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This week, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) signed onto a letter asking the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to assist the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in reviewing its 1997 guidance document Combined Sewer Overflows – Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development.  

The letter, which can be found here, highlights the financial strain placed on municipal governments as they are forced to adhere to stringent requirements from the U.S. EPA regarding Combined Sewer Overflows.  These requirements are often centered on mandates from the EPA requiring local governments to upgrade their current water infrastructure systems with no assistance in covering the financial costs of these upgrades.  

“As I travel the Fifth District and meet with local elected officials, this topic continues to be one of their main concerns.  During this time of economic uncertainty, local governments simply cannot afford these infrastructure costs and local residents cannot absorb the rate increases needed to fund these projects.  The U.S. EPA must take a serious look at their requirements and start working with local governments to find a solution that will continue to provide clean water to communities while keeping costs reasonable,” Latta stated after signing the letter.