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Albuquerque Selected for Environmental Pilot

Release Date: 9/21/1999
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The City of Albuquerque's wastewater treatment system has been selected to participate in a national pilot project which will allow flexibility in meeting environmental regulations in exchange for enhanced environmental protection. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Project XL will allow local agencies to test innovative methods for achieving better and more cost-effective public health and environmental protection.

     "New Mexicans know that clean water is a priceless resource that must be protected. By reducing administrative and reporting requirements, EPA's Project XL will allow Albuquerque to concentrate its efforts on developing creative and effective methods for improving water quality for all its citizens," EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said.

     Each pilot project entails a site-specific agreement. Albuquerque will be allowed to shift some resources from testing and monitoring to working directly with industrial users to reduce pollutants entering the wastewater system. The City expects that money and time spent educating industries about pollution prevention, helping them achieve greater reductions in pollutant levels, and publicly recognizing improvements will result in increased improvements in water quality.

     EPA has committed to 50 pilot projects nationwide. The Agency will study the results of these unique projects in order to develop similar projects with wider applications and broader environmental benefits. These pilots will help EPA craft better regulations to protect public health and our nation's natural resources.