832K03002
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
2003 National Clean Water Act
Recognition Awards Ceremony
Biolac Aeration in #1 Lagoon
1st Place, O&M, Small Secondary Plant, Antrim Wastewater
Treatment Facility, Antrim, New Hampshire
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United States
Environmental Protection Agency
2003 National Clean Water Act
Recognition Awards
Ceremony
Water Environment Federation Technical Exposition & Conference
Los Angeles, California
Monday, October 13,2003
US EPA National Awards Program Managers
Maria Campbell
Operations and Maintenance and
Overall Program Coordination
John Walker
Biosolids Management
Patricia Campbell
Pretreatment Program
Wendy Bell
Storm Water Management
TimDwyer
Combined Sewer Overflow Control Program
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The Program
Welcome
Jim Clark
Past-President
Water Environment Federation
Opening Remarks
and
Presentation of Awards
James A. Hanlon Director
Office of Wastewater Management
U.S. EPA
Announcement of Award Recipients
Sheila E. Frace, Director
Municipal Support Division
U.S. EPA
Linda Y. Boornazian, Director
Water Permits Division
U.S. EPA
National Awards Program Categories
Operations and Maintenance Excellence
Biosolids Management Excellence
Pretreatment Program Excellence
Storm Water Management Excellence
Combined Sewer Overflow Control Program Excellence
Following the ceremony, compliments of WEF, refreshments will be served in Room S408A.
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National Clean Water Act Recognition
Awards Programs
History
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Clean Water Act (CWA) Recognition Awards
program began with the National Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Excellence Awards in 1985, to
recognize communities that have achieved outstanding O&M programs at publicly owned wastewater
treatment facilities. The program, authorized by Section 501(e) of the CWA, presented the first national
awards in 1986.
The O&M Awards program was an immediate success and was widely acclaimed as a way for EPA to
honor plant personnel and local officials for their commitment to clean water. In 1988, the program
was expanded to include Sludge Awards, now named Biosolids Management Excellence Awards.
The awards recognize outstanding biosolids operating projects, technology development, research,
and public acceptance efforts. In 1989, the Pretreatment Excellence Awards program was added to
recognize municipal implementation and enforcement of local pretreatment programs. In 1990, a
Most Improved Plant (MIP) category was added to the O&M Awards program to highlight successful
achievements made under the EPA administered O&M technical assistance program, authorized by
Section 104(g)( 1) of the CWA. The MIP Award recognizes the efforts of the plant operator, the town,
and the operator trainer who helped return the plant to compliance under a technical assistance
program designed to help small communities. In 1991, the Combined Sewer Overflow Control
Awards and the Storm Water Management Awards were added to recognize creative and cost-
effective wastewater management programs and projects.
In 2002, the EPA codified a framework for the annual awards recognition program through the
addition of a new part 105 to the Code of Federal Regulations. The program currently has five
awards categories with size or facility based sub-categories for each.
To be eligible for a CWA Recognition Award, a wastewater facility, project or pollution abatement
program must:
• be in total compliance with all applicable water quality requirements, and otherwise have a
satisfactory record with respect to environmental quality; and,
• have written documentation as evidence of an outstanding technological achievement or an
innovative process, method or device demonstrated in the preceding year, which resulted in
environmental benefits, cost savings and/or public acceptance; and.
• be recommended by the State and/or EPA region.
The Award Process
EPA headquarters issues annual guidance memoranda to administer each year's awards process and to
request nominations for the awards. Forms to apply for the awards program categories are available at
the State level, and can be obtained through the Internet at www.e pa. gov/owm. Candidates may be
nominated by EPA Regions, State water pollution control agencies, municipalities, consultants,
wastewater treatment facilities or other interested parties in their state. After completing compliance
screenings, the EPA Regional Offices use selection panels to choose die facilities, projects or
programs which may receive annual Regional awards. These Regional winners then become eligible
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National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards Program
Operations and Maintenance Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the eighteenth year for the EPA's National Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Excellence
Awards that recognize plant personnel and local officials for innovative and outstanding O&M
activities at wastewater treatment facilities.
The Criteria
Treatment facilities are judged based on their achievements within the following areas:
& Automation
$? Laboratory Management
& Best Management Practices
& Most Improved Plant
& Biosolids Handling and
Disposal & Non-dischargers
$? Collection System Controls *& Personnel Training Programs
& Collection System *& Pollution Control and Field
Maintenance Management Monitoring
& Compliance *& Public Education
$? Equipment Maintenance & Safety Education
Management
& Septage Management
& Financial Management
& Toxic Waste Controls
& Innovative O&M Practices
The Award Sub-categories
Winners are recognized in nine O&M award sub-categories: small, medium and large secondary
treatment plants; small, medium and large advanced treatment plants; small and large non-discharging
plants; and most improved plant. For the purpose of the awards program, small is defined as a design
flow capacity of less than one million gallons per day (mgd), medium is one to 10 mgd, and large is
greater than 10 mgd, except in the non-discharging plant category where large is greater than one mgd.
The "Most Improved Plant" sub-category, a favorite of the O&M program, recognizes extraordinary
efforts by treatment plant personnel, local officials, and the onsite operator trainer to return a facility
to compliance under a technical assistance program authorized by Section 104(gXO of the Clean
Water Act. Following are the 2003 National Operations and Maintenance Excellence Awards winners
by sub-category:
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2nd Place: Atlantic County Utilities Authority
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Large Non-Discharging
\ * Place: Eielson Air Force Base Wastewater Treatment Facility
Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
Small Non-Discharging
1 * Place: Etowah Water & Sewer Authority
Dawsonville, Georgia
Most Improved Plant
1a Place: Lisbon Wastewater Treatment Facility
Lisbon, New Hampshire
Section 104(g) Operator Trainers: New Hampshire Department of Environmental
Services, Wastewater Engineering Bureau,
Operations Section
2nd Place: St. Joe-Spencerville Regional Sewer District
St. Joe, Indiana
Section 104(g) Operator Trainer: David Denman, Indiana Department of
Environmental Management
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National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards Program
Biosolids Management Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the sixteenth year of the EPA's National Biosolids Management Excellence Awards which
recognizes outstanding operational projects, research studies, technological advances, and public
acceptance efforts for promoting beneficial uses of municipal wastewater biosolids.
Innovative and widely applicable biosolids techniques are vital to the nation's efforts to protect and
improve our land and water resources. These awards focus attention on the critical need to develop
and implement management practices that use wastewater biosolids beneficially and that are
environmentally safe, economical, and acceptable to the public. The nomination process is very
productive, even if the nominee is not selected as a winner, due to the recognition and transfer of
information that occurs.
For years, many municipalities, individuals and groups have worked to make significant contributions
to the study and practice of environmentally safe use and disposal of municipal biosolids. This
awards program recognizes their professional efforts.
The Criteria
Candidates are evaluated using the following criteria:
Operating Projects
& Compliance with applicable Federal, State and local regulations
& Consistent, cost-effective operation
& Public acceptance of beneficial uses of biosolids.
& Significant recycling/reuse of natural resources (e.g., nutrients, organic matter and
energy)
$? Sustained (several years), full scale, proven operation
Technology Development Activities
& Operationally proven
& Resolved previous biosolids management or utilization problems
& Sustained excellence in advancing our knowledge of technology (e.g., improved
design criteria or operational practice)
& Technology has potential for use in many areas of the country
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National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards
Pretreatment Program Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the fifteenth year of the EPA's Pretreatment Program Excellence Awards. The awards
recognize publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) with exemplary local pretreatment programs that
reduce the risk of pass-through of toxic pollutants and the operational interferences caused by toxic
dischargers. Through their pretreatment efforts with the local industry, POTWs achieve additional
benefits such as improved biosolids quality and reduced risks to treatment plant worker health and
safety.
The awards recognize POTWs for outstanding efforts in the control of industrial discharges and to
heighten overall public awareness of and support for these local wastewater treatment-related
programs.
The Award Criteria
POTWs are judged on their performance in the following areas:
& Enforcement
^fe Environmental Achievements
$? Industrial User Monitoring
& Industrial User Permitting
& Innovations in Program Implementation
& Legal Authority
^ Local Limits
* Public Outreach
The Award Sub-categories
Awards are given in three sub-categories based on the number of Significant Industrial Users (SIUs):
0 - 25 SIUs; 26-100 SIUs; and 100 and greater SIUs. The 2003 National Pretreatment Program
Excellence Awards winners are as follows:
100 and greater SIUs:
\" Place: Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners
Industrial and Pollution Control Department
Newark, New Jersey
2nd Place: King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks,
Wastewater Treatment Division
Seattle, Washington
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National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards Program
Storm Water Management Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the thirteenth year for EPA's Storm Water Management Excellence Awards. The awards
recognize municipalities and industries that are demonstrating their commitment to protect and
improve the quality of the nation's waters by implementing outstanding, innovative and cost-effective
Storm Water control programs and projects. This awards program heightens overall public awareness
of storm water measures and encourages public support of programs aimed at protecting the public's
health and safety and the nation's water quality.
The Award Criteria
Nominees for the Storm Water Management awards should be implementing innovative storm water
control programs or projects and be in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements,
National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) permits, management plans and
programs.
The Award Sub-categories
Winners are recognized in two sub-categories: Municipal Storm Water control program or project;
and Industrial Storm Water control program or project. The 2003 National Storm Water Excellence
Awards winners are:
Municipal \
1 * Place: Ventura County Watershed Protection Division
Ventura County, California
2nd Place: San Antonio Water System
San Antonio, Texas
Industrial
1* Place: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
South Windsor, Connecticut
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For more information on the Clean Water Act Recognition Awards program visit www.epa.gov/owm.
and contact your State water pollution control agency, the U.S. EPA offices or WEF at the following
locations:
Region 1 Region 7
Office of Ecosystem Protection Water, Wetlands, & Pesticides Division
JFK Federal Building, One Congress Street 901 N. 5* Street
Boston, MA 02114-2023 Kansas City, KS 66101
(617)918-1764 (913)551-7453
Region 2
Division of Environmental Planning and
Protection
290 Broadway
New York, New York 10007-1866
(212)637-3836
Region 3
Water Protection Division
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
(215)814-5788
Region 4
Water Management Division
61 Forsyth Street
Atlanta, GA 30303-3104
(404) 562-9280 Ext 29248
Region 5
Water Division (WQ-16J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590
(312)353-5784
Region 6
Water Quality Protection Division
Fountain Place, 12* Floor, Suite 1200
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
(214)665-6525
Region 8
Office of Partnerships and Regulatory Asst.
999 18* Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2466
(303)312-6280
Region 9
Water Division
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415)744-1949
Region 10
Office of Water
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206)553-8575
Headquarters
Office of Wastewater Management
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW (4204M)
Washington, DC 20460
(202)564-0628
The Water Environment Federation (WEF)
Attn: Technical Services
601 Wythe Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703)684-2400
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