The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a survey to help strengthen stormwater regulations and reduce stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites. Stormwater discharges can harm water quality through increases in stormwater volume and pollutant loadings into nearby waterways.
Generally, as sites are developed, less ground area is available for rain to soak into, which increases stormwater volume. This stormwater flows across roads, rooftops and other surfaces, picking up pollutants that then flow into waterways. The draft survey would require detailed information about stormwater management and control practices, local regulations, and baseline financial information. EPA plans to propose a rule to control stormwater from newly developed and redeveloped sites and to take final action no later than November 2012. In support of this rulemaking, EPA is proposing to require three different groups to complete questionnaires about current stormwater management practices: 1) the owners, operators, developers, and contractors of newly and redeveloped sites; 2) the owners and operators of municipal separate storm sewer systems; and 3) states and territories.
The proposed survey will be open for public comment for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking
Please save the date for a Forester Event: Overcoming Technical and Policy Challenges of LIDsymposium and exposition will be held on January 20, 2010 at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest. Note sessions at this event will be looking at many new stormwater codes and new stormwater rules for new development and redevelopment.
Conference activities will include three concurrent technical sessions:
1) How to apply LID to the unique geology, hydrology, and climate of the Great Lakes region will emphasize the economic benefits, ecological goals, planning techniques, design principles, analytical methodologies, and implementation strategies of LID.
2) Integrating Stormwater Management into Code will detail information on planning and zoning codes common to Minnesota municipalities and their link to emerging water requirements.
3) Before Monitoring is a complete guide to actions that are necessary before beginning a monitoring program for LID practices.
I encourage you to visit www.foresterevents.com for additional information, to register for this event, and to share that knowledge with those who you think will benefit from this conference.