MSD's Project XL 
Final Project Agreement
Signing Ceremony

The Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) has participated in EPA's Excellence in Leadership (XL) program to test out innovative ways to improve the national pretreatment program. A ceremony was held September 28, 2000 for the signing of the Final Project Agreement for the Chenoweth Run Watershed/Jeffersontown Sewershed Pretreatment Reinvention project. Representatives from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, and MSD attended the ceremony.

Mike Sweeney, MSD's Director of Research and Productivity, noted that this is one of only five Publicly Owned Wastewater Treatment Facilities in the country selected to help reinvent the way that pollution from industrial sources is controlled.

Jack Wilson, Director of Kentucky Division of Water (DOW), noted that MSD's initiative in pursuing the XL Project came as no surprise to him since MSD has a history of innovation. Also, he stated that as regulatory agencies, it can become difficult to think outside the box and that he appreciated MSD's willingness to do this in order for more effective ways of improving water quality to be tested.

Michelle Cook, spokesperson for EPA, noted that this project has gone very well because of MSD's history of working with DOW and EPA for positive environmental improvement. She also noted that the Stakeholder Involvement process on this project has been exemplary and can be used as a model for others to follow.

Reba Doutrick, MSD Board Chairperson, welcomes the participants to the Signing Ceremony.		Jeff Lape, Municipal Branch Chief, Office of Wastewater Management, Office of Water, USEPA, comments on the importance and long range benefits of this project.