The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request about the modification of secondary treatment requirements for discharges into marine waters to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This request involves public comments that had previously been called for in August 2020, with an additional 30 days now open for further comments. The Clean Water Act section 301(h) allows specific wastewater treatment facilities to receive permits waiving some treatment requirements if they meet strict environmental criteria. The information collected will help ensure these facilities are operating within legal limits to protect water quality and habitats.
Simple Explanation
The EPA wants to make sure that the way some water gets cleaned before going into the ocean is good for the environment, and they're asking people to say what they think about it. They have to get permission to ask these questions, and they're checking with people again to make sure everyone is okay with it.