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Issue link: http://wateronline.epubxp.com/i/110987
Regulations 2013 and finalized in December 2014. The EPA is considering developing performance standards from newly developed and redeveloped sites to better address stormwater management, as well as evaluate additional provisions specific to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 55,500 coalbed methane wells in the United States. Approximately 47 billion gallons of produced water are pumped from these wells annually, of which 45% is discharged directly into U.S. waters, with the balance discharged on land, re-injected into the ground, or reused. Produced water from shale gas operations ranges from Coal-Fired Power Plants Effluent Guidelines 200 to 1,000 gallons per million cubic feet of gas proAlso delayed was issuance of a rule revising the 26-year -old duced, depending on the basin. Much of it is injected into standards for wastewater discharges from coal-fired power wells or sent to treatment works. In the interim, the EPA is plants, now scheduled to be proposed planning to soon release preliminary on April 19, 2013, and finalized a year findings of a study it is conducting on later. It is expected that the existing the effects of hydraulic fracturing on Environmental standard governing these discharges drinking water, with the goal of issurules can actually will be tightened given the increased ing a final report in 2014. level of metals in power plant waste These are among the most significant drive economic streams as a result of air pollution conregulatory developments WWEMA is growth and job trol measures having been employed. monitoring and commenting on. There These 1,100 plants in the United States are many others occupying our attencreation. are responsible for a significant amount tion which deal with nutrients, water of toxic pollutant loadings discharged quality criteria, lead and copper, and to surface waters, according to the EPA. other contaminants such as hexavalent chromium and perchlorate. Needless to say, it is going to be a busy couple Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations of years ahead for the industry on the regulatory front. The EPA announced that it will propose a court-ordered Likewise, for the technology and service providers within rule in April 2013, to be finalized one year later, expandWWEMA, who are tasked with providing cost-effective ing the universe of regulated concentrated animal feeding solutions to meet these and other challenges confronting operations (CAFOs); a major source of phosphorus, nitrothe water industry. gen, and sediment discharges that adversely affect water Protecting the water environment is not only essential quality. The EPA reports that the waste generated by for life, it is the underpinning of all social and economic large-scale conventional hog, chicken, and cattle operaactivity. There is not a single job or business that does tions has polluted more than 35,000 miles of river and has not rely to some degree on water, its provision and its contaminated groundwater in 17 states. treatment. We must remain vigilant to ensure that sound science governs the way we regulate and protect this lifeCarcinogenic Volatile Organic Compounds giving resource, while at the same time, promote the fact The EPA is scheduled to propose in mid-2013 a rule govthat environmental regulations are responsible for createrning 16 carcinogenic volatile organic compounds as part ing a viable industry that generates nearly $130 billion of a new drinking water strategy to regulate contaminants in annual revenue in the U.S. and employs hundreds of by groups, instead of individually. Word on the street is thousands of skilled workers, further supporting the case that this approach is more complicated than originally that investing in and protecting our nation���s water infrathought, which could further delay its release. In order structure makes good business sense. ��� for contaminants to be regulated, they must be found in Dawn Kristof Champney is president of the sufficient frequency to be of national concern and the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers regulations must present a meaningful opportunity for risk Association (WWEMA), a Washington, D.C.-based national, non-profit trade organization that has reduction, which may be a more difficult case to make represented the interests of manufacturers serving the water supply and wastewater treatment industry when taking multiple contaminants into account. since 1908. Shale Gas Extraction/Coalbed Methane Extraction Lastly, EPA has decided to combine the development of regulations governing wastewater discharges from shale gas extraction and coalbed methane extraction for proposal sometime in 2014. EPA reported that in 2008, 252 coalbed methane operators managed approximately 16 wateronline.com ��� Water Online The Magazine