Storm Water

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Storm Water

• Lisa Botnen and Dan Stepan
• North Dakota Water and Pollution Control
  Conference
• October 21, 2004

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Storm Water Presentation Overview

• Water quality impacts
• Regulatory background
• Minimum control measures
• Storm water runoff control measures
• Municipal operations and employee training
• Regional storm water coordination program

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Water Quality Impacts
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What Is Storm Water?

• Runoff from natural precipitation, such as rain
  events and snowmelt, or any other surface
  discharge and drainage.

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Common Pollutants

• Sediment
• Construction waste
• Animal waste
• Bacteria
• Pesticides
• Fertilizers
• Solvents
• Oils
• Salts
• Metals

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Storm Water Impacts

• The storm water pollution problem results in
• Fish kills.
• Destruction of wildlife habitat.
• Increased flooding.
• Increased erosion and sedimentation.
• Contamination of waterways.
• Loss of drinking water storage capacity.

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Storm Water Impacts

• U.S. EPA has determined that
• Storm water runoff from urban areas is the number
  one cause of environmental degradation of the
  nations rivers and streams.
• Sediment runoff rates from construction sites are
  typically 1000 to 2000 times greater than from
  prairie lands.

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Regulatory BackgroundNational Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System
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How Is Storm Water Regulated?

• A 1987 amendment to the Federal Clean Water Act
  (CWA) required implementation of a two-phase
  comprehensive national program to address storm
  water runoff.
• Since March 10, 2003, operators of small
  municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4)s in
  urbanized areas (UAs) applied for NPDES Phase II
  storm water discharge permits and began programs
  and practices to control polluted storm water
  runoff.

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Small MS4General Permit Requirements

• The MS4 SWPPP must include
• Six minimum control measures
• Best management practices
• Measurable goals
• Partnerships
• Implementation schedule
• Evaluation/assessment efforts, reporting, and
  recordkeeping.

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Minimum Control Measures
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Minimum Control Measures

• 1 Public Education and Outreach
• 2 Public Involvement and Participation
• 3 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
• 4 Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
• 5 Postconstruction Storm Water Management in
  New Development and Redevelopment
• 6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for
  Municipal Operations

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Storm Water Runoff Control Measures
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The Cause of the Sediment Runoff

• Exposed soil areas
• Where vegetation is removed
• When topsoil is removed
• Increased runoff with impervious surfaces

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Erosion and Sediment Control

• Basic goal of storm water runoff control
• Prevent erosion during construction activities
• Two types of practices can be followed
• Erosion control
• Prevents soils from being dislodged
• Sediment control
• Captures soil after it is dislodged, before it
  leaves the site

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Why Is Erosion and Sedimentationa Problem?

• Sediment is one of the leading water resource
  pollutants nationwide.
• Construction site sediment is 1020 times more
  polluting than farm land.
• Other construction site wastes (including cement,
  paint, fuels, and oils) are also problems

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Construction Site Storm Water Requirements

• Two programs address construction site runoff
• Statewide General Construction Permit
• Disturb at least 1 acre
• Activity outside UA
• State issues and regulates
• Phase II MS4 Construction Site Permit
• Disturb at least 1 acre
• Activity within UA
• MS4 issues and regulates

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Who is Responsible?

• The construction operator must comply with the
  permit.
• The operator
• Controls site plans or specifications.
• Has operational site control.
• Can be the developer, general contractor, or
  builder.
• Is not usually the subcontractor.

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How to Obtain CoverageUnder the Permit

• Step 1 Read the construction permit and fact
  sheet.
• Copies are available from the NDDH or MPCA.
• Responsible for what is required in the permit
  before submitting the notice of intent (NOI).
• A copy of the permit stays with the construction
  paperwork.

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How to Obtain CoverageUnder the Permit

• Step 2 Are you eligible to apply for the permit?
• Disturb at least 1 acre?
• Within the UA?
• If less than 1 acre, is the project part of a
  larger common plan that disturbs at least 1 acre?
• Impact to endangered species (state permits
  outside the UA).

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How to Obtain CoverageUnder the Permit

• Step 3 Develop the construction site storm water
  management plan.
• This is more than just an erosion plan
• Good housekeeping practices
• Maintenance considerations
• Inspection frequencies/procedures
• Signature/certification
• Plan availability

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How to Obtain CoverageUnder the Permit

• Step 4 Implement the construction site storm
  water management plan.
• Implement
• The controls
• Inspection and maintenance
• Any updates and changes
• Posting of signs or notices
• Maintaining the management plan on-site

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Complete and Submit aNotice of Intent (NOI)

• This NOI is not an application for coverage
  under the storm water discharge permit.
• No permit will be received from the state or your
  local MS4.
• By signing and submitting the NOI, you are
  agreeing to comply with all requirements in the
  construction permit.

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Municipal Operations and Employee Training
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Municipal Maintenance Activities

• Maintenance activities routinely performed by
  city staff
• Storm conveyance system maintenance
• Road, curb, gutter, pothole repairs
• Striping, painting, marking application or
  removal
• Ditch digging, mowing, pesticide/herbicide or
  fertilizer applications
• Wet utility repairs
• Refuse, litter, and roadside waste collection

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Common Requirements

• Storm conveyance system inspection, cleaning, and
  general maintenance
• Municipal yard storm water runoff management
• Landscape/pesticide programs
• Flood control/detention basin programs

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Storm Water Conveyance System Cleaning and
Repair

• Identify the location of catch basins
• Describe the frequency of catch basin/inlet
  inspection and cleaning
• Percent of catch basins/inlets inspected annually
  (20 minimum)
• Provide inspection schedule and reports

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Common Requirements

• Operation and maintenance programs for
• Vehicles
• Snow disposal
• Roads
• Municipal parks and open space
• Public buildings
• Fresh water and wastewater
• Training and education for municipal employees

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Storm Water Conveyance System Cleaning and
Repair

• Describe operations and maintenance best
  management practices (BMPs) to be implemented.
• Develop a mechanism to track cleanings and the
  debris removed.
• Evaluate operation and maintenance of pump
  stations, drainage structures, and structural
  BMPs.

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Develop Practical BMPs

• The BMPs should
• Evaluate and document current work practices.
• Identify individual pollutants of concern.
• Identify opportunities for storm water
  contamination and possible remedies.

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Develop Practical BMPs

• Developing the BMPs should
• Involve the municipal staff.
• Include grouping by task categories or by
  department.
• List responsible departments and individuals.
• Provide opportunities for frequent modification
  and updates.

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The Good

• Operations and maintenance plans that
• Involve all responsible departments and
  individuals.
• Focus on specific activities and include
  achievable goals.
• Focus on maintenance of controls.
• Address pollutants of concern.
• Consider seasonal variations.
• Reflect employee comments and concerns.

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The Bad

• Operations and maintenance programs that
• Do not address operation activities.
• Are expected to be implemented by untrained
  staff.
• Are directed by a single department.
• Are not reviewed, revised, and maintained.
• Claim to address and remove every type of
  pollutant.

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Training for Municipal Employees

• Provide general and activity-specific training
• Provide general awareness training for all city
  employees
• Provide regular and targeted training for
  employees based on activities they perform
• Provide materials for easy and frequent
  refreshers
• Teach employees their actions have an impact on
  water quality they are the community examples!

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Training for Municipal Employees

• Create recognizable links between pollutants and
  the environment.
• Provide employee training in the form of
• New employee orientation
• Distributed materials
• Workplace posters and fact sheets
• Frequent tailgate sessions

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Regional Storm Water Coordination(RSWC)
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What Is the RSWC Program?

• A national storm water coordination model program
  that promotes the goals of individual storm water
  management plans and coordinates the
  responsibilities of community municipal separate
  storm sewer systems at a regional level.

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Advisors

• Federal Sponsor
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
• Jennifer Harris Project Officer
• Greg Davis Project Technical Coordinator
• Permitting Authorities
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
• Joyce Cieluch
• North Dakota Department of Health (NDDH)
• Randy Kowalski
• Dallas Grossman

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Members

• Cass County
• City of East Grand Forks
• City of Fargo
• City of Grand Forks
• City of Moorhead
• City of West Fargo
• Grand Forks County
• North Dakota State University
• University of North Dakota
• North Dakota Department of Transportation
• Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Overview

• The Regional Storm Water Coordination Program
  began in October 2003 as a 2-year model project
  and is designed to
• Build on the established partnerships between the
  RSWC Program participants affected by the NPDES
  rules.
• Investigate BMPs and strategies that would be
  effective in addressing the new regulations.
• Follow the progress of any new permit
  developments and issues among the participants.

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Goals

• The RSWC Program goals
• Develop a program that will efficiently
  coordinate the Phase II SWPPP components among
  the participating MS4s and the permitting
  authorities.
• Provide a regional sharing of responsibilities
  and resources between the participants.
• Promote equity in management and engineering
  practices without compromising overall water
  quality.

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Objectives

• Specific coordination objectives include
• Collection and sharing of general storm
  water-related information.
• Maintenance of a centralized resource library of
  storm water educational material.
• Provide technical assistance in the selection and
  development of new BMPs and strategies.
• Provide the appropriate guidance to prepare and
  present the annual reports.

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Contact Information

• For more information about local storm water
  issues, contact
• Dan Stepan, EERC [phone] or
  dstepan_at_undeerc.org
• Lisa Botnen, EERC [phone] or
  lbotnen_at_undeerc.org
• Kirk Williams, EERC [phone] or
  kwilliams_at_undeerc.org