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DOCUMENT RESUME
05947 - [B1366371]
Secondary Tzeatment of municipal Wastewater in the St. Louis
Area: Hinimal Impact Expected. CED-78-76; B-166506. may 12,
1978. 39 pp. + 5 appendices (14 pp.).
Report to the Congress; by Bluer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Environ2mental Protection Programs: Costs/Benefits of
Achieving Environmental Protection Standards (2203).
Contact: Community and Economic Develophent Div.
Budget Function: Natural Resources, Environment, and Rnergy:
Pollution Control and ztatement (304).
Organization Concerned: Coa6hunity and Economic Development Div.
congressional Relevance: House Committee on Public Works and
Transportation; Senate Comittee on Environment and Pdblic
Works; Congress.
Authority: Federal water Pollution Control Act Amendments of
1972 (P.L. 92-500; 33 U.S.C. 1251). Clean Water Act of 1977.
The objective of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act Amendments of 1972 was to restore and maintain the chemical,
physical, and biological iptegrity of the Nation's waters.
Publicly owned treatment works were required to Frovide
secondary treatment by July 1, 1977, and to use the best
practicable technology by 1983. To assist publicly owned
treatmeDt works in Droviding secondary treatment, the act
authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make
grants of up to 75% of the costs. Federal funds approximating
$163 million are planned to be spent for construc.tion of two
municipal secondary treatment facilities in the St. Louis#
Missouri, area. Findings/Conclusions: No significant change in
Mississippi River water quality is expected to result from the
planned investment of about $216 million (including $163 million
in FeAeral funds) in secondary treatment facilities in St.
Louis Although EPA and other officials have mentioned possible
long-range reductions in potentially cancer-causing materials,
these benefits have not been validated or quantified. Large
increases in energy use and large accumulations of sludge from
secondary treatment operatios are expected. These
considerations will have an impact not only on energy and
environmental issues but also on the St. Louis area residents
who will have to bear increased operation and maintenance osts.
According to St. Louis Sewer District officials, these costs
will more than double. Sewer District officials felt that little
benefit would r'isult iton upgrading two treatment plants from
primary to secondary status. However, both missouzi and Illinois
officials believed that more benefits would result if Federal
funds were used for other projects in their States.
Recommendations: The Congress should amend the law to eliminate
the mandatory requirement for secondary treatment of discharges
and to permit the Administrator of EPA to grant waivers,
deferrals, or modifications on a case-by-case basis to this](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxgc0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)