|
The Facts About Sole Source Aquifers
By Steven Winkley
Recently, I have become involved with an effort to have an aquifer designated as a Sole Source Aquifer by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). This endeavor has prompted me to investigate what is a Sole Source Aquifer, what are the benefits of Sole Source Aquifer designation, and how does one apply for Sole Source Aquifer designation. I thought that I would share this information with you.What is a Sole Source Aquifer (SSA)? A Sole Source Aquifer, as designated by USEPA, is an aquifer that supplies 50% or more of the drinking water for a given area where there are no reasonably available alternative sources should the aquifer become contaminated. Four Sole Source Aquifers have been designated by USEPA in Upstate New York (Figure 1). There are a total of nine Sole Source Aquifers that are in or partially in New York State.
Figure 1: Sole Source Aquifers in Upstate New York
(taken from EPA Region 2 website)
Why designate an aquifer as a Sole Source Aquifer? The chief benefit of SSA designation is that all proposed Federal financially assisted projects that have the potential to contaminate the SSA area would be subject to review by USEPA. This review could result in a redesign of a project or prevent Federal funding of the project altogether.Having a SSA designation does not require a review on proposed projects that do not receive Federal financial assistance. However, SSA designation does heighten awareness on the part of state and local governmental agencies. Regulators may have to more closely scrutinize a project before granting a permit in a Sole Source Aquifer. For example, New York State Environmental Conservation Law requires that any person seeking a SPDES permit or a renewal within an area designated as a sole source aquifer, shall include as a part of the required information, the name and address of all public water purveyors with a service area within three miles of the applicant's facility. SSA designation also means that some projects may be given a higher priority for funding. For example, under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), proposed projects within a Sole Source Aquifer could receive additional priority ranking points.How does a Sole Source Aquifer become designated? Any individual, corporation, company, association, partnership, State, municipality or Federal agency can petition to have the USEPA designate a Sole Source Aquifer. However, the petitioner must provide technical information to determine if the aquifer is the sole or principal source of drinking water and to substantiate the boundaries of the aquifer and its recharge area.If you would like more information on Sole Source Aquifers and the petition process for USEPA designation, please contact me at 1-888-NYRURAL. Please note that we can help you provide the necessary hydrogeological and other technical information required for Sole Source Aquifer designation.
|
|
