and the Atlantic Ocean. These releases have been in violation of PRASA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and the Clean Water Act. PRASA also violated its NPDES permit by failing to report discharges in the Puerto Nuevo collection system and by failing to meet effluent limitations and operations and maintenance obligations at numerous facilities island-wide.

Under the agreement, PRASA will spend approximately $1.5 billion to make necessary improvements. PRASA will undertake a comprehensive operation and maintenance program in the Puerto Nuevo sanitary sewer system, including conducting a comprehensive analysis of the system to determine whether subsequent investments must be made to ensure the system is brought into legal compliance, and to conduct immediate repairs at specific areas of concern. PRASA has also agreed to invest $120 million to construct sanitary sewers that will serve communities surrounding the Martín Peña Canal, a project that will benefit approximately 20,000 people. For decades, the Martín Peña communities have struggled with poverty and environmental degradation. This project, which will begin after other infrastructure improvements near the canal are completed, will greatly reduce the amount of untreated sewage and other contaminants entering the canal. The terms and conditions of the settlement announced today will update, replace and supersede the three existing consent decrees between the United States and PRASA. In recognition of PRASA’s financial challenges, many of the provisions of the agreement have been tailored to focus on the most critical problems first, giving more time to address the less critical problems over time. Additionally, certain projects required under the 2006 and 2010 agreements were found to no longer be necessary, as the population has declined, and they have been eliminated under this agreement.



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner


The settlement, lodged today in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. The settlement will be available for viewing at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook at http://facebook.com/eparegion2

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http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html

http://twitter.com/eparegion2

http://facebook.com/eparegion2



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner

Puerto Rico Developer to Pay $500,000 Penalty to Address Clean Water Act Violations

Release Date: 05/27/2015 Contact Information: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, [email protected]

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has reached an agreement with F&R Contractors Corp. and F&R Contractors LLC (F&R) to settle the companies’ alleged violations of requirements to control pollution from stormwater discharges. The agreement requires F&R to pay a $500,000 penalty, establish new staffing positions to oversee a stormwater compliance program, adopt companywide practices that require site meetings and inspections prior to construction, and provide comprehensive stormwater compliance training for employees and contractors. “Stormwater often carries pollution and sediment into local waterways that can damage water quality,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Large quantities of stormwater can run off of construction sites and it is important that stormwater be controlled. The EPA takes these violations seriously, and today’s settlement illustrates that EPA will take all actions necessary to make sure that construction sites are not polluting water bodies in Puerto Rico.” Under the federal Clean Water Act, developers and contractors responsible for operations at construction sites one acre or larger are required to implement stormwater pollution prevention plans to keep soil and contaminants from running off into nearby waterways. These plans can include measures such as the establishment of sediment barriers, the implementation of controls such as berms or catch basins to reduce stormwater flowing onto the construction site, and the protection of slopes. Water carries soil and contaminants off of construction sites at a rate typically 10 to 20 times greater than that from agricultural lands and 1,000 to 2,000 times greater than that from forested lands.



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner

Puerto Rico Developer to Pay $500,000 Penalty to Address Clean Water Act Violations

The complaint alleged that F&R violated numerous stormwater requirements at two sites by failing to adequately prepare or revise site-specific stormwater pollution prevention plans; failing to implement best management practices; and failing to post adequate signage at the sites. The complaint also alleged that at a third site F&R discharged stormwater into the Río Canóvanas, the Río Grande de Loíza and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean without a permit. F&R operates seven construction sites throughout Puerto Rico. Under the settlement, F&R will staff a Company Stormwater Compliance Manager to oversee the company’s stormwater compliance program at these sites and any future sites the company may operate. Among other responsibilities, the Company Stormwater Compliance Manager will implement F&R’s stormwater training program; submit quarterly compliance summary reports to the EPA; manage all activities necessary to meet stormwater requirements at each of the company’s construction sites; and ensure a stormwater pollution prevention plan has been completed prior to commencement of construction activities at all company sites. F&R will also staff a Site Stormwater Compliance Manager at each site to oversee stormwater compliance, to stop work, or order work, if necessary to ensure compliance, and to update the site’s stormwater pollution prevention plan. F&R will also provide stormwater compliance training for employees and contractors with operational responsibilities at a construction site, including comprehensive training for all managers, site-specific training in Spanish for field employees, and annual refresher training for all managers. The proposed consent decree has been lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy is available on the Department of Justice website at: http://justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html For more information about requirements of the Clean Water Act and how EPA protects the nation’s water, visit http://water.epa.gov/

http://justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html

http://water.epa.gov/



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner



NOTIAGUA

Regulatory Corner

EPA v. PRASA Complaint and Agreement Please find the link to the US Department of Justice that will take you to the document filed in Federal Court. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a Complaint against the AAA (Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewers Authority (PRASA) together with the Consent Agreement in the Puerto Rico Federal District Court. The agreement is now subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. The settlement is available for viewing at; www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html Your comments are welcome. Please send them to the address indicated therein. You can request an extension to the established comment period.

http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html

puerto rico water & environment association notiagua · una foto de esta directiva se incluye...

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