[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 195 (Friday, October 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59840-59841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25743]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6883-2]


Draft EPA Guidelines for Management of Onsite/Decentralized 
Wastewater Systems and Guidance Manual Outline

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability for comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making 
available for review and comment a draft of its Guidelines for 
Management of Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Systems and an outline 
for a guidance manual that will be developed to supplement the 
guidelines. The purpose of the guidelines is to raise the level of 
performance of onsite/decentralized wastewater systems through improved 
management programs. Onsite/decentralized wastewater treatment systems 
include individual onsite or cluster wastewater systems (commonly 
referred to as septic systems, private sewage systems, individual 
sewage systems, etc.) used to treat and dispose of relatively small 
volumes of wastewater, generally from individual dwellings, or groups 
of dwellings and businesses which are located relatively close 
together. EPA is proposing the voluntary national guidelines in order 
to raise the quality of management programs, establish minimum levels 
of activity, and institutionalize the concept of management. 
Implementation of the guidelines will provide a greater range of 
options for cost-effectively meeting wastewater needs and meeting water 
quality and public health goals.
    The guidelines contain a set of model programs, based on a 
comprehensive approach that relies on coordinating the responsibilities 
and actions among the state, tribal or local regulatory agency, the 
management entity or service provider and the system owner(s). These 
model programs are structured to reflect a need for more comprehensive 
management as the sensitivity of the environment and/or the degree of 
technological complexity increases. A program's designation increases 
progressively from Model Program 1 through Model Program 5, reflecting 
the increased level of management activities needed to achieve water 
quality and public health goals. Adoption of the guidelines is 
voluntary and EPA encourages that communities to consider the 
guidelines as a basis for their onsite/decentralized wastewater 
management program.
    The guidelines apply to both existing communities and to areas of 
new development that use onsite/decentralized systems of any size for 
residential and commercial wastewater treatment and disposal.

DATES: Email or written comments are requested by December 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted online at http://www.epa.gov/owm/smallc/guidelines.htm, emailed to [email protected], via U.S. mail 
to Joyce Hudson, US EPA, Office of Wastewater Management (4204), 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, or faxed to (202) 260-
0116.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any questions regarding the content of 
EPA's Guidelines for Management of Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater 
Systems can be addressed to Joyce Hudson by email at 
[email protected]. Additional copies of the documents may be 
obtained by calling Melanie Montalvo, the EPA contractor, at (703) 934-
2323 or by downloading the documents at    http://www.epa.gov/owm/smallc/guidelines.htm

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In April, 1997, EPA prepared a ``Response to 
Congress on the Use of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems.'' 
The report concluded that alternative treatment technologies offer a 
cost-effective, long term wastewater solution for many communities. 
However, the report emphasized that these ``decentralized'' (onsite and 
small cluster) technologies must be implemented in the context of a 
responsible management program to consistently achieve water quality 
and public health goals. The report identified the current lack of 
management as a barrier to successfully applying these otherwise 
promising technologies.
    The development of management standards for decentralized 
wastewater treatment systems was therefore included in the Clean Water 
Action Plan (CWAP) as Action Item 77B . In fulfillment of this action 
item, EPA prepared a concept paper in the spring of 1999, which was 
gradually developed into a set of voluntary national guidelines for the 
management of onsite and decentralized wastewater systems. The 
guidelines which we are proposing for formal public comment have been 
developed with considerable input from

[[Page 59841]]

various stakeholders, including other Federal agencies, State health 
agencies, environmental groups, trade associations and public interest 
groups. Based on comments received, a detailed outline was developed 
and comments were once again solicited, which led to the draft document 
in this notice.
    Onsite/decentralized systems currently serve about 25 percent of 
the U.S. population and approximately 40 percent of new development. 
The vast majority of these systems are conventional onsite wastewater 
systems (septic systems). States report that these wastewater systems 
have failed because of inappropriate siting or design or inadequate 
long-term maintenance and that septic tank systems constitute the third 
most common source of ground water contamination.
    The final guidelines will be accompanied by a guidance manual. An 
outline of this guidance manual is also available for review and 
comment. The final manual will provide details on assessing, 
developing, implementing, and sustaining a viable management program. 
The guidelines for management and the accompanying guidance manual are 
scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2001. Prior to completion, 
EPA will reach out to interested parties, primarily through discussions 
with national and State-level organizations to gain input.

    Dated: September 27, 2000.
J. Charles Fox,
Assistant Administrator for Office of Solid Waste and Emergency 
Response.
[FR Doc. 00-25743 Filed 10-5-00; 8:45 am]
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