“If this determination is approved, DRBC regulations will authorize me as executive director to set wasteload allocations for specific point source (end-of-pipe) discharges of these pollutants, as needed, for 76 riverbank wastewater treatment plants,” Collier said.  “Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware would, in turn, use these allocations to establish appropriate effluent limitations in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits within their jurisdiction.”

The pollutants identified by the DRBC include 1,2 - dichloroethane, tetrachloroethene (or PCE), chronic toxicity and acute toxicity.

“These pollutants can be toxic to aquatic life and have the potential to be harmful to humans through ingestion of untreated river water and/or the consumption of fish.” Collier said.

Chronic toxicity refers to adverse effects of the wastewater discharges as a whole resulting from exposure over an extended time while acute toxicity refers to short-term adverse effects.  Both consider not only the effects of individual chemicals in the discharges, but also pollutant interactions.

The public hearings will be held at the following locations:
 

• May 3, 1:30 p.m., at the Carvel State Building, Second Floor Auditorium, 820 N. French St., Wilmington, Del.

• May 5, 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., at the DRBC Office, Goddard Conference Room, 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, N.J.

• May 11, 1:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn, Jefferson Room, 400 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa.

The DRBC was formed in 1961 by compact among the four basin states (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware) and the federal government.  Commission programs include water quality protection, watershed planning, water supply allocation, regulatory review, water conservation initiatives, drought management, flood control and recreation.

For more information on the DRBC’s toxics management program, visit the DRBC website at www.state.nj.us/drbc/ (choose What We Do/Water Quality Information/Toxics Regulations).