The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making nearly $2 million available in 2010 to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program.

The purpose of this program is to build partnerships that help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources close to home, and to improve human health and the local environment. Level I awards are for those who wish to establish community-based partnerships that will assess toxic problems and consider options to reduce their risks.  Awards for Level I will range from $75,000-$100,000 each.  Level II awards are for those who have already formed partnerships and wish to implement risk-reduction activities and measure the results.  Awards for Level II projects will range from $150,000-$300,000 each.  Eligible applicants include county and local organizations, non-profits, businesses, schools, and tribes.

Note that this is an extremely competitive grant. In 2009, EPA received 235 eligible proposals and awarded only 9 grants.

Proposals are due by March 9, 2010.  Find more information and examples of CARE projects at: www.epa.gov/care.  See the complete EPA announcement.

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Marshallton, PA –

Studies by internationally acclaimed Stroud Water Research Center have shown that healthy forests bordering streams not only prevent numerous pollutants from reaching the water, but also multiply the stream’s natural ability to cleanse itself of pollutants that do make their way into the water. On a small farm that is typical of many in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, scientists have demonstrated that a treatment train approach that applies a series of best management practices in with a forested buffer is very effective in protecting the water quality in a small stream. They suggest the lessons learned have broad implications for the future of the Chesapeake Bay.

Bernard Sweeney, PhD, Director of the Stroud Water Research Center:

The science is now clear that widespread implementation of streamside forest buffers is one of the simplest, most cost effective approaches to eliminating many of the problems of the Chesapeake Bay…

Streamside Forest Buffers: Improving Water Quality from GreenTreks Network on Vimeo.

The video is also available on the StormwaterPA YouTube Playlist and will be StormwaterPA.org with more project details soon. Check it Out and add it to your Site!

admin Chesapeake Bay, Stormwater BMPs BMPs, buffers, Chesapeake Bay, clean water, erosion and sediment control, nitrogen reduction, Nonpoint source pollution, phosphorous reduction, sediment, stormwater best management practices, stormwater runoff, water quality, watershed protection

1,900 listeners attended a three hour and fifteen minute webcast on February 3^rd, during which the EPA provided a presentation on the Proposed National Rulemaking to Strengthen the Stormwater Program.  Five rulemaking considerations were outlined: expand the area subject to federal stormwater regulations; establish requirements to control stormwater discharges from new development and redevelopment; develop a single set of consistent regulations; require MS4s to address stormwater in existing development through retrofitting; and explore provisions to protect sensitive areas.

EPA has made available a copy of EPA’s presentation from the listening sessions (PDF) 30 pp, 2.7MB.

For over two hours the phone lines were opened up to those who wished to provide comments and feedback on the proposed stormwater rulemaking.  Because it is early in the rulemaking process and EPA is soliciting feedback, many questions were raised and issues were discussed:

MS4’s represent about 2% of the land area in Pennsylvania, which means that the EPA stormwater regulations currently apply to a very small fraction of land (and potentially development) in this state.  The EPA is considering whether the stormwater program should be expanded to include land development activities outside the boundaries of MS4’s.  What criteria should be used to expand the area?  Should new regulations include certain types or sizes of development outside of MS4’s, such as  industrial development or oil and gas development?

The agency was clear in their intention to consider volume control and promoting the concept of green infrastructure.  Can the proposed rulemaking establish post-construction requirements that mimic natural hydrologic processes?  Should EPA impose regulations to retain/infiltrate specified storm events, limit impervious surfaces, or require applicants to calculate the pre-development hydrology to weigh against post-development hydrology?  Should standards for new development be different or more stringent than those for old developments or redevelopment?

One theme that listeners seemed to agree on was a need for consistent requirements for Phase I and Phase II MS4’s.  There is also a need for consistency in how MS4’s are formed - should they be formed as watersheds, sub-watersheds or sub-basins, by county, or other logical boundary?

If MS4’s are required to address stormwater discharges in existing developments, how would retrofits be identified and prioritized?  Would MS4’s be required to prepare a retrofit plan?  Would Phase I MS4’s be a higher priority?  How would municipalities pay for implementing the plan?  Would this be a requirement in all watersheds, or only in impaired watersheds?

The Chesapeake Bay  has been identified as a sensitive area where pollution from stormwater discharge is an issue for immediate action.  Are there other sensitive areas that should have the same status with specific provisions for their protection and restoration?  What other regions should have “sensitive area” status?  Should they be subject to buffer requirements with E&S requirements for all new construction?  Is there any data available that demonstrates degraded or threatened watersheds?

Discussion and feedback: (this is a list of examples and is not a comprehensive list)

• Enhance water quality requirements
• Introduce a new program that addresses impaired waters
• Establish numeric targets for Nitrogen and Phosphorous
• Give special status to Lake Champlain and other waters in New England that are subject to management conferences under the Clean Water Act
• Improve enforcement of existing regulations rather than adding new regulations
• Promote porous paving for retrofit projects and redevelopment
• Provide more compliance assistance rather than enforcement with a new industry compliance program
• Provide objective standards based on hydrology
• Prioritize redevelopment and provide incentives for redevelopment and retrofits
• Regulate agricultural runoff
• Require a watershed approach to MS4’s
• Address the issue of mobile wash operations
• Provide financial assistance to municipalities to enforce requirements
• Stage new requirements so that they are introduced over time
• Consider nutrient trading for MS4’s
• Require MS4’s to report data and use that data for TMDL pre- to post-loadings
• Require an impervious limit of 10% in each sub-basin
• Provide more data on what BMPs accomplish for TMDLs, justify the costs, and provide support for MS4’s
• Provide grants to implement retrofits and for studies to gather data
• Use flow as a surrogate for TMDL requirements
• Increase control over isolated and small-scale development

Schedule of rulemaking

January - March Listening Sessions

Spring 2010 Federal Register Notice to review revised surveys, public comment period

Late 2011 Federal Register Notice to propose a rulemaking, public comment period

Late 2012 EPA Rulemaking

NOW is your opportunity to provide input into EPA’s stormwater rulemaking.  Comments must be received by February 26^th, 2010.  For more information, go here.

admin National, Stormwater Regulations BMPs, buffers, Chesapeake Bay, clean water, MS4, special protection waters, stormwater best management practices, stormwater legislation, stormwater runoff, stormwater standards, TMDL, volume control, watershed protection

There has been alot of talk about “green infrastructure” over the past couple of years–and communities all across the nation are slowly bmoving towards this more natural approach.

From USEPA:

Green infrastructure is an approach to wet weather management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Green Infrastructure management approaches and technologies infiltrate, evapotranspire, capture and reuse stormwater to maintain or restore natural hydrologies.

At the largest scale, the preservation and restoration of natural landscape features (such as forests, floodplains and wetlands) are critical components of green stormwater infrastructure. By protecting these ecologically sensitive areas, communities can improve water quality while providing wildlife habitat and opportunities for outdoor recreation.

On a smaller scale, green infrastructure practices include rain gardens, porous pavements, green roofs, infiltration planters, trees and tree boxes, and rainwater harvesting for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.

In Pennsylvania, these ideas are starting to take hold–and the Philadelphia Water Department is at the forefront of using green solutions to meet the challenges presented by rain. The Philadelphia Art Museum’s new Parking lot features a green roof and other landscape features to control runoff,  and the Water Department has started phasing in a new parcel based fee structure that encourages landowners to manage runoff on their properties rather than shunt it to the nearest sewers. The Inquirer looks at the city’s plan in an article published today.

EPA’s Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure website is a great resource to learn more.

So are we: Stormwater PA is in the process of developing a series of video case studies that look at green infrastructure, so keep checking back; they’ll be available soon!

admin Weekly News BMPs, buffers, clean water, economic stimulus, flood control, green infrastructure, green roof, rain barrels, rain garden, rainwater collection, stormwater best management practices, stormwater runoff, water quality, wet weather

The American Society of Landscape Architects has joined with American Rivers, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and other organizations to support congressional passage of the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2009.  The Act would allow EPA to provide green infrastructure planning and development grants to states, municipalities and other qualified entities.  Planning grants could be used to identify and develop standards for local zoning or other codes, and to identify fee structures for the design, installation and maintenance of green infrastructure projects.  Implementation grants could be used for green infrastructure installation projects as well as for monitoring their environmental, economic, and social benefits.  Finally, three Centers of Excellence for Green Infrastructure would be established across the country to provide technical assistance, and to conduct research on stormwater and sewer overflow reduction.

The recent issue of Landscape Architect News Digest talks about this effort. View the complete article here.

Did you know that the Philadelphia Water Department is an early adopter of green infrastructure–and has a number of exciting programs underway? Keep your eyes on StormwaterPA for information about Philly’s Clean Water — Green City program, including videos explaining the program, BMPs being used, and long term benefits that go far beyond protecting the city’s many rivers and streams.

Upcoming Events

Southeast Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts…
Post Construction Stormwater Management Workshop
March 26, 2010, Conference Center at Penn State, Great Valley.
Registration deadline March 19, 2010.  See the agenda.

Registration information.

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