Hearing on Requirements to Promote Public Awareness of Sewage Pollution

Virtual Public Hearing
Event Date: 
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 - 6:00pm

, MassDEP is proposing the new regulation 314 CMR 16.00: Notification Requirements to Promote Public Awareness of Sewage Pollution. The regulation will implement Chapter 322 of the Acts of 2020, An Act Promoting Awareness of Sewage Pollution in Public Waters, which was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor in January 2021. The proposed regulation establishes requirements and procedures for notifying the public of sewage discharges and overflows into the surface waters of the Commonwealth to protect and preserve public health. Dischargers will be required to notify the public of discharges of certain types of untreated or partially treated wastewater, including discharges that fall into the categories of combined sewer overflows (CSOs), sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), and blended wastewater. The proposed regulation requires notifications to be issued within two hours of the discovery of discharge, and specify which notices must go to specific local, state, and federal government agencies, news organizations, and any individual who has subscribed to receive such notifications. Dischargers with CSOs will also be required to maintain signage at CSO discharge locations and to develop a public notification plan for review and approval by MassDEP. The regulation will also require municipal boards of health or health departments to issue public health warnings under certain circumstances.