Dekalb County, Ga., Agrees to Major Sanitary Sewer System Upgrades, 12/13/10
WASHINGTON – DeKalb
County, Ga. has agreed to make major improvements to its sanitary sewer systems
in an effort to eliminate unauthorized overflows of untreated sewage, the U.S.
Justice Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
announced today.
In addition, DeKalb
will pay a civil penalty of $453,000, to be split evenly between the United
States and the state of Georgia, and implement a supplemental environmental
project valued at $600,000 that will provide additional environmental benefits
to the local community. The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court
for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta today, resolves the joint
federal and state complaint filed at the same time alleging violations of the
Clean Water Act and the Georgia Water Quality Control Act.
“This settlement will
mean a healthier, safer environment for communities in DeKalb County,” said
Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural
Resources Division of the Department of Justice. “Like other aging sanitation
systems across the country where we have reached clean water settlements,
upgrading this aging infrastructure and conducting community-based cleanups
will result in cleaner streams and waterways for families and children.”
“Sewage overflows are
a significant problem in the Southeast because of inadequate and aging
infrastructure,” said Stan Meiburg, Deputy Regional Administrator of EPA’s
Southeastern office. “This agreement demonstrates DeKalb County’s commitment to
address long-standing sewage problems. Ultimately, this will benefit the local
community and improve water quality in the Upper Ocmulgee and Chattahoochee
watersheds."
DeKalb’s sanitary
sewer system serves over 500,000 people. The wastewater collection and
transmission system which DeKalb owns and operates includes approximately 2,600
miles of sewer lines, 55,000 manholes, and 66 lift stations. This is a sanitary
sewer system designed to convey only municipal sewage, not stormwater.
Overflows pose a
significant threat to public health because raw sewage can have high
concentrations of bacteria from fecal contamination, as well as disease-causing
pathogens and viruses. These overflows can occur in backyards, city streets,
and directly into streams and rivers.
“This proposed consent
decree negotiated with DeKalb County will result in targeted cleanups of DeKalb
County streams and major long term improvements to the DeKalb County sanitary
sewer systems,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Sally
Quillian Yates. “The agreement reflects the strong commitment of the Justice
Department to enforce the mandate of the Clean Water Act through working with
our colleagues in state and local governments.”
The consent decree
provides for targeted injunctive relief for priority areas, consisting
primarily of the most aged sewer pipes. The major features of the consent
decree relating to the sanitary sewer system will require DeKalb to identify
and quantify overflows of untreated sewage and their causes; to identify,
delineate, assess and rehabilitate all priority areas within 8 ½ years; and
improve its management, operation and maintenance programs to prevent future overflows
and respond to overflows when they occur. DeKalb has estimated that the
injunctive relief and other related improvements may cost approximately $700
million.
As part of the
settlement, DeKalb has agreed to conduct a stream cleanup project at an estimated
cost of $600,000. The cleanup will focus on removal of trash and debris from
segments of the South River, South Fork Peachtree Creek and Snapfinger Creek.
DeKalb will encourage the public to join in the stream cleanup project.
The Justice Department
and EPA, often joined by the states, are taking an active lead in municipal
Clean Water Act enforcement and have already entered into settlements with
numerous municipalities including Atlanta; Baltimore; Hamilton County
(Cincinnati), Ohio; Jefferson County (Birmingham), and Mobile, Ala.; Knoxville
and Nashville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; Miami.; New Orleans; and Sanitation
District Number 1 of Northern Kentucky.
The proposed consent
decree with DeKalb County is subject to a 30-day public comment period and
final court approval. A copy of the consent decree lodged today is available on
the Department of Justice website
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