Hosting EPA Officials in Atchison

Statement

Hosting EPA Officials in Atchison

Today Senator Sam Brownback, Representative Lynn Jenkins and I hosted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) officials on a tour of the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) in Atchison.

This was a productive event and I thank Bill Rice, EPA Region VII Deputy Regional Administrator and Tony Petruska, EPA Region VII Combined and Sanitary Sewer Specialist, for coming to Atchison to see this serious situation firsthand. I also appreciate Region VII Administrator Karl Brooks joining us via teleconference. Also, thank you to the City of Atchison and its many leaders for the worthwhile tour and presentation today.

It was important for our local EPA officials to come to Atchison to take a firsthand look at this complex situation with the combined sewer system in Atchison affecting the Missouri river. The Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) results in raw sewage being discharged downstream, contaminating the Missouri river, during peak rainfall events. Senator Brownback, Representative Jenkins and I are working diligently to ensure water quality standards are met for this community and I look forward to working with EPA and KDHE on behalf of Atchison.

Source