March 24 , 2003

   National/International News

— Security

• Pentagon chiefs told to prepare national security exemptions
  (ENN.com, 3/21) "The Pentagon's No. 2 official has ordered military service chiefs to provide examples in which President Bush could cite national security and exempt defense facilities from certain environmental laws."
  
  
• U.S. probes possible threat to Arizona nuclear plant
  (ENN.com, 3/21) "U.S. officials were looking for Iraqi government "sleeper cells" that might carry out an attack against the Palo Verde plant, the Washington Times reported on Thursday. The newspaper cited unnamed sources who said the threat to the plant was included in classified intelligence reports."
  
  
• AWWA addresses protecting America's water supply
  (Newswire, 3/20) "Protecting America's water supply from terrorists will be the topic when hundreds of water utility executives and security experts from throughout America meet at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Security Congress March 23-26, 2003 in Los Angeles. United States EPA Administrator Christie Whitman is scheduled to speak at the conference luncheon on Tuesday, March 25, 2003."
  
  
• AWWA director says water utilities doing everything to meet federal security deadlines
  (U.S. Newswire, 3/11) "Jack Hoffbuhr, Executive Director of the American Water Works Association, today responded to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's statement relating to the security of U.S. water utilities."
  

—  Water Supply

• Water must not become new conflict commodity, says forum
  (ENN.com, 3/21) "Participants at the World Water Forum in the western Japanese city of Kyoto said that water is a far more important commodity than the oil some say is behind the U.S. war in Iraq, and has an equally deadly potential as a source of conflict."
  
  
• Water infrastructure loan fund increase proposed in Senate
  (Water Tech Online, 3/21) "Budget authority for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) would increase more than 100 percent, from the $2.19 billion endorsed by Republicans to $5.2 billion, under an amendment from several Democratic senators."
  
  
• Spring drought seen in West, Plains, says NOAA
  (ENN.com, 3/21) "A severe drought parching the Midwest, northern Plains, and western United States is not expected to improve in coming months because of light winter snowfall and scant spring rains, U.S. weather forecasters said Thursday."
  
  
• Activists at international water forum protest privatization
  (Associated Press, 3/20) "Activists demonstrated Friday at an international conference on water to protest proposals that would give a bigger role to the private sector in providing water and sanitation services."
  
  
• Efficient irrigation seen as must for water needs
  (Omaha World-Herald, 3/20) "In the growing competition for the world's scarce fresh water supply, farmers in coming years should prepare to lose increasing quantities to municipal and industrial users, two officials of Omaha-based Valmont Industries Inc. told a meeting of international water experts Wednesday."
  
  
• Report: Middle East, Africa may be targets for water industry
  (Water Tech Online, 3/20) "The countries are approaching dangerous water shortages and contamination and as a result, many European and US companies are considering moving into this growth region, away from the western European and United States markets, Frost & Sullivan said in its report."
  
  
• Metropolitan exercises second round of water transfer options
  (Businesswire, 3/20) "Continuing to shore up Southern California's imported water supplies for 2003, Metropolitan Water District today exercised a second series of one-year water transfer options with seven Sacramento Valley water agencies."
  
  
• World water officials urge protection of Iraq water supplies
  (Water Tech Online, 3/20) "Hours after US forces launched an attack on Iraq, organizers of the Third World Water Forum here urged both sides not to destroy water supplies, and announced they are ready to send experts to evaluate damage to Iraq's water system."
  
  
• Well-water contamination delays center opening
  (Providence Journal, 3/19) "Discovery of a radioactive element in the water at the town's new senior center has further delayed the opening of the $1.2 million facility."
  
  
• Sidney's City Council votes against cash-for-water plan
  (Omaha World-Herald, 3/19) "A proposal by irrigators flanking the city to shut down their pumps this summer in exchange for money evaporated - during a rare and welcome rainshower - Tuesday night with the City Council's unanimous rejection."
  

—  Wastewater

• Sewer utilities fire back at state policies
  (Augusta Chronicle, 3/16) "Private water and sewer companies in South Carolina are caught up in a regulatory cat-and-mouse game that leaves customers footing the bill."
  

—  Everything Else

• German professor wins Stockholm Water Prize
  (Water Tech Online, 3/21) "German professor Peter A. Wilderer was named winner today of the 2003 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate for promoting and developing holistic, interdisciplinary research for more than 30 years in the pursuit of sustainable water use and sanitation."
  
  
• U.S. braces for possible sabotage of Iraqi oil fields
  (ENN.com, 3/21) "Saddam Hussein may have organized a meticulous plan for sabotaging Iraq's oil fields in a scorched-earth tactic designed to cripple Iraqi production."

   Illinois

—  Water Supply

• Tentative deal set on water reservoir
  (Chicago Tribune, 3/19) "Park Ridge aldermen and park commissioners have reached an informal agreement to construct an underground 10 million-gallon water reservoir and pumping station."
  

• Work will clog traffic by Wrigley Field
  (Chicago Sun-Times, 3/15) "Traffic on the North Side will be a mess starting Tuesday, as workers rush to replace the 114-year-old water main under Clark Street between Belmont and Addison before the Cubs' opening day, April 7."
  

—  Wastewater

• NSSD plan sent back to planners
  (Suburban Chicago News, 3/18) "Judge Stephen Walter ruled on March 5 that concerns about liquid condensate from the district's proposed sludge drying-and-melting process were enough to block construction of the $26 million project, and he directed the city to conduct new hearings specifically on that issue."

—  Security

• Water departments surveyed for security
  (Sauk Valley News, 3/20) "Most Sauk Valley municipalities were already on evening phone numbers when attempts were made to reach them Wednesday to ask about their preparedness. However, most utilities also went on extra alertness after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks."
  
  
• Security in place at local nuclear plants
  (Sauk Valley News, 3/20) "Byron Nuclear Generating Station spokesman Bob Kartheiser said Exelon has spent more than $1 million in improving security at Byron. This includes the addition of concrete barriers and changing the entrance to the station."
  

—  Storm/Surface Water

• Fox River group gets village funds
  (Chicago Tribune, 3/20) "The Wayne Village Board this week agreed to support the Fox River Study Group, which is working with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to promote and preserve Fox River watershed and enhance the quality of the river."
  

—  Solid/Toxic Waste

• Peoria authorities say area’s chemical plants are secure
  (Peoria Journal Star, 3/20) "A day after a report indicated little was being done on the federal level to assess threats against chemical plants, Peoria-area authorities say they have been meeting for years on such matters."
  
  
• Landfill expansion vote expected in April
  (Rockdale Register Star, 3/17) "Rochelle Waste Disposal and Winnebago Reclamation Service Inc. submitted an application for expansion in November. The companies say the landfill has outgrown its space and will close unless more room is made for garbage."
  

—  Local/Agency News

• Eureka to study water, sewer rates
  (Peoria Journal Star, 3/18) "Residents could see higher water and sewer rates for the first time in four years depending on the results of a yet-to-be-conducted rate study, city officials said."
  
  
• Study to look at New Lenox sewer, water rates
  (New Lenox Star, 3/16) "As New Lenox officials prepare to expand one sewage treatment plant and build a third one, they want to make sure they have adequate revenues for the operations and maintenance of village facilities and that the rates are equitable."

—  Everything Else

• State EPA threat halts work at Morton East
  (Chicago Tribune, 3/20) "Construction of a freshman center for Morton East High School scheduled to open in 2004 has been halted because the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says no plan was approved for remediation of possible contaminants in the soil."

   Indiana

—  Water Supply

• Hebron wants high-powered pumps replaced
  (NWI Times, 3/21) "The Town Council is asking the project engineer to take responsibility for replacing the pumps at the new water plant that are so powerful they could burst the water mains and damage home water heaters."
  
  
• Water tower hit by bullets
  (NWI Times, 3/20) "As if Hebron wasn't having enough problems with its water, now somebody apparently shot its water tower. A leak was discovered in the tower next to the new water plant at the north end of town Sunday afternoon."
  
  
• Corunna tower declared safe; evacuees return
  (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, 3/18) "Town officials lifted the emergency evacuation this weekend. About a dozen homes were evacuated after town officials discovered the tower had frozen solid, prompting fears of a possible collapse."
  

—  Wastewater

• Buchanan complies with mandate
  (South Bend Tribune, 3/20) "The city of Buchanan is going with a back-up plan to avoid a big stink that could have resulted in fines from the state. A back-up generator will be operating this week so sewage releases into the St. Joseph River during power outages might never happen again."
  
  
• Stockwell sewer plant still needs land, funds
  (Lafayette Journal and Courier, 3/18) "Complications acquiring land for a wastewater treatment plant in Stockwell could delay construction and jeopardize the project's chances to secure a $400,000 state grant."
  
  
• Sewer bond approved
  (Warsaw Times-Union, 3/18) "An ordinance issuing new revenue bonds in the amount of $5.8 million for construction of sewer “interceptor” lines and refinancing of three outstanding revenue bonds was approved Monday during the Warsaw city council meeting."
  
  
• City continues wastewater plant upgrades, IDEM talks
  (Warsaw Times-Union, 3/15) "The city of Warsaw faces civil charges from an Indiana Department of Environmental Management notice of violations, received in October. Operations at the plant have since been under the direction of Jones & Henry Engineers consultants for the past three months."
  
  
• Shaky slab adds time, money to wastewater plant project
  (Lafayette Journal and Courier, 3/12) "Crews are building a $60 million wastewater treatment plant on top of and around the old one at 1700 Wabash Ave., south of Shamrock Park. The new plant replaces one built in the 1950s that has nearly reached its 16 million-gallon-per-day capacity."
  

—  Security

• Terror alert postpones WL water flushing
  (Lafayette Journal and Courier, 3/20) "The company had planned to flush hydrants between Sunday, March 23 and Thursday, March 27 and again between Monday, March 31 and Friday, April 25. The company routinely flushes West Lafayette hydrants twice a year as routine maintenance. Canceling the maintenance frees up Indiana-American workers to focus on security issues."

—  Storm/Surface Water

• Watershed task force seeks grant
  (Lebanon Reporter, 3/17) "If received, the grant will allow the group to provide cost-share dollars to landowners who want to resolve contamination problems in the watershed."
  

—  Local/Agency News

• Walkerton cuts proposed connection fees
  (South Bend Tribune, 3/20) "'The fees will be used by the town's capital improvement fund, but we felt we needed to keep the cost down for residents and businesses,' council member Randy Hoover said."
  
  
• Council avoids involvement in utility workers' lawsuit
  (Indianapolis Star, 3/19) "A group of workers is suing the city over changes in benefits that followed the city's purchase of the utility last year. Council Democrats said the court, and not the council, is now the proper forum for debate."

—  Everything Else

• Hebron soil cleanup cost finally revealed
  (NWi Times, 3/21) "Removing the contaminated soil so the last section of the new water main can be installed is going to cost about $65,000."
  
  
• Air pollution rules have many fuming
  (Indianapolis Star, 3/21) "New federal rules that will make it easier for industries and power plants to expand without adding expensive pollution controls are triggering a fierce national debate, and Indiana has more to gain -- or lose -- than many other states."
  
  
• Tokheim's brownfield blues
  (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, 3/16) "Redevelopment specialists say the pungent hint of environmental contamination, high maintenance costs and an antiquated plant layout could make finding a buyer for the 1600 Wabash Ave. real estate a tough sell."

   Michigan

—  Water Supply

• Detroiters owe Warren mayor vote of thanks for water fight
  (Detroit News, 3/21) Column. "Detroiters may not see it this way, but they owe just as big a debt of gratitude to Warren Mayor Mark Steenbergh as the city's other 124 wholesale water customers do for lighting a fire under the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department leadership and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick."
  
  
• Bay City bracing for a spring of gushing water
  (Bay City Times, 3/19) "City Commissioners were asked to approve extra overtime spending this week to cover the costs of future water line repairs."
  
  
• Well water test kits offered to Michiganians
  (Toledo Blade, 3/17) "Michigan’s Departments of Environmental Quality and Community Health are joining local health departments to provide free kits to test water for arsenic."
  
  
• Michigan worried thirsty states may be eyeing Great Lakes
  (Booth Newspapers, 3/16) "Environmentalists and water experts say Michigan and other states in the region must lay the legal foundation to safeguard the lakes from diversion."
  

—  Wastewater

• Judge sentences man in Hamburg bomb hoax
  (Detroit News, 3/21) "What started at the Hamburg Townsip wastewater treatment plant as a confrontation with police on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks ended Thursday when a judge ordered the release from jail of a Tennessee truck driver who had faced charges of making a false terrorist threat."
  
  
• Bogardus deal hinges on sewage system sharing
  (Flint Journal, 3/20) "Genesee County Commissioner Rose Bogardus has a deal she hopes the village can't refuse: Dump plans for building an independent Otter Lake sewage treatment system and get back all the area lost when the county changed the village's boundaries just three months ago."
  
  
• Wastewater spraying raises concerns
  (Lansing State Journal, 3/19) "The possible resumption of the spraying of waste water onto nearby fields by the Michigan Milk Producers Association has some area residents anxious."
  
  
• Opponents of sewer project take case to prosecutor
  (Jackson Citizen Patriot, 3/14) "Joe Patrell filed a complaint claiming Hanover Township Supervisor John Tallis and County Drain Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder misused their public offices for personal gain."
  

—  Storm/Surface Water

• Portage begins cleanup of stream by S. Westnedge
  (Kalamazoo Gazette, 3/20) "Portage intends to buy several properties on South Westnedge Avenue for a storm-water project to benefit Portage Creek water quality."
  
  
• Oakland communities seek ways to save shrinking lakes
  (Detroit News, 3/20) "Desperate to find a solution before another devastating drought dries up their lake and their summer fun, homeowners along Orchard and Upper Straits lakes have launched a campaign to find new ways to increase lake levels and then keep them high."
  
  
• Flood watch across county
  (Flint Journal, 3/18) "Most of the low-lying areas did not flood after three days of warm temperatures melted snow and ice, but those who live in flood-prone areas are nervous about predictions for up to three straight days of rain that started Wednesday."

   Minnesota

—  Water Supply

• Well-area disclosure bill gets a rewrite
  (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 3/17) "The revised bill would oblige disclosure of the fact that the parcel was in a special well-construction area in Washington County in an area not served by municipal water. Disclosure would be required regardless of whether the parcel had an existing well or not."

—  Wastewater

• St. Augusta to receive sewer aid
  (St. Cloud Times, 3/18) "St. Cloud City Council members on Monday approved a lease of 100,000 gallons a day of sewer capacity for $18,750 a year. The agreement is similar to one with the city of Sartell, said Steve Gaetz, director of public services."
  
  
• Raw sewage spills on E. Gull road
  (Brainerd Dispatch, 3/13) "Ice heaves from Gull Lake damaged a main lift station and deep frost snapped a sewer line in East Gull Lake recently, causing raw sewage spills on Squaw Point Road."
  
  
• Pawlenty order to bring relief from sewer, septic woes
  (Brainerd Dispatch, 3/13) "An executive order expected to be signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty today is meant to bring relief to area homeowners struggling with frozen septic systems and water pipes."
  

—  Storm/Surface Water

• City Council approves storm-water project
  (Duluth News Tribune, 3/19) "The Storm Water Flood Control Pilot Project will help homeowners discover sources of storm water infiltration into their basements and correct problems related to the city sewer system."
  
  
• High waters spiked Minnesota River pollutant loads
  (Willmar West Central Tribune, 3/18) "Higher-than-average runoff carried large amounts of sediments and nutrients into the Minnesota River in 2001, far more than in the previous year."
  

—  Solid/Toxic Waste

• Panel OKs bill to allow Xcel to store more nuclear waste
  (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/20) "A bill that allows Xcel Energy to continue running its Prairie Island nuclear plant in Red Wing for the next 10 years passed its first hurdle Wednesday. After about 10 hours of testimony and debate over two days, the House Regulated Industries Committee approved a measure that allows Xcel to increase the amount of nuclear waste it can store at the plant."
  

—  Local/Agency News

• St. Cloud council to decide on new water, sewer fees
  (St. Cloud Times, 3/17) "A new charge on future home and building construction in St. Cloud would raise money for improvement of the city's water and sewer systems."

—  Everything Else

• Sea Grant awards money to UMD researchers
  (Duluth News Tribune, 3/19) "One project is to develop a device capable of automatically collecting water quality samples at the command of sensors that could be miles away. A prototype system will sample water in the St. Louis River estuary when sensors detect storm-induced changes in the water's conductivity and turbidity."
  
  
• Riverside Drive project price tag turning some off
  (Brainerd Dispatch, 3/19) "High assessments and suspected ulterior motives have some residents along Riverside Drive turned off by a proposed city water and sewer project along their road."
  
  
• Possible impacts of closing the state's roadside rests
  (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/16) "Last year an estimated 4 million people stopped at 44 rest areas that Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau proposes to close across the state as part of a money-saving effort."

   Ohio

—  Water Supply

• Water plant security breach investigated in Cincinnati
  (Water Tech Online, 3/21) "Less than 24 hours after war broke out in Iraq, and with the nation's water utilities on high alert, a security breach at a water plant here caused water service to be shut down."
  
  
• Water-quality issue requires property, West Milton says
  (Dayton Daily News, 3/20) "Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Welbaum heard testimony from Village Manager Martin Gabbard on the need for the water line project to move forward as soon as possible. The judge continued the hearing until Friday morning."
  
  
• City ponders water-waiver requests
  (Dublin Villager, 3/20) "Dublin City Council is prepared to hear from as many as 16 households that have been warned to hook into the system or face legal consequences."
  
  
• Hudson water deemed safe for drinking despite main break
  (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/16) "County authorities have lifted the boil-water order they issued Friday after a water-main break raised a threat of contamination in some parts of town."
  

—  Wastewater

• New Albany studies sewer extention
  (Rocky Fork Enterprise, 3/20) "Council met March 11 to discuss future sanitary and water line extensions. Members learned that it could cost an estimated $11-million to extend the lines to areas without service."
  
  
• Sewers should be done on time
  (Springfield News Sun, 3/18) "Work on the West Enon Estates sewer project should be finished by the scheduled date of June 1, despite some difficulties, officials said Tuesday at the county commissioners meeting."
  

—  Storm/Surface Water

• Ohio won't ban disputed chemical
  (Toledo Blade, 3/20) "The Ohio Department of Agriculture will allow restricted use of the farm herbicide isoxaflutole, blamed for contaminating water, to continue as long as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers it safe to do so, Melanie Witt, state agriculture spokesman, said."
  
  
• Citizens protest large dairy farm
  (Toledo Blade, 3/20) "Emalee Kernisan, 11, who attends Milton Elementary, and Marijane Pitman joined 20 local residents in a protest across from the nearly 700-cow operation in Liberty Township. The demonstrators wore dust masks and shouted slogans, claiming large dairy operations cause foul odors, water pollution, and fly infestations."
  

—  Solid/Toxic Waste

• Sampling planned for former Harshaw uranium plant
  (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/19) "Federal investigators will take soil, air and ground water samples this spring at a former uranium processing plant in Cleveland to determine the extent of the site's radioactive contamination."
  
  
• Panel delays landfill decision
  (Akron Beacon Journal, 3/19) "The Akron Health Commission on Tuesday postponed making a decision on licensing a landfill on the Akron- Cuyahoga Falls line."
  
  
• Official doubts landfill on fire
  (Warren Tribune-Chronicle, 3/18) "Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Pinti told City Council's Health and Welfare Committee that there never has been a fire at the site and that the OEPA used the wrong term last week when describing smoke rising from parts of the landfill."
  

—  Everything Else

• Appeals court upholds MVSD ruling
  (Warren Tribune-Chronicle, 3/18) "The three-judge panel agreed with visiting Judge Rich-ard Markus' February 2002 decision in favor of granting summary judgment to Frank D. DeJute on a $1.96 million claim that he paid Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co. for services that were not provided during a capital improvement project at the MVSD in the early 1990s."
  
  
• State reviewing developer's effort to fix tainted soil
  (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/18) "State environmental regulators investigating lead contamination in the soil at an upscale subdivision say workers tried to dilute the contamination by mixing in clean dirt."

   Wisconsin

—  Water Supply 

• Plans still flowing for water supply study
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/20) "Milwaukee Mayor John O. Norquist and others have opposed the seven-county study out of fear that it will become a blueprint for using Lake Michigan water on behalf of suburban communities."
  
  
• Water a key concern in race for Howard village president
  (Green Bay Press-Gazette, 3/20) "Water is on everybody’s mind in Howard, particularly the two candidates for village president, incumbent Bob Strazishar and challenger Carlene Felmer."
  
  
• Clean elections = clean water
  (Capital Times, 3/18) "State legislators and administrators listed their environmental priorities Monday for business and civic leaders - protecting ground water, improving land use and stewardship, recycling, managing toxins, and making regulations more workable."
  
  
• Lead found in samples of TR water
  (Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, 3/18) "Utilities Director Bill Pappathopoulos announced 23 percent of Two Rivers water tested for lead had results greater than the Environmental Protection Agency standard of 15 parts per billion at Monday’s City Council meeting."
  
  
• City-suburbs water deal ready for approval
  (Green Bay Press-Gazette, 3/18) "The City Council and the suburbs, operating as the Central Brown County Water Authority, will each vote in the next week on a common resolution that would remove the last remaining obstacle to a deal."
  
  
• Water work seems to be weird science
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/15) Column. "My curiosity about such matters was piqued by an ominous-looking public notice in a weekly paper in Hartford the other day warning that the water in one of the wells, because it supposedly has too much radium in it, raises the 'possibility of a small increase in the risk of some forms of cancer.'"
  
  
• Bayfield acts on two water-sewer projects
  (Ashland Daily Press, 3/14) "The Bayfield City Council acted on two road and utility extension proposals at its Tuesday night meeting, approving the plans for a project on Sweeny Avenue and sending the plans for another on Ninth Street back to Public Works for a decision to be made at next month's meeting."
  

—  Security

• Area nuclear plants step up security
  (Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, 3/21) "The Point Beach and Kewaunee Nuclear plants began implementing additional security measures Monday night in accordance with a federal directive to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure."
  

—  Storm/Surface Water

• Banning of phosphorus in fertilizers proposed
  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/20) "Residents would not be allowed to use fertilizer containing phosphorus on their lawns under a proposal city officials hope will limit aquatic plants that ensnarl boats, swimmers and fishing lines in Pewaukee Lake."
  

—  Solid/Toxic Waste

• Mercury evacuated after chemical spill
  (Fond du Lac Reporter, 3/18) "Mercury Marine Communications Manager Steve Fleming said the 'plume' was created at 4:30 a.m. when an agitator inside a mixing container broke. The chemical released into the air was a mixture of sulphuric acid and a bisulphite solution, an ingredient commonly used in cleaning."
  

—  Everything Else

• ‘One-stop shopping’ proposed for Door County environmental data
  (Green Bay Press-Gazette, 3/16) "There’s a new effort under way to make Door County environmental data more relevant, easier to understand, and easier to locate. Major issues like well water contamination, beach bacteria and air pollution would be tied together under one umbrella and one Web site."