SPEAKING UP FOR THE OREGON COAST:

NEDC’s Wastewater Facility Water Quality Permit Comment Guide for Oregon Coastal Citizens

There are many available guides to commenting on Clean Water Act (CWA) water quality permits. However, this guide will prove helpful for citizens who are specifically focused on water quality issues related to wastewater treatment systems and sewage treatment plants on the Oregon coast. The rugged Oregon coast is the pride of the state, especially for those who live amongst its steep cliffs, wet winters and precious waterways; and wastewater treatment and discharge can have long term affects on the integrity of this special region.

The materials in this guide are intended to inform citizens of the basics of wastewater treatment and provide guidelines enabling them to get involved in improving the wastewater treatment in their community. Much of this information is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency responsible for administering the CWA on the federal level, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the agency responsible for administering the CWA in Oregon. Oregon DEQ is the agency that accepts permit applications, considers and ultimately approves or denies permits for wastewater treatment facilities.