Overview of National Trends: NACWA s Consent Decree Handbook

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Overview of National TrendsNACWAs Consent
Decree Handbook Update

• David W. Burchmore
• Squire, Sanders Dempsey L.L.P.

Prepared for the 2006 Wet Weather
Partnership/NACWA CSO Workshop Chicago (June
1-2, 2006)
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NACWAs Consent Decree Handbook

• Released in 2003
• Includes
• CSO/SSO Legal and Regulatory Background
• EPA Policies and Guidance Documents
• Standard Decree Provisions
• Negotiating Strategies
• Implementation Issues
• Summary of 43 Municipal Wet Weather Consent
  Decrees (State and Federal)
• Access to NACWAs Consent Decree Library

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2006 Update to Handbook

• Current thru May, 2006
• Includes
• Recent Developments in CSOs, SSOs and Blending
• Newly Released EPA Guidance and Enforcement
  Memoranda
• Evolution in Standard Decree Provisions and the
  Emergence of New Provisions
• Summary of 19 New Wet Weather Consent Decrees

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Recent EPA Guidance

• 2003 Memorandum on Negotiation of CSO Consent
  Decrees
• Issued by Walker Smith (ORE) on September 16,
  2003
• Describes the essential elements to be included
  in federal consent decrees
• 2005 Memorandum on Guidelines for Federal
  Enforcement in CSO/SSO Cases
• Issued by Thomas Skinner (OECA) and Robert King
  (ECOS) on April 10, 2005
• Stresses the need for coordination of state and
  federal enforcement efforts and defines the
  circumstances under which U.S. EPA will assume
  primary role

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Recent Consent Decrees

• 14 Federal, 5 State decrees in 2003-2006
• Majority are SSO decrees
• New or revised CSO decrees from
• Nashua, NH
• DC WASA
• Louisville Jefferson County MSD
• SD No. 1 of Northern Kentucky
• Cincinnati MSD
• Boston (MWRA)

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Evolution of Standard Provisions

• Deadlines
• Banking of improvements completed ahead of
  schedule allows credit against future deadlines
  (Los Angeles)
• Water Quality Standards Reviews
• Revision of LTCP if assumed WQS revisions are not
  adopted (no extension of schedule) (Cincinnati)
• WQS revisions may be sought based on LTCP cost
  analysis and alternatives evaluation (Northern
  Kentucky)
• Stipulated Penalties
• Rebid Provision excuses interim milestone
  penalties if projects completed on time (DC WASA)

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Evolution of Standard Provisions (cont.)

• Modification
• Allowance for change in regulations, new or
  revised water quality standards, or new
  requirements in future permits (Cincinnati)
• Allowance for unforeseen circumstances or
  changes in construction schedules that do not
  extend the decree (Los Angeles)
• Force Majeure
• Relief for delays resulting from failure to
  obtain permits or approvals if applications are
  timely and complete (Baltimore County)

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Emergence of New Provisions

• Watershed Approach
• Combining CSO, SSO and Stormwater control in one
  decree (Sanitation Dist. No. 1 of Northern
  Kentucky)
• Caps and Reopeners
• Cincinnati (must complete in 20 years unless cost
  exceeds 1.5 billion)
• DC WASA (20 year schedule may be revisited if
  there is a significant change in current
  economic assumptions)
• Public Notification
• signs, billing inserts, newspaper notices,
  database on website (Columbus)
• Visual Notification System (DC WASA)

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Emergence of New Provisions (cont.)

• Review of Submittals
• Extension of deadlines and relief from stipulated
  penalties if EPA fails to respond within 60, 90
  or 120 days after timely and complete submittals
  (WSSC Knoxville Louisville MSD Northern KY)

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Negotiating Strategies

• NACWA White Paper on Financial Capability and
  Affordability in Wet Weather Negotiations
• Review of existing EPA guidance
• Impact on schedules
• Detailed case studies
• Atlanta
• Cincinnati
• Los Angeles
• NEORSD
• New Orleans
• San Francisco
• DC WASA
• MWRA
• Columbus