CIDWT Signs MOU with EPA

On January 12, 2005, Kitt Farrell-Poe, Chair-elect of CIDWT, met in Washington, DC, with the US Environmental Protection Agency and ten other partnering organizations for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The EPA MOU partners include:

EPA

EPA MOU Press Release
Onsite MOU: http://www.epa.gov/owm/septic/pubs/septic_mou.pdf
EPA, Septic Systems: http://cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/home.cfm

National Association of County Officials (NACo)

http://www.naco.org/

National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT)

http://www.natat.org/

National Association of Wastewater Transporters (NAWT)

http://www.nawt.org/

National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

http://www.neha.org/research/onsite_wastewater.htm

National Environmental Services Association (NESC)

http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/

National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)

http://www.nowra.org/

Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc (RCAP)

http://www.rcap.org/

Water Environment Federation (WEF)

http://www.wef.org/Home

CIDWT’s part in this MOU is to:

1. Conduct and coordinate development of educational materials conveying essential information to homeowners, university students, practitioners, and decision-makers.
2. Conduct and coordinate research initiatives addressing critical issues facing the onsite wastewater treatment industry.
3. Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among engineering and the sciences.
4. Promote multi-sector collaboration and communication among CIDWT institutions, professionals, and the public.

EPA’s vision is that “decentralized wastewater treatment [onsite] systems are appropriately managed, perform effectively, protect human health and the environment, and are a key component of our nation’s wastewater infrastructure.” EPA’s mission is to “provide national direction and support to improve the performance of decentralized [onsite] systems by promoting the concept of continuous management and facilitating upgraded professional standards of practice.”

To accomplish their vision, EPA has adopted the following strategic goals:

1. Strengthened internal and external partnerships by developing action plans and conduct forums in each region of EPA, develop the MOU with external partners solidifying their support, and improve coordination between water programs;
   
2. Improve system performance through improved practitioner competency, management practices, and technology transfer by publishing a Management Handbook as guidance in implementing the Management Guidelines, providing assistance in upgrading training, registration, certification and licensing programs for all service providers, assisting in implementing a model regulatory code, and assist in improving acceptance of appropriately managed systems;
   
3. Improved accountability, control and oversight through enhanced state and local program implementation and regulatory reform by continuing to manage demonstration projects, encourage states and local communities to inventory and assess systems, assist states in adopting the management guidelines, reaffirm policies that integrate EPA programs that share regulatory authority over various decentralized activities to assure compliance with regulatory requirements, and initiate efforts to improve management practices for key problem areas, including cesspools, communities lacking basic sanitation, and significantly impacted source waters;
   
4. Improve local decision-making through improved public awareness by continuing to develop outreach and education materials, disseminate materials, and reach out to organizations representing state and local officials, practitioners, financing authorities, and environmental advocacy groups, and to explore options to promote development of appropriate management programs when funding decentralized [onsite] systems using State Revolving Funds.

News for Release: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)