Lame-duck Congress may authorize sewer pipe program

WASHINGTON - The lame-duck Congress that will meet in December may authorize $1.5 billion to help communities across the country upgrade old sewer systems.

Nearly 100 Ohio cities of various sizes have the kind of sewer pipes that would make them eligible to seek a share of the money.

The measure would allow the federal government to provide grants to municipalities having problems with overflow of sanitary sewer systems or combined sewer systems, in which the same pipes collect both storm water and waste water.

House leaders have agreed to put authorization of the program into an appropriations bill.

Senate leaders have not been enthusiastic about hustling the grant program into law this year. However, Rep. Jim Barcia, D-Mich., author of part of the water quality legislation, said he believes it will be passed and be signed by the president.

The Environmental Protection Agency official in charge of wastewater programs was not as certain. However, J. Charles Fox, the agency's assistant administrator for water, said that if the measure doesn't pass this year, the effort won't have been wasted because lawmakers are being made more familiar with sewer pipe problems in the communities they represent.

Even if the program is authorized this month, Congress still would have to vote next year to spend all or part of the money.

Sewer and water authorities from across the country, contractors, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and others pressed Congress this year to help communities fix their old sewer systems before age and the pressure of new development trigger a crisis.

The measure would allow the EPA to distribute $1.5 billion in the years 2002 and 2003.