HARTFORD, Connecticut, November 2, 2007 (ENS) - An innovative program to reduce discharges of nitrogen from sewage treatment plants into Long Island Sound has earned the state of Connecticut the first Blue Ribbon Water Quality Trading Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Water quality trading allows pollution sources to meet regulatory obligations by purchasing credits from facilities that have exceeded their mandated water quality standards.

"Connecticut has done a remarkable job working to reduce nitrogen to Long Island Sound," said Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "Their hard work will result in a healthier ecosystem in the Sound for millions of residents to enjoy."

The EPA award showcases programs which have achieved environmental and economic benefits and align well with the EPA's Water Quality Trading Policy.

"EPA applauds Connecticut's national leadership on water quality trading, which is the wave of the future. Our blue ribbon winner is setting a shining example for reducing pollution, restoring ecosystems, and saving money," said Benjamin Grumbles, EPA assistant administrator for water.

Every summer, the bottom waters of the western half of Long Island Sound experience very low levels of dissolved oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia.

Extensive monitoring of Long Island Sound has identified the excess discharge of nitrogen from human activities as the primary pollutant causing hypoxia. Nitrogen fuels the growth of algae in the Sound, which eventually decays, consuming oxygen in the process.

In 2001, the EPA along with the states of Connecticut and New York, set new targets to reduce the amount of nitrogen that can be discharged to Long Island Sound without impairing the health of the Sound.

Through 2006, the point source nitrogen load to the Sound from 106 sewage treatment plants in the two states was reduced by nearly 25 percent.

"We have made great strides in reducing nitrogen loading to Long Island Sound through our innovative Nitrogen Credit Trading Program," said Connecticut DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy.

"Municipal participation is a key to successful trading, and their cooperation and interest has been exceptional. We appreciate EPA's recognition of this proactive program and look forward to continuing this incredibly important work with our federal partners."

One of Connecticut's management strategies to reduce nitrogen loading was to develop an innovative nitrogen trading program among the 79 sewage treatment plants located throughout the state.

Established in 2002, the Nitrogen Credit Exchange has resulted in 28 sewage treatment plants discharging below their assigned permit limits. These plants are able to sell nitrogen credits valued at $1.31 million to sewage treatment plans in the state that are not upgrading or need to purchase credits for some other reason.

McCarthy says trading provides municipalities with flexibility to make decisions about whether to upgrade and market any credits they earn or to buy credits to meet their permit limit. Nitrogen trading has accelerated the state's schedule to meet its nitrogen targets, she said.

In 1998, the Long Island Sound Study, a national estuary program, adopted a 58.5 percent reduction target for nitrogen loads from human sources to the Sound by 2014, with interim five and 10 year targets to assure steady progress.

In 2001, the EPA approved Connecticut's and New York's plan for achieving the 58.5 percent nitrogen reduction target.

As of 2005, upgrades to sewage treatment plants have decreased nitrogen discharges to the Sound by 20 percent from peak years in the early 1990s.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.