Pennsylvania Stormwater Technical Workgroup Moves Thinking on BMP Manual Revisions
Update: The Pennsylvania Manual Revision Committee (now renamed Pennsylvania Stormwater Technical Workgroup) met formally for the third time on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at the PADEP Lab in Harrisburg, including approximately 30 attendees. Dr.Rob Traver, director of the VUSP chaired the meeting, as he has done in the past, with PADEP SE Region stormwater chief, Domenic Rocco, acting as chief note taker. Although PADEP regional office staff were well represented, PADEP Central Office/Headquarters staff are not participating. The Workgroup has been divided into nine sub-groups focusing on major technical/substantive issues in the existing Stormwater BMP Manual.
Previous meetings had been devoted largely to organizational/administrative issues of the group - how to make decisions, Workgroup eligibility criteria, formation of a Leadership Board or board of directors, etc.. After a quick vote of confirmation by the Workgroup members, Sub-Groups launched into their progress reports. Although some Subgroups had not been able to meet and make much progress, several Subgroup reports were both substantively detailed and powerful. From Infiltration to Water Quality to Methods to Control Guidelines, sub-group reports included impressive data gathering from other states, other sources, typically expanding on existing Manual content. Some highlights:
There was an especially detailed report from Infiltration (Russ Losco, soil scientist) on better soil testing methods, demonstrating that an enormous amount of progress in thinking/understanding has occurred since similar discussions/arguments occurred in the Rachel Carson Bldg yrs ago when the current Manual was being prepared.
Michele Adams talk about Methods Subgroup discussions, reflecting once again the progress in stormwater “science,” including use of continuous simulation modeling, focus on smaller storms, and the like.
Frank Browne and Shirley Clark talked about complexities which the Water Quality Subgroup is wrestling with, again an impressive discussion which suggests a need for making Manual guidance more sophisticated, more complex. A major issue affecting Manual revisions here seems to be PADEPs revisions to Chapter 102 which, for good or bad, are providing some sort of “anchor” for stormwater management in Pennsylvania municipalities.
There’s much more to add. Subgroups were directed to review the existing Manual and provide any editorial changes by the end of May. By the end of June, Subgroups should provide a scope of work which provides an outline for the changes to the technical provisions of the Manual. Although the Subgroups continue to meet on a monthly basis, the next workgroup meeting will be on July 14 at Villanova University. Of course, the huge challenge facing the Workgroup will be moving from development of critically good ideas into readable Manual form which is so time consuming and challenging for a volunteer effort…
