02-25-1985 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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permits issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency which govern resolution of the Twin Cities combined sewer overflow problem. WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE SEPARATION PROGRAM? Separating the combined sewer pipes to end the practice of dumping raw sewage in the Mississippi River will help ameliorate a public health threat Posed by the fecal coliform and viruses that now enter the river via overflow outlets. What groups of people will benefit? Everyone along and downstream of the current outfalls: river users of all types, the three directly affected cities, the public and states downstream from the Twin Cities. Minnesota as a whole will benefit. Its 3reate3t river will be cleaner and more esthetic. Solving the combined sewer overflow problem removes a threat of state or federal sanctions or court -dictated answers that might be doubly expensive or impact the natural suburban growth and development of the Twin Cities Area. STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN Combined sewer overflow in the Metropolitan Area and inadequate wastewater treatment are two important water quality problems remaining in the state. There has not been enough federal and state funding to solve thos problems on ar. accelerated timetable. 1. The 1985 legislature needs to fund adequately the independent state construction grants program that was established by the 1984 legislature. The Program must include combined sewer overflow projects as grant -eligible. 2. The Coneresb needs to pass a new Clean Water Act that provides an appropriate federal share of the cost of further water quality improvements. These actions will, in turn, provide the necessary financing so the sewer separation program can be carried out rapidly and outstate communities can get on with improving their water quality. 3. Minneapolis, St. Paul, and South St. Paul need to complete their planning for sewer separations, which is currently under way. 4. The Metropolitan Council needs to amend its Water Resources Management Development Guide to include the separation projects. The changes are scheduled for early 1985. The Council also needs to give an earlier -than -planned go ahead to three regional sewer interceptor projects that are planned as part of the sewer separation solution. Estimated cost of the regional interceptors is about $20 mill -on. draft Oct 12 01222A POEDTI