Clean drinking water for Airway Heights, where the groundwater is contaminated with toxic chemicals: $21 million.

A sewer system for Malden, whose residents septic systems were destroyed along with their homes in last years devastating wildfire: $6 million.

Relocating Walla Walla Countys 911 dispatch and emergency operations center, which sits on a location vulnerable to both earthquakes and flooding: $2.75 million.

The return of congressional earmarks, a practice lawmakers banned a decade ago amid allegations of corruption and wasteful spending, could direct billions to local needs across the country.

But a split among Republicans means North Idaho wont see any of that money.

Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse, whose districts cover Eastern and Central Washington, are among just over half of House Republicans who have submitted requests to direct federal funds to projects in their districts.

Proponents, including every House Democrat but one, say reforms will make the revamped process more transparent and prevent the wasteful spending on lawmakers pet projects that drove Congress to abandon the process.

Supporters say the process also gives individual lawmakers a say in how federal money is spent, helping to foster bipartisanship in an era of intense political division, and puts decision-making power in the hands of representatives who know their communities needs better than the White House and federal agencies.

Thats our fundamental responsibility as legislators, McMorris Rodgers said. I believe that as the representative for the 5th district, I should be able to submit projects for consideration that, in many cases, otherwise would not get consideration.

Critics like Rep. Russ Fulcher, a Republican who represents North Idaho, warn the return of earmarks could pave the way for frivolous federal spending, although the process lets lawmakers direct existing funds and does not increase federal spending.

These funds might be pre-approved on the first go-round, but the policy of earmarks will remain, Fulcher said. The bigger issue for me is the debt. Every single appropriation, every single bill that we sign off on, is an invoice to our grandkids.

The debt will come back and bite us. Its a matter of time. And I think the earmark program, overall, hurts more than it helps.

The new House earmark process, officially called community project funding in the Appropriations Committee and member designated projects in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, lets each lawmaker request a portion of funds that would already be spent.

Were not talking about new dollars, Newhouse said. This is money that is appropriated, and we have a say in where it goes versus that faceless bureaucrat in some office that has likely never even heard of Yakima, Washington. Why should they be making those choices instead of us?

Not every request will be approved, and House Democrats have said the money available through the process will be capped at 1% of discretionary spending, the money Congress appropriates each year, separate from mandatory spending on programs like Social Security.

President Joe Biden requested $1.5 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal year 2022. While Congress doesnt appropriate exactly what presidents ask for, Bidens request suggests about $15 billion could be allocated through earmarks.

Earmarks have been part of the federal budget process since the first Congress in 1789, but they gained notoriety after a string of scandals in the early 2000s, including a California Republican who famously drew up a bribe menu showing what it would cost to secure government contracts.

Earmarks went away because a small number of members of Congress abused them, said Kevin Kosar, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, in the course of doing that, they kind of threw out the baby with the bathwater.

Wary of repeating those mistakes, House lawmakers made several changes to the process, including banning earmarks to for-profit companies and requiring members to certify they and their immediate families have no financial interest in the projects they request funding for.

There were some huge issues with how earmarks used to be run, said Newhouse, who serves on the Appropriations Committee and strongly objects to applying the baggage-laden term to the new process.

We tried to learn from the past and not put into place a system that would lend itself to some of the things that happened before.

Both committees also require lawmakers to post the details of all their requests on their websites, and all of the requests are listed in publicly available spreadsheets.

Kosar said the return of earmarks could especially benefit rural areas, which often lack the resources cities have to seek out other sources of federal funding.

Through the years I found that there were projects in communities, especially in the small towns and cities that I represent, (where) it was extremely difficult for them to get funding, McMorris Rodgers said.

Larger cities and counties, you would see that they were hiring the people that could help them, the grant writers or others that would advocate with the agencies on their behalf, she said. Versus a small town and Malden is a great example where they dont have the resources to be hiring those kinds of people.

Between the two committees, McMorris Rodgers requested a total of roughly $196 million and Newhouse requested $44 million.

In the Senate, which has to sign off on appropriations proposed by the House, Democrats have supported the return of earmarks, while Republicans are also divided.

In a statement, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said she is excited about the direction were heading in.

My job as senator is to fight for Washington state in the other Washington, Murray said, so I have always been supportive of making sure members of Congress have an opportunity to put funding for specific projects into appropriations bills that meet the needs of communities in their state.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said in an interview he is open to the process, provided it is done appropriately, while his fellow Idaho Republican, Sen. Jim Risch, has said he opposes the return of earmarks.

See the rest here:
Don't call them 'earmarks,' but return of lawmaker-directed spending could send millions to Eastern Washington while North Idaho's Fulcher opts out -...

A rundown on how each state representative voted on the zoning reform bill.

Myth: The Planning and Development Committees proposed bills would end our local decision making on zoning and land-use.

Fact (Spin from Democrats):This legislation empowers local communities to plan for the future.Nothing in any proposed Planning and Development Committee bill eliminates local decision making on zoning and land-use. Instead, these changes add clarity, transparency and consistency to local zoning regulations.

a. Connecticut law (8-2) gives the authority to regulate land use to the 169 towns and cities in our state.b. These bills move Connecticuts law, written almost 100 years ago, into the 21st century, providing tools and frameworks for municipalities to create their own goals, plans and processes.

The reality:

HB 6107 passed in the house and the language changed significantly (through a strike all amendment) to this one bill, which has been cobbled together with pieces from 13+ different bills raised in four-plus different committees. Some of the original bills most definitely would have ended local decision making on zoning and land use this session.

While CTs law, 8-2 may have been written almost 100 years ago, individual towns have been granted zoning powers and routinely review and update their own zoning regulations, so they are already in the 21st Century. Towns already create their own goals, plans of conservation and development and processes. Towns are already mandated to create an affordable housing plan. They are best suited to write the regs most applicable to their own unique town.

HB6107 MANDATES towns to accept ADUs as of right everywhere in the municipality and limits maximum parking requirements to two parking spaces for all units with two or more bedrooms. It does permit towns to opt out should they not want to follow these mandates by a two-thirds vote of both the local zoning board as well as the local voting body of the town.

If towns do not opt out by set date or add any additional ADU restrictions, like allowing ADUs only in certain zones within a town, the local zoning policy is made NULL AND VOID. This is a loss of local decision making.

The bill also MANDATES any developer fees must be returned to the builder and cannot charge any fee that is calculated in a different way for a developer from any other project. This may prevent the ability of towns to collect fees for seed capital to create affordable housing projects.

The bill deletes from 8-2 provisions which state: prevent overcrowding of land, avoid undue concentration of population, conserving value of buildings

The bill deletes character and replaces it with physical site characteristics and cannot deny a project unless such character is expressly articulated in regs by clear and explicit physical standards for site work and structures.

The bill allows cottage food industry & mobile manufactured homes in residential areas.

The bill requires towns to consider the impact of building on neighboring municipalities and the planning region, to address disparities in housing needs and access to educational, occupational and other opportunities and promote efficient review of proposals but does not state how, this will likely be expanded in future sessions.

The bill prohibits a maximum cap on the number of multifamily over four units, mixed use or middle housing and local towns cannot set a minimum floor area requirement.

Myth: HB 6107 would eliminate local control over accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Fact (Spin from Democrats):These bills would streamline and clarify local control over ADUs.

The current language in these bills would allow whats called as-of-right development of an ADU anywhere there is a single-family dwelling. As-of-right means that through public input to local zoning boards, regulations would be created and a local administrative review would assure compliance. Though public hearings will no longer be needed for an ADU that meets regulations (reducing the burden on a local homeowners time and cost), local boards and commissions remain in control. Towns may opt out by a two-thirds vote.

The reality:

Section 6 of the bill requires towns and cities to allow accessory apartments (also known as accessory dwelling units ADUs), as of right meaning that any home owner can build accessory apartment separate from the main home on any property by going to town hall and just getting the project signed off as written in the zoning regulations (similar to the process for a single-family home).

This bill MANDATES towns to accept ADUs as of right everywhere in the municipality. The ADUs can be attached or detached but local property coverage requirements will remain in place, with the provision that the accessory units cannot have any more restrictive provisions i.e. height, setbacks, etc. than on the main unit on the property.

With as of right, there is no longer a special permit or public hearing requirement, so any concerns or input from neighbors and the public is no longer part of the process.

It does permit towns to opt out should they not want to follow these mandates by a two-thirds vote of BOTH the local zoning board as well as the local voting body of the town. This was intentional, and may be a high bar for some towns to reach rather than a simple majority given the overwhelming two-thirds majority control Democrats hold at the state level.

If towns do not opt out by set date or add any additional ADU restrictions, like allowing ADUs only in certain zones within a town, the local zoning policy is made NULL AND VOID. This cannot be seen as anything else but a loss of local decision making.

Myth:HB 6107 would impose new, potentially costly, unfunded mandates for training and assimilating local regulations.

Fact (Spin from Democrats):These bills will result in long term savings for our communities. Towns will not be responsible for training or code development costs.

Training All communities benefit when commissions and boards are well trained on complex land use issues. State and regional groups are willing to provide training, which can be conducted online. Some groups are already offering training to commissioners, and many planning and zoning commissioners already volunteer for these trainings. Municipalities would not bear the burden of these costs.

Saving Tax-Payer Dollars A state level working group would create model codes that municipalities could CHOOSE to adopt, SAVING towns the cost and the time of creating these codes themselves. These model codes will allow for design and architectural standards that will help to address concerns residents and zoning boards sometimes have with new development.

The reality:

The amended bill changed the requirements of hours needed and in which different categories of zoning and will be provided at no additional cost to towns.

The amended bill changed the working group membership to be appointed by elected state leadership and also includes bureaucrats in the group from different commissions.

The working group membership will be critical in order to create workable form-based codes that are specifically nuanced to meet the unique needs of 169 cities, suburbs and rural communities.

Per the current language in the bill, towns may adopt any or all of the codes that will be created by the working group. Later legislative sessions may mandate the regulations.

Leaders in planning, zoning, etc from different size towns from across the state from different size townsnot expresslyincluded in the working group. They have real experience in what works and what does not work with zoning, 8-30g and the nuance needed to create sound planning and zoning policy locally.

The working group is not explicitly tasked with addressing the shortcomings of 8-30g or to make recommendations that would help create more affordability.

Other experts in soils, sanitation, conservation and environmental issues must also be appointed to the group to ensure policy will work for all sizes of towns, there is only one environmental specialist being appointed.

Myth: This bill would hurt the environment by overriding the local voice of municipalities who host waterways, open space.

Fact(Spin from Democrats):This bill offers methods for towns to help protect the environment.

The bill recognizes the need to be proactive and provide the tools for planning so we can address changes like rising sea level that will destroy parts of our community if we dont act. Specifically, there is language to protect the Long Island Sound and its main tributaries and encourage towns to promote clean energy options, including freestanding solar and wind energy, as part of development projects.

The reality:

The original bills also provided for clean energy and protected Long Island Sound. We do not recall any criticism of that part of the bill. This is a false myth.

The original zoning bills did push for significant high-density development (15+units per acre) in downtowns and main streets. This leads to greater water runoff and concerns with adequate sewer capacity.

Provisions from other previous bills to increases to the alternative sewer capacity from 5,000 gallons per day to 7,500 or 10,000 that were removed from HB6107 bill. Those provisions would have had potential environmental impacts.

In addition, the original bills included significant increases in as of right development beyond just ADUs to multi-family and mixed use, which would have removed public hearings on individual projects, where hyperlocal environmental impacts to neighboring properties would have no longer been allowed.

Myth: This bill will take away our control over traffic flow and parking.

Fact(Spin from Democrats):This bill enhances our ability to plan accurately and efficiently.

The reality:

In evaluating traffic studies required for projects, the original versions of bills replaced level of service calculation of traffic for the substandard vehicle miles travelled in order to all for much higher density development.

HB6107 allows for vehicle miles traveled as well as level of service method.Local zoning officials may decide which method they prefer to use.

This allowance for either method of traffic study can be taken away in the future through recommendations by the appointed working group for the one that allows greater density development.

This bill MANDATES the maximum parking allowed to two parking spaces for all units with two or more bedrooms everywhere in a town.

It does permit towns to opt out of the parking requirement should they not want to follow these mandates by a two-thirds vote of both the local zoning board as well as the local voting body of the town. This may be a high bar for some towns to overcome given the dominance of Democrats at the state level may also exist in many municipalities as well.

While parking is a significant cost to development, it must be appropriately considered on a local basis as there as towns with local roads that may not be wide enough to accommodate on street parking that would come with higher density development in downtowns and transit areas.

Many towns lack jobs, goods and services residents might need, which would necessitate owning a vehicle(s) to access those items and their employment. Many towns also lack adequate public transportation to neighboring towns. There are issues with frequency of service and cost as well.

If developers do not have to build adequate parking, that burden falls on municipalities and the private sector to create parking lots to accommodate excess vehicles needing parking, which will end up being an additional cost burden to those residents and the towns.

Myth: This bill will drive up residency at a rate which outpaces the local resources and services such as police and fire, and schools.

Fact (Spin from Democrats): This bill will help Connecticut plan how we grow. The latest census numbers show that Connecticut had the fourth smallest gain in population in the US over the past decade. This slow growth is hurting our economy. The pandemic has reversed that trend giving us a new opportunity. The influx of new homeowners and residents is good for our economy. At the same time this influx threatens to drive longtime residents, our parents and our children, out of our town. This bill will help local leaders plan how our town grows, so we can meet the needs of people already here and the new residents we hope will continue to choose Connecticut as their home. Requirements for as-of-right multi-family housing around transit stations and main street / commercial corridors were removed from the bills.

The reality:

The as of right TOD/Main Streets/Commercial corridor was indeed removed from the bills the exponential market value overdevelopment in those bills (SB1024 & Fair Share bill) would have in fact overwhelmed local infrastructure, resources and services.

Towns already have a process to create their own Plan of Conservation and Development to help strategically plan for growth.

The reason Connecticut had the smallest population gain is due to the poor economic public policy of the Democrats that have an almost 2/3 majority in both the State House and Senate that is driving businesses and their good paying jobs out of our state. (The Democrats allow few if any bills by the minority party to be raised for a public hearing.)

The new jobs that were created in the state are paying less than the jobs that are being lost. When high paying jobs leave the state and replacement new jobs coming in pay less, living in Connecticut becomes less affordable for all. That is real reason the economy has lagged the rest of the country.

There has not been significant new housing development in most of the state by builders due to the lagging economy. If there was significant demand and a vibrant economy, there would have been more development in the last decade.

In general, for every homeowner buying in the state, one is selling, and this trend may not be sustainable long term as the pandemic recedes and taxes are increased.

The original zoning bills focused on flooding the state with market value housing supply, to deflate property values, which would not depress values enough to create true affordability. NOTE: HB 6107 deletes the provision: conserving the value of buildings.

The only sustainable way to improve affordability is through better public policy to create a more vibrant economy that brings new businesses with better jobs and more opportunity into Connecticut.

Southwestern Connecticut, with its proximity to the economic engine that is the NY Metro area, has helped to sustain Connecticut. The significant revenues the state garners from these residents that commute 2.5 hours+ daily to NYC to their highly technical jobs which command higher salaries that has helped to sustain the state. In contrast, Connecticuts business base has contracted and the rest of the state has been slower to recover.

The majority party focuses on inventing new taxes, user fees as the States revenue source which burdens corporations, local businesses and residents. This is not a sustainable model for a vibrant economy in Connecticut.

The majority partys focus on increasing tax burden on the higher income earners and keeping the inheritance and estate taxes has shown that those higher earners are most able to leave the state and have done so for other states with more favorable tax policy.

Myth: This bill will overburden the public water and sewer infrastructure.

Fact (Spin from Democrats):This bill will help us grow our infrastructure responsibly.

This legislation will give towns tools and guidance to plan strategically for the future, so communities can decide where they allow development and what type. A vital part of planning is infrastructure. If we dont address septic and sewer capacity in our state, the only places that will be able to grow are where there is existing infrastructure. The Committee will work with DEEP, DPH, environmental advocates and others to assure health, safety and environmental concerns are taken into account before making any changes to regulations.

The reality:

The original zoning bills as SB 1024 and SB961 would have changed procedure for alternative sewer systems without first having careful and deliberate study of the expansion, adequate staffing with the proper technical experience to create the regulations and for proper enforcement of such alternative sewer treatment systems.

The original zoning bills would have encouraged exponential development, which easily could have overburdened existing infrastructure, including town water and sewer. For example, the required Fair Share units would have required significant expansion of sewers and town water for virtually every town as most towns would have had to double their current number of units to meet the threshold mandated fair shares.

We welcome a new working group that will properly evaluate alternative sewer systems prior to expanding the daily gallons of waste permitted.

The new Working Group detailed in HB6017 still lacks adequate representation of soils, sanitation, wetlands and conservation experts/specialists to create sound planning and zoning policy.

The allowance of ADUs as of right in entire towns can potentially have an impact on the capacity of public water and sewer, should the towns not opt out of permitting them throughout the town.

Areas in lower Fairfield County already lack adequate water capacity, which will need to be pulled from further into central Connecticut to meet the existing need. Considering most plans were looking to double the size of towns, water capacity will continue to become an issue.

Myth:This bill strengthens the hands of developers who have been exploiting the states affordable housing statute, 8-30g, to override local zoning laws.

Fact (Spin from Democrats):Zoning reform will clarify and make more equitable the process by which the state sets its housing goals, and give towns guidance and tools to achieve those goals.

The affordable housing appeals process within 8-30g is not being amended within these proposals. Zoning and housing are definitely intertwined, and these bills actually give towns greater control over how we grow.They do not eliminate the 8-30g requirements. This bill gives towns additional tools and support in reaching an 8-30g moratorium if they have not achieved 10% affordable housing in their communities.

The reality:

Many, if not most, accessory apartments, could be rented at a market value rate that would be considered affordable throughout most of the state, yet this units will not be counted as part of the 10% affordable housing as per 8-30g requirements unless they are registered as Deed Restricted.

The reality is that few, if any homeowners would want to impact the value of their homes by adding a permanent or 30-year deed restriction to their personal property.

Yet again, towns will not be given credit for any existing naturally affordable housing that is already available (and the new units that will be available through the allowance of accessory apartments) since they will not be counted (in the numerator) towards the 10% 8-30g affordable threshold.

On a positive note, the additional accessory apartments will not count against towns as total housing units either (not in the denominator in the 10% calculation.)

Mandating as of right accessory apartments and two or less parking spaces per housing unit may lead to additional density development at lower costs and this is a clear benefit to developers. There is no guarantee that those units will actually be considered affordable. While towns may opt out, meeting the 2/3 majority in both the local P&Z and the voting body of many towns could be challenging threshold to reach.

The Working group is not specifically tasked with addressing the shortcomings of 8-30g, why not?

Why are affordable housing chairs from towns of different sizes not included on the working group to discuss why 8-30g is not achieving the intended goals of affordability and overriding local zoning regulations while not creating needed affordability.

Towns may reserve sewer capacity allocations for multifamily would also be a benefit to developers who would create higher density developments. The may could change to must in future legislative sessions.

The working group is specifically tasked with looking into expanding alternative sewer systems capacity, which would also be a benefit to developers, allowing higher density development.

Limiting the fees that may be charged to developers for larger projects and having to return excess fees may prevent municipalities from collecting seed funds for affordable housing development. This is a benefit to developers.

Builders can use vehicle miles traveled if a town chooses to use that method in a traffic study, which would lead to higher density development.

Alexis Harrison represents CT 169 Strong

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Excerpt from:
The HB 6107 zoning bill myths vs 'facts' vs the reality - The CT Mirror

News from Around the Driftless Area is a compilation showcasing the excellent work and interesting tidbits from the community journalists sprinkled throughout our area.

VIROQUA The Vernon County Board held a short special meeting on December 18. It was the last meeting for outgoing County Clerk Ron Hoff, and its purpose was to adjust the budget to pay the salary of the new county administrator. The new administrator will be Cari Redington, a former Hillsboro High School graduate with professional experience in administration and financeEach year, the National FFA Organization honors FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The American FFA Degree is bestowed upon a select group of students in recognition of their years of academic and professional excellence. This year 4,136 American Degrees were awarded. Morgan Woodhouse, a member of the De Soto FFA chapter, was awarded the American FFA Degree at the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo Oct. 27-29, held virtually. Sponsored by Case IH, Elanco Animal Health and Syngenta, the award recognizes demonstrated ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs New members have just been welcomed onto the Vernon County Historical Society Board, and some returning members have changed to new positions. Here is the line-up for 2021: Dian Krause of Viroqua is the new president, and Denise Kirchoff of Viroqua is the new vice president. Brad Steinmetz of La Farge is continuing as secretary, and Loann Frie of Viroqua is continuing as treasurer. New directors are Brian Ekern and Carl Lindquist, both of Viroqua. Continuing directors are Leila Holen of Westby and Donna Knower of Ferryville. Thank you to all of the VCHS Board members for their hard work!

LA FARGE At their December 14 meeting, the LaFarge Village Board learned from Public Works Manager Wayne Haugrud that the villages sewer utility lost $65,000 in 2020, and is in debt. Upon advice from the villages accounting firm, Johnson and Block, the village will implement a rate increase. Rates will be raised 25 percent, and raise rates on average for a single user by $5.04, and as much as $18.22 for a five-person family Needing some new content to watch over the coming winter months? Check out our past Driftless Dialogue videos on a wide range of topics: http://kvr.state.wi.us/.../Lecture.../Lecture-Series-Video/

The Ralph Nuzum Lecture Series typically occurs once a month and is free thanks to a grant by the Ralph E Nuzum Kickapoo Reforestation Fund through the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Friends of the Kickapoo Valley ReserveThe Viola Sportsmens Club will hold its annual New Years Day Poultry/Trap Shoot. The event is open to the public, with 10 shot Rounds, two shots from each station. Prizes will be Chicken, Ham, Pork Loin ???. Free Soup, Chili, Hotdogs, Coffee, and Hot Chocolate. They will hold a round of Annie Oakley @ 1pm. $5 entry fee with $50 prize to the winner. This will be shot from the 25 yard line. They will have a fire available to help stay warm as well.

ONTARIO Fears of possible flooding prompted the Kendall Village Board on Monday to investigate having a beaver dam removed. But because the dam in question is near the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and Highway 71, its partly on property owned by the DOT and partly on a DNR right-of-way. That left the village board wondering if it could legally have the dam removed and the beavers trapped. Nearby homeowner Dale Haney attended the meeting, advocating for removing the dam. Other residents had requested that it be left intact, noted board president Richard Martin. In the end, Martin said he would contact a DNR representative to learn the villages scope of control over the dam structure A Warrens teenager has died in a two-vehicle crash that occurred on Highway 21 in the Town of Byron. Just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, the Monroe County 911 Communication Center received a call reporting a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 21 and Crescent Road. The initial investigation found that a 2003 Honda Civic was southbound on Crescent Road when the driver failed to stop at the stop sign at Highway 21. The vehicle was struck by a 2017 Kenworth straight truck that was eastbound on Highway 21.The passenger in the Honda, a 16-year-old, died in the crash. Both drivers were evaluated for injuries and released With what continues as a popular community service, representatives from several emergency service departments participated in Shop With a Hero on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Employees from the following agencies helped children shop for gifts for Christmas: Monroe County Emergency Management, Tomah VA Fire and Police Departments, Wisconsin State Patrol, Tomah Area Ambulance Service and Tomah Fire and Tomah Police Departments.

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN Crossing Rivers Health has received our first allocation of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for our employees! We expect employee vaccination clinics to begin next week. As you may know, the first vaccine shipment will be given to healthcare workers who have frequent face-to-face contact with patients. Next, the county health departments will work with local nursing homes to coordinate vaccinations for their residents and additional healthcare workers. As far as we understand, vaccines will not be available to the general public for at least several weeks. Crossing Rivers Health Clinic is not creating a waiting list for community members who want the vaccine. We will coordinate with the public health department to make announcements when the vaccine will be offered to the public A constant, piercing sound coming from the Universal Forest Products manufacturing plant on Lessard Street in Prairie du Chien is disturbing neighbors. City Administrator Chad Abram first briefed the common council on the issue Dec. 15. He said city hall and the police department had received multiple calls from residents in the area about the 24-hour sound that, in some cases, has made it difficult for neighbors to sleep. Abram explained that the sound is coming from a new piece of equipment at the plant. It has been noticeable for about a month or so Clayton County health care workers were expected to start receiving COVID-19 vaccinations this week, according to a press release from the Clayton County Visiting Nurse Association (VNA). The Clayton County Visiting Nurse Association has placed the countys initial order for 600 doses of COVID-19 vaccine for those in priority groups identified in phase 1-A, the release stated. These doses will be targeted to health care staff with direct patient contact who are unable to telework, who provide services to patients or patients family members or who handle infectious materials. This includes those who work in inpatient care, outpatient care or community settings.

More here:
December 31: News from around the Driftless Area - Swnews4u

Similarly, Part 10 of the manual titled, Employment, Instructions and Control of Convicts, as also mentioned in the rules under section 59 (12) of the Prisons Act, states:

Sweepers shall be chosen from among those who, by the custom of the district in which they reside or on account of their having adopted the profession, perform sweepers work, when free. Anyone else may also volunteer to do this work, in no case, however shall a person, who is not a professional sweeper, be compelled to do the work.

The rule, however, remains silent over the issue of consent for those from the sweeper community.

These rules are drafted essentially keeping the larger male population in mind and get replicated in womens prisons too, in states where women-specific rules have not been formulated. In the absence of a woman prisoner from the appropriate caste groups, the Rajasthan prison manual says, two or three specially selected male convictMehtarsmay be taken into the enclosure by a paid worker under the condition Mehtar is a caste name, denoting those engaged in manual scavenging as a caste occupation.

On medical workers, the manual says, Two or more long- term prisoners of good caste should be trained and employed as hospital attendants.

Across states, prison manuals and rules stipulate the labour that needs to be carried out on a daily basis. The division of labour is roughly determined on the dichotomous purity-impurityscale, with the higher castes handling only work that is considered pure and those lower in the caste grid being left to carry out the impure jobs.

Consider the case of Bihar. The section titled Preparation of foodopens with this line: Of equal importance is the quality, proper preparation, and cooking of the food and its issue in full quantity. Further, detailing the measurements and cooking techniques in jail, the manual states: Any A class Brahmin or sufficiently high caste Hindu prisoner is eligible for appointment as a cook. The manual further specifies, Any prisoner in a jail who is so high caste that he cannot eat food cooked by the existing cooks shall be appointed a cook and made to cook for the whole complement of men. Individual convicted prisoners shall in no circumstances be allowed to cook for themselves, unless they are specific division prisoners permitted to do so under rule.

Not just on paper

These are not mere words printed in an official book and forgotten. The caste practice ubiquitous in the Indian subcontinent manifests in more ways than one. Several prisoners who were approached shared their experiences of being segregated and pushed into doing menial jobs purely on the basis of the caste they were born into. While Brahmins and other high caste prisoners considered their exemption to bea matter of pride and privilege, the rest had only the caste system to blame for their condition.

The jail tells you your rightaukaad(status), says Pintu, a former prisoner, who spent close to a decade at Jubba Sahni Bhagalpur Central Jail and a few months at the Motihari Central Jail. Pintu belongs to a naior barber community, and throughout his stint in prison, he served as one.

The Bihar prison manual too formalises caste hierarchies in labour. For instance, it says for those assigned sweeping work: Sweepers shall be chosen from the Mehtar or Hari caste, also from the Chandal or other low castes, if by the custom of the district they perform similar work when free, or from the caste if the prisoner volunteers to do the work. All three castes fall under the Scheduled Castes category.

From time to time, prison manuals have gone through a few tweaks. Sometimes this was triggered by public outcry or the Supreme Court or a high courts intervention; sometimes the states themselves felt the need for it. In most states, though, the issue of caste-based labour practices has been overlooked.

In some states, for instance Uttar Pradesh, religious scruples and caste prejudices are considered important for reformative influences. A separate chapter focusing on reformative influences in prison says, Reasonable respect shall be paid to religious scruples and caste prejudices of the prisoners in all matters as far as it is compatible with discipline. The prison administration holds sole discretionary power over the extent of the reasonability and compatibility of these prejudices. The reasonability, though, has only meant furthering blatant caste prejudices while assigning work and exempting some from harsh labour both in male and female prisons.

The Madhya Pradesh Jail Manual, which was amended only a few years ago, continues with the caste-based assignment in conservancy work the official term used for manual scavenging. The chapter titled Mal Vahan or conservancy states that a Mehtar prisoner would be responsible for handling human excreta in the toilets.

Identical practices find mention in the Haryana and Punjab state prison manuals and rules too. Selection of sweepers, barbers, cooks, hospital staff among others are all pre-decided as per ones caste identity. If any prison faces scarcity of prisoners of a certain caste to carry out the requisite labour, prisoners are to be brought in from nearby prisons. However, no exceptions or changes in rules are mentioned in the manual.

When Sabika Abbas, a programme officer working with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), a non-governmental organisation working on prisoners rights, recently visited prisons of Punjab and Haryana, she said the blatancy of the practice shocked her. Male and female prisoners alike shared their experiences of caste and caste-based labour work assigned to them. Some were compelled to carry out the work due to poverty and lack of financial support from their families. But these prisoners too were primarily from the backward caste groups, says Abbas.

Her research, commissioned by the Legal Services Authorities of Haryana and Punjab, covers a plethora of issues plaguing the prison system. Abbas observes that even though pre-trial detainees are exempted from carrying out labour in prison, the prevailing system compels them to work. In most prisons in both states, we observed that the posts for sweepers and cleaners were lying empty for years. It was understood that those menial jobs will be carried out by prisoners belonging to lower caste groups, she observes. Unlike other state prisons thatare still following the colonial prison rules, Abbas points to the amendments in the Punjab manual. Punjab is relatively newer. It was last updated in 1996 but still did not do away with the caste-based provisions, she adds.

West Bengal, perhaps the only state that makes special provisions for prisoners arrested in connection with political or democratic movements, continues to be just as regressive and unconstitutional as others when it comes to assigning labour according to caste. Similar to Uttar Pradesh, the West Bengal prison manual follows non- interference with religious practices or caste prejudices. Certain specific preferences are accommodated in the manual a Brahmin wearing sacred thread or a Muslim desiring a certain length of trousers. But with that, the manual also states: Food shall be cooked and carried to the cells by prisoner-cooks of suitable caste, under the superintendence of a jail officer. Likewise, Sweepers should be chosen from the Mether or Hari caste, also from the Chandal or other castes, if by the custom of the district they perform similar work when free, or from any caste if the prisoner volunteers to do the work.

These practices have remained in the prison rule book but have gone unchallenged. Dr. Riazuddin Ahmed, a former Inspector General of Prisons in Andhra Pradesh and former director of the government-run Academy of Prisons and Correctional Administration in Vellore, says the issue of caste has never been deliberated upon while making policy decisions. In my career spanning over 34 years, the issue has never come up for discussion, he says. Ahmed feels that clauses mentioned in the manual are mostly a reflection of the states attitude towards those incarcerated. Prison officials, after all, are a product of the same caste-ridden society that exists outside. Regardless of what the manual states, it is entirely up to the prison staff to ensure dignity and equality of prisoners, Ahmed feels.

Disha Wadekar, a Delhi-based lawyer and a vocal critic of the Indian caste system, compares prison laws with the regressive laws of Manu. A mythical figure, Manu is believed to be the author of theManusmriti,which had sanctioned the degradation of humanity on the basis of caste and gender in ancient times.

The prison system simply replicates Manusdandniti(laws). The prison system has failed to work on the normative penal system that is built on the tenets of equality before the law and protection of law. On the contrary, it follows Manus law that is founded on the principles of injustice a system that believed that certain lives are to be punished more than others and that some lives have more value than others. The states have stuck to the ascribed caste-based understanding of justiceand decide on punishment and labour as per an individuals standing in the caste grid, explains Wadekar.

Indian states, barring West Bengal, have borrowed from the Prisons Act, 1894. Not just borrowed but also remained stuck there, Ahmed adds. In 2016, the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) came up with an elaboratemodel prison manual. The model prison manual is aligned with international standards such as the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners (UN Bangkok Rules) and the UN Minimum Standards for Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules). Both call for the repeal of practices that discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or any other status. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, propounded by the United Nations in 1977, to which India is a party, has clearly stated that: No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

No desire for change?

Since prison is a state subject, it is entirely on the states to implement these changes suggested in the model prison manual. Acknowledging the problems in the existing prison manual of different states, the model prison manual states, Management of kitchen or cooking of food on caste or religious basis will be totally banned in prisons. Similarly, the model manual also bars any kind of special treatment to a prisoner on the basis of her caste or religion. In fact, the model prison manual lists agitating or acting on the basis of caste or religious as a punishable offence. But implementation of the model prison manual leaves much to be desired.

It is not as if state prison departments have not struck down inhumane and unconstitutional practices from the books. Goa did, so did Delhi, Maharashtra and Odisha. They specifically stated that caste wont have any relevance in running prisons. Over the years, several inhuman practices like using fetters and whipping as a mode of punishment were done away with, so were caste-based occupations in some state prisons.

But did that weed out the caste practice entirely? No, says Lalita*, a former prisoner. Between 2010 and 2017, Lalita faced multiple cases in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. While most of her incarceration period was spent in Byculla womens prison, she was also taken to other prisons from time to time. The travel and interactions with other prisoners and prison officials gave her the opportunity to understand the carceral system in all its complexities.

Unlike the male prisoners, women are fewer in number and so are the provisions made available to them. Lalita was a fierce fighter in jail, demanding basic rights and dignity for herself and her co-prisoners. So, when women prisoners revolted against the prison authorities, demanding better food quality and more frequent supply of poultry and meat, Lalita was at the forefront.

Prison rules are plenty and prisons authorities quote them each time to prevent any intervention by prisoners and their legal representatives. But these official documents are seldom accessible to common people, let alone an incarcerated individual. Nothing is more dangerous than an informed prisoner asserting her rights, says Lalita.

Ahmed agrees with Lalita. And to explain the unavailability of the updated manual, Beluah Emmanuel, professor and a senior faculty at the Academy of Prisons and Correctional Administration in Vellore, says that on average, it takes at least 15 years for changes in the manual to reflect. Each time states introduce any change to the manual, it is merely noted at the official level. The revision to the prison manual reflects only when it is reprinted once in 15 years. Finding all amendments at one place is practically impossible, adds Emmanuel. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), which has been working on prisoners rights for several decades, has been unsuccessfully trying to access updated prison manuals for a long time. Only about 10 states have prison rules/manual on the state prison websites. It is extremely difficult to access updated rules of other states. In our experience, access to prison manuals is a challenge for prisoners as well. Ideally, all prison libraries must have a copy of the prison rules, says Sugandha Shankar, a senior programme officer at CHRI.

A sadhvi in the mix

In Maharashtra, Lalita says, unwritten caste practice is rampant. Her stay in Byculla prison coincided with that of Pragya Singh Thakur, a prime accused in a bomb blast case of 2008 in Malegaon, a town in northern Maharashtra. Thakur, on her release in 2017, was inducted into the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and later in 2019, became an elected member of parliament from her hometown, Bhopal.

At the time of her arrest, she was merely a self-appointed seer. That, however, did not stop her from growing her clout in prison, nor did it prevent her from influencing prison officials. Thakur was lodged in one of the three separate cells, which doubles up as both a VIP cell for the rich and influential seeking privacy, or in the case of erring prisoners, a torture or a solitary cell.

Continue reading here:
From Segregation to Labour, Manu's Caste Law Governs the Indian Prison System - Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

What you want to know about the Rappahannock County comprehensive plan

For the first time in a long time, Rappahannock County might greet the new year with a fully up-to-date comprehensive plan. Next week, the Board of Supervisors could make the long-awaited decision to approve updates to the countys guiding vision document updates that are more than a decade overdue.

Last month after several members of the public expressed opposition to the plans maps delineating boundaries around each of the countys five villages, the supervisors agreed to remove the maps from the proposed plan and arranged to revisit the issue in a future revision.

In preparation for the landmark vote, the Rappahannock News and Foothills Forum compiled comments from prominent county leaders and former officials to provide answers to some of our readers most pressing questions.

What is the comprehensive plan, and what is it for?

Virginia state code compels every local planning commission in the commonwealth to prepare a plan for the purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the territory within its jurisdiction. By statute, the comprehensive plan is meant to be general. And as many local officials point out, it is meant only to inform present and future activity, not to establish new enforceable ordinances.

Jurisdictions are encouraged to update their comprehensive plans at least every five years, but Rappahannock has not fully updated its plan, first written in 1973, since 2004.

[The comprehensive plan] should be our guiding star that we look to and consult in our future decision-making processes. Its supposed to be a loose document, an overarching general plan not a zoning document. Christine Smith, Chair of the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors.

It is a protective document. What are we protecting? We are protecting Rappahannock County the way we all know and love it. Keir Whitson, Hampton District Supervisor.

At its base the comprehensive plan is really just supposed to outline and lay out the vision of the jurisdiction, whether its a town or a county, in terms of how they see development and where they see opportunities for growth, whether that be development growth or economic growth or anything else. Patrick Mauney, Executive Director of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission

What is the relationship between the comprehensive plan and zoning?

While there is nothing in the Virginia code that requires a governing body to adhere to its jurisdictions comprehensive plan, the plan is generally thought of as a guardrail for planners making zoning and subdivision ordinances.

If a newly-revised comprehensive plan designates an area for industrial growth and development but it is not currently zoned for such activity, for example, then zoning and subdivision rules should be amended to align with that objective. Each time the comprehensive plan is amended, a review should follow to determine how the changes will be reflected in county policies and which governing body will have oversight.

I always thought of [the comp plan] as the skeleton and the zoning regulations are like the flesh on the skeleton. Sharon Pierce, former Chair of the Planning Commission.

Any time we consider a new or modified zoning ordinance (which is very specific in time and detail) we must first ask: is it supported by the comp plan? That is, does the new idea fit within the vision of the plan, the opening of the funnel? If not, it would not be supported and the idea would need to be reshaped or we would need to ask ourselves if our vision shifted. If our vision shifted, the comp plan can be modified after properly advertised public hearings at the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. Rick Kohler, Piedmont District Representative to the Planning Commission.

Some residents object to the wording in Principle 4 of the comp plan, which reads: Encourage residential development within the designated village areas, infill development to be preferred; to allow for the broadest possible range of housing opportunities, styles, configurations, and affordability within the context of a rural, agricultural community.

Why encourage and not accommodate?

Planning Commission Chair David Konick has correctly emphasized on a number of occasions that the word encourage has been in the comprehensive plan since the 1980s.

The term and phrase are intentionally broad. One goal of Rappahannocks comprehensive plan has been to preserve the countys rural character. To accomplish that, former (and some present) county planners have believed that Rappahannock needs to allow some higher density development in the village areas to protect against legal challenges that could argue low-density zoning is exclusionary.

The focus of encouraging growth was from the standpoint of defending the comprehensive plan as a whole. And everything changes -- political wills change, legal statuses change but at the time the intent of that [phrase] was that the growth would occur around the villages. So accommodate is maybe a better word than encourage but encourage was there because the intent [was] to say if growth happens it should happen around the villages. I could even argue that the villages do need an amount of growth to be economic units. Sharon Pierce, former Chair of the Planning Commission.

Can the Sperryville sewer accommodate growth, and if so, how much?

The short answer? No one really knows.

Water and sewer services allow for higher commercial and residential density than private septic systems, but their purpose is not to designate village boundaries. Sperryvilles sewer system was built in the late 1980s to respond to state and federal environmental clean water protection mandates that prohibited the dumping of waste into the Thornton River. (Similarly, the Town of Washington put in its sewer lines in 2010 largely to protect the Rush River watershed.)

The Sperryville sewage permit is specified to an amount of effluent, not a number of households. The plant was built to process 55,000 gallons of wastewater per day. Currently, the sewer serves roughly 180 connections that produce notably less effluent than the maximum allowed by the permit.

The authority has engaged a Luray-based firm, Racey Engineering and Surveying, to analyze the sewers true capacity.

It would be better for the authority and the system to have more users helping to share the burden of the cost. It is a source of revenue so a reason we might want more users is not necessarily because were promoting growth, but if it is in our legitimate service area it would be nice if we could get that additional revenue. Alex Sharp, Chair of the Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority

Why were the comp plan maps removed?

At an October public hearing to discuss the comprehensive plan, Board Chair Christine Smith observed that the maps seem to have taken on a life where they are seen as encouraging and including more growth.

The village area maps were intended to improve upon the aerial photographs that were previously included in the 2004 comprehensive plan, but the proposed maps met with unexpected resistance from county residents and even the Piedmont Environmental Council.

Patrick Mauney, executive director of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission, told the Rappahannock News that the maps had been devised by superimposing the countys zoning maps onto digital maps of the villages. The initial maps were just village boundaries with no designation of what the zoning was, he said. And the regional commission drew those boundaries, Mauney continued, based on where parcels naturally seemed to have fence lines and tree lines.

Nonetheless, the myriad objections to the maps included fears that development and growth might increase traffic dangers; burden Sperryvilles sewer system; tarnish the rural charm of the historic villages; and burden the villages with unwelcome sprawl.

Chris Parrish, vice chairman of the Board of Supervisors, put it succinctly during a November session: I have yet to talk to anybody personally that is in favor of the maps.

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'Must we grow?' and other questions | Government | rappnews.com - Rappahannock News

This week's top stories1. Parents of special needs students: Kids need to be in school

For children with special needs, a celebratory rub on the back or high-five can mean the world. In the age of COVID-19, those physical acts of reassurance happen less often, with school restrictions on social distancing and the stress of spreading the virus hanging in the air. But Long Island parents and instructors say having special needs students back in school, either full time or hybrid, is better than keeping them at home.

"We've always had our challenges. Now they're exacerbated to the ninth degree," said Tricia Desiderio, vice president of the Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators. The school environment is "less interactive," there's greater spacing between desks, and group-activity tables have disappeared, Desiderio said. Special needs educators across the Island said they saw numerous students' abilities both physically and academically diminish.

Schools are more than a place to learn math and science for kids with special needs they host a spectrum of services, including counseling, and physical, occupational and speech therapy, educators said. Special needs students thrive on the structure, routine and expertise in schools. When a student regresses in school, they're not necessarily forgetting some fractions, but they're losing life skills that help them be more independent and communicate with others, educators said.

Melissa Clark, of West Babylon, said it was difficult doing speech therapy with her daughter, Brianna, who has autism, during the months of remote learning in the spring. She said her daughter lost some of her ability to speak in the time. She noticed the remote therapy sessions really didn't offer more than 15 minutes of instruction before Brianna's attention drifted elsewhere.

Read the full story.

The Wyandanch school district plans to end the use of failing cesspools at two schools and hook up to the Southwest Sewer District under proposed legislation that would waive county sewer hookup fees for schools under a state fiscal monitor.

The pandemic has changed education on Long Island. Find out how.

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Read the full story.

Suffolk Countys planned seizure of the former Dowling College campus in Oakdale is on hold after the propertys owner paid more than $2 million in back taxes, officials said.

Read the full story.

Danielle Grey-Stewart, a Hicksville native who grew up enamored with science and how it shapes the world around her, was selected for the 2021 Rhodes scholarship program, one of just 32 recipients in the United States to receive the prestigious distinction.

Read the full story.

An Oceanside High School sophomore recently collected 30 boxes worth of donated art supplies for use by children in local hospitals. In lieu of a "Sweet 16," Autum Blois held one of her biggest art supply drive-by collections last month at her family's home, where about 700 boxes of crayons were dropped off by residents, said Maureen, her mother. She called this collection, "Autum's Colors."

Autum, who is on the autism spectrum, previously has held donation drives to benefit local hospitals, including Mount Sinai South Nassau and NYU Winthrop. Of Autum's passion for art, Maureen said: "She never leaves our house without some sort of drawing material."

Have questions? Send them to ednews@newsday.com. Newsdays education reporting team will pick one to answer in this space each week.

Are children safe from COVID-19 in school?

Medical experts say "yes" for the most part, but warn against gatherings outside of school, where the virus is spreading among children and adults. School buildings were shut for months at the start of the pandemic, though medical experts now believe children are less likely to be infected with the virus in an education setting where they are wearing masks, keeping their distance and cleaning protocols are followed.

"Schools have done tremendous work to try and make the learning environment very safe," said Dr. James Schneider, chief of pediatric critical care medicine at Cohen Childrens Medical Center in New Hyde Park. On the other hand, organizing parties and gatherings at home and in the community with 20 or 30 people children and adults is "absolutely irresponsible."

He added, "We know for sure that is how [COVID-19] is spreading."

Even though many children do not fall seriously ill, its a mistake to underestimate the impact of COVID-19 on children, as some people have done, said Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Childrens Hospital.

"I think the first thing to remind them is that more children have died of COVID-19 this year than have died of flu in the past," Nachman said. "So when people dont think these illness affect children, the answer is, They do. "

Find the latest education news at newsday.com/long-island/education. Catherine Carrera can be reached at catherine.carrera@newsday.com or on Twitter @CattCarrera.

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Why in-person instruction can mean the world - Newsday

Express News Service

Despite a massive redevelopment work before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Jamnapaar or Yamuna paar continues to be looked down upon, thanks to the rising content of ammonia in the river and the nauseating stench that emanates from it. Residents of the adjacent areas lament or being tagged as the poor cousins of the more opulent south Delhi.

To change this image, the AAP government has initiated a mega project with an aim to reduce the pollution load in the Yamuna by 90 per cent by March 2023. Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials recently presented a detailed plan to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and water minister Satyendar Jain in this regard. It has already laid out a comprehensive roadmap for the project.

The Yamuna, which serves for around 70 per cent of Delhis water and is often described as the lifeline for Delhiites, is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, especially around the national capital, due to high density of population and rapid industrialisation.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre seeks to Clean Ganga by 2020 under the project Namami Gange, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government aims to restore the Yamuna to its earlier glory under the new initiative, officials said. Keeping that in mind, the Yamuna Cleaning Action Plan of the Delhi government was drawn up.

Its main components are up-gradation of sewage treatment plants (STP), connecting every household to the sewage system and in-situ treatment of untreated water. These interventions by the government will be on a policy level and technical infrastructure on the ground will be augmented corresponding to these decisions to clean the sacred river.

Sewage connectionAccording to the DJB, one of the major pollutants of the river is household sewage flowing directly into the river. Therefore, the first step of the plan to is to connect every house in unauthorised colonies with the sewerage system so that no untreated water laden with waste enters the river. A major challenge before the government in the entire project is to cover 1,250 unauthorised colonies, out of the total of 1,800, with the citys sewer system as they were haphazardly developed without any government supervision, while human waste is accumulated in septic tanks and stormwater drains.

The human waste flowing into the waters has serious consequences in the terms of hygiene and could potentially lead to a disease outbreak. For this, the government has been trying to encourage the residents living in these colonies, slums and JJ clusters to get sewer connections on their own through various schemes.

There are 550 such colonies where sewage connection is available, but people did not get a connection to the system. Now, the government has decided that every new house constructed will have a sewer connection free of cost. Through these connections, the government would ensure that all the filth generated in the waters can be tracked and the specific intervention required to treat the problem can be done inthe future.

Revamping STPsThe second major step is to set up more STPs and upgrade the existing ones to treat all the sewage generated by the city before it enters the river. The Delhi government has a total of 35 functional treatment plants with which treat almost 520 million gallons of wastewater per day.The plan is to increase the figure exponentially in the next year. Delhi is also taking the help of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) to treat any untreated water flowing in the city outside of this STP network. A way for the technical experts to gauge the quality of water is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).

This term is used to differentiate between treated and untreated water as per the existing norms 10 is the standard for clean water. Currently, the Yamuna has an overall BOD of 70, which the government hopes to bring down considerably in the next three years to 10.

Treatment of drain waterIn-situ treatment of water is a key technical intervention being made by the DJB in the drains of filth flowing into the river.For this, a pilot project was started in 2017 and after its success, this is now seen as a low-cost effective measure to clean water. In the first phase, this technology will be implemented in two drains from Haryana.

Through the Badshahpur drain and drain number 6, a total of 450 million gallons per day (MGD) of untreated wastewater enters into the Najafgarh drain and ultimately, into the river. The government plan involves the use of dual technology of Enhanced Aeration of water and natural floating wetlands.

Water is dirty when the level of oxygen goes down, so enhanced aeration will help in re-oxygenating of the drain water while it is flowing. Similarly, the floating treatment wetlands will add healthy microbes to the water before it enters the river. The work is in progress, tenders have been floated to hire a consultant to do the task. This method is effective, says Ankit Srivastava, technical advisor of the DJB.

There are five major outfalls carrying wastewater into the Yamuna Najafgarh, Shahdara, Barapulla, Delhi Gate, Mori Gate drains. The Najafgarh and Shahdara drains, besides Delhis wastewater, receive polluted water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The Najafgarh drain, which is a river Sahibi originating from Alwar in Rajasthan, is the biggest opening releasing 450 MGD of water into the Yamuna, out of which 50 MGD is untreated and the remaining is partially treated.

The Shahdara drain releases 90 MGD of water, out of which 40 is untreated, while the Barapulla drains entire 40 MGD untreated water is released into the river. Two smaller drains the Mori Gate and the Delhi Gate in Old City area release 10 MGD and 8 MGD respectively into the river. Another drain in Sonia Vihar also releases 5 MGD.

The Yamuna from its origin at Yamunotri to Okhla barrage is called the Upper Yamuna where the Delhi government plans to add treated water from the STPs in the future in the Palla area to increase the flow of treated water in the river downstream. There are tales of Lord Krishnas childhood scattered around the length of the river Yamuna. While we acknowledge its sanctity, we have collectively accepted it in its present polluted form.

The DJB is going to use various innovative approaches to clean the sacred river. For drains, in-situ treatment using natural wetlands and aeration methods will be used. The augmentation of the existing STPs capacity will be done. The DJB has taken it upon itself to clean the river with a strict timeline in mind and within the bodys existing budget by December 31, 2023, says Water Minister Satyendar Jain. Jain, who is also an architect, has also suggested designs in many STPs and the drain system to clean the river, officials say.

It was a conscious decision on the part of Kejriwal, to allot all the relevant departments water, flood and irrigation and urban development to Jain so that the work does not get delayed in the usual tussle between the departments. In addition to the Yamuna cleaning, the government also has planned out the ways to recharge the soon depleting groundwater table of the city that would help the government provide the 24x7 water supply, as promised by Kejriwal in the AAPs last election manifesto.

The plan is to use treated 436 MGD of water from STPs in water bodies, lakes, irrigation, gardening, forests and other horticulture purposes.Currently, STPs treat around 525 MGD of water out of which, only 90 MGD is used and the rest goes back into the river. Using innovative modern technology, the government also is cleaning large and small lakes in the capital and filling them up with treated water from STPs. According to the officials, the government has also talked to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and has been permitted to clean large lakes.

However, according to Manoj Mishra the convenor of a group of environmental activists called Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan until the Delhi government finds a solution for the flow of the river, nothing will revive. The right roadmap for the revival of Yamuna was laid down by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2015. The Delhi government had that plan too.

What has it been doing for the last five years? Why is it still talking about three more years? The current reality is that the Yamuna in Delhi does not flow. What is the governments plan to change that? Because all other revival plans will fail if the current condition is not changed. These plans sound more like election propaganda for the next few years, says Mishra. Currently, a total of 874 tons of pollutants per day flow directly into the Yamuna in Delhi.

Govt looks to reduce pollution load up to 90% by March 2023On November 18, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the DJB will reduce the pollution load being discharged into the Yamuna river by 90 per cent by March 2023. Major steps to execute this plan include treating around 150 MGD of polluted water coming from Haryana and UP using natural wetlands, aeration methods and will increase the treatment of water to 400 MGD. There arefive major outfalls carrying wastewater into the Yamuna, including Najafgarh drain, Shahdara drain, Barapullahdrain, Delhi Gate drain andMori Gate drain

Agencies asked to ensure sewagetreatmentThe CPCB on Sunday expressed concern over the growing pollution and frothing in Yamuna and asked the agencies concerned in Delhi, Haryana and UP to ensure no sewage is discharged into the river. The apex pollution watchdog directed agencies concerned to submit action taken report by December 15. In a statement, the CPCB said the quality of the river was becoming toxic with high ammonia levels due to discharge of untreated waste in it and directed the DJB to take time bound action and ensure no sewage is discharged into the river

Phase 1By December 2021, pollution load will be 709 temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The current TPD is 874

Phase 2By March 2022, pollution load in the Yamuna will be 128 TPD

Phase 3By December 2023, pollution load in the Yamuna will be reduced to 54 TPD

Aiming to revive citys lifeline, DJB will upgrade sewage treatment plants, connect households in unauthorised colonies to sewage system and conduct in-situ treatment of untreated water, reports Siddhanta Mishra

Continued here:
Breathing new life into Yamuna - The New Indian Express

DAYTON A plan in the works since April reaffirms the town of Daytons commitment to providing quality water to its citizens and outlines practical ways to do that.

Michelle Christopher, source water protection specialist with the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems, has been partnering with the town to develop a Source Water Protection Plan. The plan outlines how the town will maintain the quality of its drinking water as it continues to develop and grow.

Maintaining the quality of water will maintain quality of life in Dayton, Christopher said. Protecting that resource becomes more and more important as development comes in and the town continues to expand.

Christopher was approached earlier this year by Daytons water and sewer operator Lorren Lane to work on the plan, which is provided free to all communities that request it.

I just thought it was really good to have it as a resource, Lane said. Its a good way to keep an eye on our water. It just shows that we care about the quality of our water. I think it can be hard to care about water quality as a landowner if you dont sense that the town has the same priorities. So this is a way to get those priorities down in black and white.

Christopher helps anywhere from three to five Wyoming communities develop water protection plans each year, but Dayton proved to be more challenging than most because of its unique water resource structure. The town has two water sources a well, which pumps in groundwater from the Madison Aquifer, and surface water from the Tongue River.

Dayton was a challenge because its a two-source system, Christopher said. So I was completing a surface water plan and a groundwater plan at the same time. It was like writing two plans at once. But the nice thing for the town is that, if something happens to the well, they still have the surface water from the Tongue River and vice versa. They are really set up well if something unexpected happens.

When drafting a water protection plan, Christopher considers a variety of ways to improve the water quality. These solutions usually involve working with those who share the water source including the county, forest service and adjoining land owners.

We start by asking whats going on in this landscape that could affect source water quality, Christopher said. We cant stop development, and we cant stop industry. But, sometimes, even small changes to how you develop a parcel of land or permit septic systems can have major impacts on water quality.

Daytons hundred-page draft plan has two major suggestions for how to improve water quality, Christopher said. The first is working with the U.S. Forest Service to designate the Upper Tongue River Watershed as a municipal watershed. This would require the forest service to make clean drinking water a priority when making management decisions involving the Tongue River.

The second suggestion involves working with the county planning and zoning board to ensure septic permitting in the town does not have an impact on the drinking water sources, Christopher said.

The draft source water protection plan is currently being reviewed by Dayton Town Council. Once the council makes their edits to the document, Christopher will hold a public meeting to inform community members about the plan and how it could affect landowners in the area.

I dont know what that will look like or when it will happen, Christopher said. The way things have been going, we may just hold a Zoom meeting where we hang out in our pajamas and talk about source water quality. But we definitely want to hear from the community and all the stakeholders. After that, we can hopefully adopt it.

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Dayton working to keep water clean | Local News | thesheridanpress.com - The Sheridan Press

New Delhi, November 19

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday launched Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge across 243 cities in the country, a move that aims to mechanise all sewer and septic tank cleaning operations by April 30 next year.

Addressing a webinar on World Toilet Day, Puri said the challenge is to ensure that no life of any sewer or septic tank cleaner is ever lost again owing to the issue of hazardous cleaning.

The minister, according to a statement, said this is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision, who has always placed the safety and dignity of sanitation workers at the core of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U).

The virtual event saw the chief secretaries, state mission directors and other senior state and union territories coming together to take a pledge on behalf of 243 cities to mechanise all sewer and septic tank cleaning operations by April 30, 2021, and gave their commitment to work towards preventing any deaths from hazardous entry, it said.

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act (2013) and various judgements of Honble Supreme Court expressly prohibit hazardous cleaning, i.e. manual entry into a septic tank or sewer without protective gear and observing operating procedures, the statement quoted Puri as saying at the event.

He said despite this, recurring episodes of human fatalities among those engaged in cleaning of septic tanks and sewers, typically belonging to the economically disadvantaged and marginalised communities of society, continue to be an issue of concern.

The minister also highlighted that the success of the challenge does not only depend on the intent and commitment of political representatives, bureaucrats or municipal authorities but also on the citizens of the country.

Just like citizens have taken complete ownership of the Swachhata of their cities, their involvement in this endeavor is absolutely crucial, Puri said, and appealed to people to be vigilant and responsible and play their part in saving the lives of the Sanitation or Swachhata Commandos.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said the challenge will focus extensively on creating citizen awareness on this critical issue along with infrastructure creation for mechanised cleaning and capacity building of workforce.

The ministry said that since its launch in 2014, SBM-U has made significant progress in the area of both sanitation and solid waste management.

As many as 4,337 Urban local bodies (ULBs) have been declared open defecation free (ODF) (except 35 ULBs of West Bengal), it said.

Besides, over 62 lakhs individual household toilets and over 5.9 lakhs community/ public toilets have been constructed. Additionally, over 59,900 toilets across 2900 plus cities have been made live on Google Maps, it added.

In the area of solid waste management, 97 per cent of wards have 100 per cent door-to-door collection while 67 per cent of the total waste generated is being processed, the ministry said. PTI

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Scheme launched to mechanise sewer, septic tank cleaning Ops in 243 cities by Apr 30 - The Tribune India

Christine Legere| Cape Cod Times

SOUTH DENNIS The Dennis Select Board will hire an independent consultant to study the possible impacts of releasing cleaned water from the proposed regional wastewater treatment plant into Swan Pond River.

Under a regional plan being developed for Dennis, Yarmouth and parts of Harwich, wastewater from the three towns would be treated at a single plant proposed for the Department of Public Works property in South Dennis.

Once the water has been treated, the cleaned water will be discharged at various locations in the three towns. Initially, about 300,000 gallons per day will be discharged to land at the Dennis treatment plant site and 2 million gallons per day will be piped to the Bass River Golf Course in Yarmouth and used for irrigation.

The Dennis treatment plant will be located in the Swan Pond River watershed, so the recharged effluent released there will eventually reach the groundwater and flow down through the river into Nantucket Sound.

Based on the water quality studies of the region, the wastewater treatment system is expected to go a long way toward cleaning up the impaired watersheds in the three towns by eliminating the current single onsite septic systems that have been loading nitrogen into the estuaries.

Voters in all three towns will be asked to approve a DHY Clean Waters Community Partnership at next springs annual town meetings, allowing the project to move forward.

Dennis Finance Committee Chairman James Plath recently suggested to the Select Board that an independent study be conducted before thetown meeting.

If the Finance Committee is going to make a recommendation, we want some assurance there will be no impact on the Swan Pond River, Plath said. I dont want to be sitting at town meeting with these questions.

Plath said he meant no disrespect to the towns Wastewater Implementation Committee or to engineers at CDM Smith who produced the preliminary design for the system.

Plath just wanted an independent study: take the players out of it, he said.

Select Board member Paul McCormick, who has served on the regional study committee that looked at wastewater solutions, supported Plaths proposal.

We can use the study as part of the publicity to inform townspeople, McCormick said. Wastewater treatment is very expensive. Its important to educate the townspeople so they have their questions answered before we get to town meeting.

Member Christopher Lambton called the decision for a study a no-brainer.

Its a great way to reinforce to our public that were doing our due diligence to show that investing in wastewater (treatment) is the right thing to do, he said.

A subcommittee that includes Select Board members McCormick and John Terrio and Finance Committee members Peter McDowelland Robert Prall will work with the town administration on a request for proposals for thestudy and bring it to the boardfor approval.

The DHY Cleanwaters Community Partnerships sewer network and shared treatment system will save each town millions of dollars.

Sharing a treatment plant would save the towns a combined $83 million in capital costs along with an estimated $6 million in annual operating costs.

The project will be built in eight phases, each about five years long.

Christine Legere can be reached at clegere@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ChrisLegereCCT.

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Dennis to study impact of treated wastewater on Swan Pond River - Cape Cod Times