A Close Look at a Recent
Federal Enforcement Conference
H. W. POSTON, Regional Program Director
Water Supply and Pollution Control
Public Health Service, Region V
U. S. Dept. of Health, Education & Welfare
Chicago, Illinois
INTRODUCTION
As regional program director for water supply and pollution control in this
five-state Midwest region, I am charged with many responsibilities. They include
the administration of comprehensive planning in, for example, the Great Lakes
Basin; various technical services; public awareness; municipal construction grants;
state grants for better pollution control programs; and, from time to time, the
interstate enforcement.
Recently, enforcement has occupied much of my time. The Federal government has just concluded one of its largest, most complex conferences in the matter of interstate water pollution. The conference was called by Secretary Anthony
J. Celebrezze of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare on December
17, 1964. It involved the Calumet River System and the southern end of Lake
Michigan and named as conferees the state of Illinois and Indiana, and the metropolitan sanitary district of Greater Chicago.
This conference was complex because it involved many of the giants of industry and the second largest city in the United States. It involved one of the
largest lakes in the world. It involved the largest water treatment plant in the
world. It involved the drinking water of some Tour and one-half million people
in the Chicago area and their swimming, boating, fishing, and 0|ther recreational
outlets. During the course of the conference, it became quite clear that much
more was at stake -- that there was and is a big pollution problem in the Chicago
area resulting from the dynamic industrial and urban character of the area.
Thirty-four Federal water pollution enforcement conferences have been held
across the country during the last few years. Forty states and the District of Columbia have been parties to these conferences, which are exerting their influence
on some 7, 000 miles of stream plus great areas of coastal estuaries and lake
waters. Over a thousand industries and a like number of municipalities have been
included in the scope of conferences. Planned remedial construction stemming
from the conferences totaled $1. 78 billion at last tally. This dollar total will
unquestionably be boosted further when price tags are placed on remedial works
recommended in recent conferences and in conference areas now under technical
study to determine the extent of their need.
So far, enforcement has not had to go beyond the conference stage. Only
four conferences have gone to the next legal stage in the enforcement proceedings -- that of a public hearing. Only one action has advanced to the final legal
step of court action.
Needless to say, enforcement actions are greeted in some circles with something less than enthusiasm. On the other hand, in other circles, people tell me
that Federal enforcement actions are greeted with a good deal of enthusiasm.
The Chicago enforcement action was backed to the hilt by a good many people.
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