U.S. Clean Water Act Settlement in NE Ohio

U.S. Clean Water Act Settlement in Northeast Ohio to Protect Lake Erie, Revitalize Neighborhoods and Create Green Jobs

December 22, 2010 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Justice Department announced today a comprehensive Clean Water Act settlement with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District that will address the flow of untreated sewage into Cleveland area waterways and Lake Erie. The settlement will safeguard water quality and protect human health by capturing and treating more than 98 percent of wet weather flows entering the combined sewer system, which services the city of Cleveland and 59 adjoining communities.

"Today's landmark settlement will advance environmental justice and revitalize Cleveland communities by investing in green infrastructure," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This commitment will not only protect human health and the environment, it will ensure that Cleveland residents are protected from raw sewage and have access to clean water, beaches and communities."

"This approach will provide the opportunity for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to use this settlement to leverage and strengthen partnerships with community land banks to utilize brownfields and vacant properties for green water infrastructure," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "This will revitalize adjacent neighborhoods and communities and residents will benefit from the transformation of these underutilized lands into new community assets." {continued with link to follow past year progress}