In recent weeks, we have reported in considerable detail on the process to revise the existing Pennsylvania Stormwater Manual (released in December 2006).  PA DEP formed a Revision Committee, including nine sub-groups which focus on different topics (e.g., stormwater standards, water quality, and so forth). As we understand it, these sub-groups are continuing to meet this Fall.

However, at the state level, we also understand that PA DEP - at least for the moment - is pulling back from this effort and re-considering its role in terms of this revision process, to some extent reflecting the severe cutback in budget funding that has just been enacted.  PA DEPs remarkable 27 percent budget cutback is requiring PADEP to re-evaluate its agency workload, including any projects such as Manual revision which are not absolutely essential.

Secondly, PA DEPs support for the Revision Committee also is being re-evaluated as the result of input the agency has received in recent weeks which questions the extent to which this revision process adequately represents a broader public participation effort with all stakeholder groups and perspectives.  Note that the existing Manual had been developed with a large representative Oversight Committee, which met frequently during Manual development to provide input into the process.  As we understand it, much of the discussion relates to whether sub-group revisions are simply technical updates - new information on BMP development, for example - and correction of Manual errors - versus changes to recommended stormwater standards (control guidelines) and management policies.  This line quickly blurs.  We’ll try to keep you informed as this effort progresses…

admin BMP Manual Revision BMPs, control guidelines, PA BMP Manual, PA DEP, stormwater legislation, stormwater standards

EPA Administrator Announces Plan to Retool and Reinvigorate Clean Water Enforcement Program

In a news release October 15^th, the EPA announced that the agency is stepping up its Clean Water Act enforcement.  The Clean Water Action Enforcement Plan is aimed at revamping the compliance and enforcement program by targeting enforcement to the most significant pollution problems, improving transparency and accountability in our communities, and strengthening performance at state and federal levels.  Read more about the plan.

Pennsylvania DCNR and DEP Comment on the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order

Comments on EPA’s draft 202(a) report were submitted by several jurisdictions in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. PA agency comments are available here.

EPA plans to hold several outreach sessions with stakeholder groups during the weeks leading up to the November 9 release of the Executive Order draft strategy.  The sessions are intended to solicit feedback on ideas in the draft 202(a) report and inform stakeholders about the draft strategy, and provide them a forum to discuss various measures, answer questions and voice concerns.  The formal public comment period on the draft strategy will begin on Nov.9.

The following sessions have been scheduled:

• Local government: Thursday, Oct. 22 from 11am-1230pm - via webinar
• Stormwater (homebuilders/developers): Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 2-4pm at D.C.’s Wilson Building, room 415, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.
• Agriculture: Thursday, Oct. 29 from 10am-12pm at Adams County Agricultural & Natural Resources Center, Conference Rooms 2-3, Gettysburg, PA.

Contact: Greg Barranco, 410-267-5778, barranco.greg@epa.gov

Pennsylvania Environmental Council says $58 million in DEP cuts will have far-reaching effect

PEC President sees problems as DEP struggles to keep up with the workload: “We understand the economy’s bad and the revenues are down, …but it’s just the size of the cuts and it seems disproportionate compared to the workloads.”  For the full article, click here.

Funding Cuts Mean Potential Collapse of Environmental Oversight in Pennsylvania, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Lawmakers finally agree to a state budget, but at a cost that threatens clean water efforts.

“The budget approved last Friday rolls back years of progress in cleaning up Pennsylvania rivers and streams.” said Matthew Ehrhart, Executive Director of CBF’s Pennsylvania office. “It contains the biggest cuts ever made to environmental programs in the history of the Commonwealth.”

For full article, click here.

Also from CBF:Landmark Bill Proposes to Speed Up Bay Cleanup

On October 19, 2009, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland and other lawmakers introduced landmark legislation that would put federal muscle and money behind the Chesapeake Bay cleanup. Read more.

Upcoming Events…

Watershed Academy Webcast Seminars

Webcast on Tuesday, October 27, 2009: “Working Together to Address the Effects of Climate Change on Water Resources”.  For more information, visit the EPA website.

ASCE 139^th Annual Civil Engineering Conference, Kansas City MO, October 29-31, 2009.

For details, click here.

admin Weekly News budget, Chesapeake Bay, clean water, PA DEP, stormwater, stormwater legislation, watershed protection

Green Infrastructure was a popular theme at this year’s VUSP Stormwater Symposium.  At the beginning of 2009, the EPA issued a bulletin on Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure — which encompasses everything from preservation and restoration of natural landscapes such as wetlands and forests to the use of rain gardens and porous pavement.  This is clearly consistent with best management practices detailed in the PA Stormwater BMP Manual and the manual’s recommended approach to stormwater design.

To learn more about the Green Infrastructure approach to stormwater and wet weather management go to EPA’s web site.  There’s plenty of information available, including webcasts of a series of Green Infrastructure training sessions that were sponsored by EPA during 2009.  The first session entitled The Many Benefits of Green Infrastructure and Philadelphia Municipal Case Study can be viewed here.   To access all six training sessions go to EPA’s  website on NPDES Training Courses and Workshops.

admin General BMPs, environmental site design, green infrastructure, porous pavement, rain garden, stormwater best management practices, wet weather

October 14, 15, 2009, Villanova PA –

Hundreds of professionals attended the successful two-day conference Wednesday, October 14^th and Thursday, October 15^th with a focus on the latest issues in stormwater planning and policy.

On Wednesday, Robert G. Traver, Director, VUSP welcomed conference attendees to Wednesday’s concurrent sessions on:

• VUSP Research
• Stormwater and the River
• Watershed Planning and Policy
• Watershed Perspective
• Stormwater BMP Processes, and
• Stormwater Monitoring and Design.

Ken Murin, Chief, Waterways, Wetlands, and Stormwater Management, PADEP addressed all on the Future Directions of Water Management.   Poster Sessions featured descriptions, details and photographs of sixteen intriguing stormwater projects and research throughout the Commonwealth.  The Municipal Workshop included presentations by engineering professionals on Critical Aspects of Stormwater Infiltration, Runoff Controls for Small Projects, and Longterm Costs for Maintaining BMPs and Stormwater Systems.

Thursday highlights  included presentations by:

• Barry Newman, Chief, Stormwater Planning and Management, PaDEP on Evolving Stormwater Discussions in the Commonwealth Act 167/NPDES MS4 Program Update
• Howard Neukrug, Director, Office of Watersheds, City of Philadelphia on Clean Water - Green Cities; and
• other informative experts on variety of topics.

Afternoon tours included VUSP BMPs, Suburban BMPs, Urban BMPs, and Stream Restoration with the weather providing sufficient quantities of stormwater runoff for visual effect!

Well done VUSP and presenters! Presenters and their topics are too numerous to list, but you can view the presentations by visiting the  VUSP website.

It is largely because of events like the Villanova Stormwater Symposium that stormwater best management practices in Pennsylvania have come such a long way!

Link to Symposium Internet Broadcast, October 14th and 15^th

Link to Municipal Internet Broadcast, October 14^th

admin From the Editors Act 167, BMPs, clean water, green infrastructure, infiltration, LID, MS4, NPDES, stormwater best management practices, stormwater monitoring, stormwater runoff, stream restoration, watershed planning

As previously noted in our September posts, PA DEP has convened a BMP Manual Revision Committee. In their notification to attendees, they noted that

… recommended updates may include edits to existing portions, complete omissions, or additions of new material.  All changes much be justified through acceptable principles of engineering or science.  If unable, to do so, subgroups may bring new ideas before the bigger committee for consideration and feedback.

Following is PA DEPs statement on the focus of this  Sub-Group, as presented at the first Committee Meeting:

The manual should have more information and guidance on Construction Oversight.

• By whom, (credentials of overseer?)
• How often. When are the critical times during construction that oversight is crucial?
• Which BMPs are more critical than others? Should we even mention this?

Short term O&M - Most BMPs that fail, do so relatively quickly due to poor planning, poor construction or poor O&M.

• By whom, (credentials of inspector?)
• How often? - dependent on frequency recommended by manufacturer or other factor.
• For vegetated BMPs, what can the owner expect to do and how often?  (replanting, tilling, aeration, etc.)

Long term O&M and replacement.

• What is the useful life of most BMPs? (by category)  When can a property owner “expect” to replace a BMP?
• When are maintenance agreements appropriate?
• What set of written recommendations can the subgroup provide that can be used by a homeowners association or other entity that may be responsible for O&M?
• What key documents should a HOA or other entity have on their files at all times in the event of an issue with O&M?

Monitoring:

• What situations can the subgroup envision that may require monitoring?  (i.e. quality of effluent or physical conditions of banks of receiving stream)

admin BMP Manual Revision BMPs, construction oversight, monitoring, O & M, operation nad maintenance, stream, vegetated