SCAT agrees to bring water and wastewater systems into compliance with EPA
SAN CARLOS – The San Carlos Apache Tribe has agreed to continue its work to bring the San Carlos Wastewater Treatment Plant and three drinking water systems owned and operated by the tribe into compliance with the federal Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The Safe Drinking Water Act agreements ensure that the tribe submits corrective action plans that guide specific work to correct significant deficiencies identified in the Upper Seven Mile, Bylas and Lower Peridot drinking water systems in 2022. The agreements also require the tribe to engage certified operators for the Upper Seven Mile and Bylas systems.
These actions include submitting a compliance plan detailing the steps the tribe will take to prevent future unauthorized discharges and holding biweekly meetings with EPA to discuss the status of compliance with the administrative consent order.
On August 20, EPA Region 9 and the Tribe agreed to the terms of one administrative consent order for violations of the Clean Water Act and three administrative consent orders for violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. These violations were identified by the Tribe and brought to EPA’s attention as part of its efforts to protect public health and the environment.
“Our shared goal is to protect the health of tribal members, which means ensuring their drinking water is safe,” said Martha Guzman, EPA’s regional administrator for the Southwest Pacific. “To that end, it is essential that water systems operate in accordance with the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. I am grateful to the San Carlos Tribe for its proactive, transparent partnership and am confident these agreements will help us achieve our goals.”
The Safe Drinking Water Act administrative orders replace a previously amended EPA order issued in November 2016.
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