Unsanitary practice
The public needs to see EPA document on sewers
If they want the public to get behind what has been described as the biggest public works project in the region’s history, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority had better be transparent about their plans for ending illegal sewage discharges into area waterways.
Their refusal to turn over a draft amendment outlining proposed modifications to a 2008 consent decree is, sadly, government as usual. Our officials think it’s fine to tell us what they want to tell us when they’re ready to tell us. Alcosan spokeswoman Jeanne Clark said the parties agreed to confidentiality during discussions over modifications of the consent decree so they don’t have to share every “step” with “the entire world.” But the conclusion must be: an end to all combined sewers. That is the only way to make the system work. Customers need to know that basements are not partof the overflow storage plan.
Holding back this document is narrow-minded and inspires little confidence that officials actually will get the $2 billion plan right. The public — which will, after all, have to pay for the sewage system upgrades called for in the consent decree — might have some valuable input on each step along the way. Alcosan may rue its reticence when it goes seeking support for the final consent decree, which, Ms. Clark conceded, will be a public document.
A lack of transparency isn’t our only concern. Those planning the project must be ready to jump on any infrastructure bill enacted in Washington.
While it’s fine to promote green initiatives such as wetlands and green roofs as methods to address sewage overflows, “gray” projects — read pipes — likely will have to be part of this mammoth undertaking if it’s to be done right. If the federal government turns on the spigot of infrastructure funds, local officials must try to leverage some of this money for high-cost gray projects, not allow it to go begging because those projects are planned for the later stages of the implementation process.
In March 2016, the federal government indicated its willingness to give local officials another 10 years, until 2036 or so, to implement the consent decree so they could incorporate more green infrastructure and spread costs over a longer period. The agencies are negotiating the details of an amended plan, and the document the parties declined to turn over to the Post-Gazette’s Don Hopey outlined thechanges under discussion.
An EPA spokesman said he hopes the draft amendment “will resolve any remaining issues so that we can move forward with restoring the three rivers.” We hope so, too. It’s past time to begin moving on a project that will eliminate pollution and help control neighborhood flooding and household sewage backups.
The longer the wait, the more the improvements will cost, though Ms. Clark hopes technology and green infrastructure will soften the financial impact. She said at least one bigticket item, a $300 million expansion of Alcosan’s treatment plant, is planned for the earlier stages.
What’s most important is that the project be done right — regardless of how long the cost must be amortized or how much gray infrastructure is needed — in all communities. The region’s quality of life is on the line.