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Sewer Plant Responds to Public Pressure Emergency Meeting Called to Focus on Alternatives to Ocean Dumping Delray Beach, Florida – December 12, 2006: The South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Board (SCRWTDB) has called an emergency board meeting for Thursday, December 14, at 5:00 PM, to review options for eliminating the controversial Delray Beach ocean outfall. The meeting is scheduled just days before a 60 day letter of intent to sue filed by environmental groups becomes effective. The sewer plant’s discharge permit, required by the federal Clean Water Act, expired December 2005. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has declined to issue a new permit until testing designed to determine the impact of the partially treated sewage on nearby coral reefs is agreed upon. FDEP cited reports by the nonprofit group Palm Beach County Reef Rescue showing a link between the nutrient-rich sewage and algae blooms attacking the reefs, as cause for requesting the testing. Under the federal Clean Water Act a permit applicant must demonstrate no unreasonable degradation to the receiving environment will occur as a result of the discharge. The receiving environment in this case is a section of the third longest coral reef tract in the world, stretching from the Dry Tortugas through the Florida Keys, northward to Palm Beach County. First directed in July of 2005 by the FDEP to analyze the impact of their sewage discharge, the sewer plant has yet to begin testing. Analysis of hundreds of ocean water samples collected last year by Reef Rescue and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute traced nutrient-pollution from the ocean sewer pipe to algae blooms on nearby reefs. “Findings from that study were termed inconclusive and the sewer plant has hired their own consultant to repeat the program in hopes of getting different results”, said Ed Tichenor, Reef Rescue director. The board meeting is open to the public and time has been allotted for citizen comments. The agenda for the meeting, to take place at SCRWTDB headquarters, 1801 North Congress Avenue, Delray Beach is attached to this email. Interview contact: Ed Tichenor, Director Palm Beach County Reef Rescue Telephone: (561) 699-8559 Email: Etichscuba@aol.com |
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