The reluctance of the Butler Area Sewer Authority to allocate 45 tap-ins at this juncture for the proposed Butler Crossing shopping center and office building makes sense.

The fact that the main sewer line serving the area of the proposed project is operating at near capacity means that the shopping center/office building complex could cause the line to overflow. That would be a violation of BASA's current consent agreement with the state Department of Environmental Protection, placing BASA in danger of fines and other action by the state agency.

Under the consent agreement, BASA is required to rid its system of stormwater that causes sewage to overflow from five BASA pump stations, including the Sullivan Run station, which serves the area in which Butler Crossing is proposed. BASA also must act to curb new development that might cause sewer line and pump station overcapacity.

That is what is at stake with Butler Crossing, which would be built next to the Butler Commons Shopping Center.

But the DEP should be flexible in allowing BASA to approve a temporary alternative sewage plan until BASA resolves the line-capacity issue for the area and pump station in question.

Cedarwood Development, Inc., of Akron, Ohio, the Butler Crossing developer, has proposed installation of a holding tank and package plant to circumvent the concerns over the current line's ability to accommodate the project. The developer also has agreed to make the project "certified green," meaning that the buildings would use less water and energy.

However, according to BASA's comments during a meeting Tuesday, the DEP has rejected those alternatives.

That refusal seems unreasonable, but it is consistent with the heavy-handed approach that the environmental agency has directed at BASA since early last year, after BASA failed to comply fully with a previous consent agreement.

Butler County's legislative delegation in Harrisburg should become actively involved in trying to effect a compromise. Butler Township and surrounding communities should not be forced to lose what Butler Crossing would provide, if there is a reasonable sewer-service alternative available — and that seems to be the case.

If that really isn't so, the DEP should explain to the community why Cedarwood's alternatives are not workable.

Again, the important word surrounding those alternatives is "temporary." Cedarwood should be forced to become part of the BASA system in the conventional way, once the sewer-line-capacity issue is once-and-for-all resolved.

That would not only eliminate the temporary accommodations for Butler Crossing, but also be a source of future sanitary-sewer revenue for BASA.

Cedarwood has put forth a good-faith proposal for helping BASA while helping itself. In addition to reducing its requested tap-ins to 45 from 85, the company has proposed making up to $250,000 in cash improvements and technical support to help secure Butler Crossing's connections to the BASA system. The company also has promised a one-time payment to BASA for future enhancements to the sewer system that would reduce system overloads.

Meanwhile, Cedarwood also is willing to provide a consultant to work with the DEP on the Butler Crossing issue, as well as provide a Cedarwood-funded education process dealing with conservation technologies.

With the uncertainties and concerns regarding the sewer line's capacity, it's understandable why BASA has not yet authorized any specific tap-ins for Butler Crossing. Overall, the current roadblock doesn't seem insurmountable — but flexibility by DEP will be necessary.

It would be foolhardy to advocate an approach that would result in overflows of untreated sewage, endangering the environment and public health. But it also would be foolhardy to remain steadfast regarding an approach that refuses to allow workable, non-polluting alternatives.

The question now is whether the DEP will embrace a reasonable, accommodating attitude.

BASA should update the county's legislative delegation about what is occurring in regard to its relationship with the DEP so lawmakers can use their perspective and influence to ensure that a workable compromise does in fact emerge.

Significant economic and tax-revenue benefits would be a product of Butler Crossing's 27 stores, four restaurants, bank and two-story office building. Those potential community assets must not be lost.

By the end of the authority's Feb. 6 meeting, it is to be hoped that a positive resolution to Butler Crossing's uncertainties will be under way.