Introduction to Storm Water Phase II Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Who Am I? Keith Dudley, P.E. Keith Dudley, P.E. 10 Years, PADEP, Water Management, Permits Section 10 Years, PADEP, Water Management, Permits Section Job Duties: Job Duties:  NPDES Permits  Storm Water Phase I Permits  Storm Water Phase II Permits

Who Are You? Environmental Advisory Council Members? Environmental Advisory Council Members? Environmental/Watershed Organization Members? Environmental/Watershed Organization Members? Municipal Officials? Municipal Officials? Township Engineers? Township Engineers? Others? Others?

Storm Water – What Is It? Surface runoff from a rain or snow event. Surface runoff from a rain or snow event. Flows in natural or man-made collection systems. Flows in natural or man-made collection systems. Nature: meadows/forests > swales > wetlands/streams > rivers > ocean. Nature: meadows/forests > swales > wetlands/streams > rivers > ocean. Man-made: parking lots, roofs, roads > gutters/curbs > storm pipes > stream. Man-made: parking lots, roofs, roads > gutters/curbs > storm pipes > stream.

Nature – Before We Build Soaks into ground for use by plants/trees. Soaks into ground for use by plants/trees. Vegetation and soil act as a filter, removing sediment and slowing speed of water. Vegetation and soil act as a filter, removing sediment and slowing speed of water. Water is infiltrated to recharge groundwater aquifers for drinking wells and builds base flow for rivers. Water is infiltrated to recharge groundwater aquifers for drinking wells and builds base flow for rivers.

Humans – After We Build Asphalt, Concrete & Buildings = Impervious Surfaces (water can’t soak in). Asphalt, Concrete & Buildings = Impervious Surfaces (water can’t soak in). Increase in runoff quantity. Increase in runoff quantity. Increase in pollution of runoff. Increase in pollution of runoff. Decrease in groundwater recharge. Decrease in groundwater recharge. Results in downstream habitat destruction and flooding. Results in downstream habitat destruction and flooding.

We’re Starting To Get It! Realize we need to change the way we’ve been handling storm water. Realize we need to change the way we’ve been handling storm water. Treat it as a resource, NOT a nuisance. Treat it as a resource, NOT a nuisance. Change is sometimes long & slow. Change is sometimes long & slow. Started with environmental groups > federal government > states > municipalities. Started with environmental groups > federal government > states > municipalities.

Storm Water Regulations Phase I – EPA 1990, PADEP 1992 Phase I – EPA 1990, PADEP 1992  Largest cities first (Philadelphia & Allentown)  Industrial sites (ten categories)  Construction sites (> 5 acres) Phase II – EPA 1999, PADEP 2003 Phase II – EPA 1999, PADEP 2003  Designated small MS4s  Construction sites (> 1 acre)

What’s a Designated Small MS4? Designated = >1000 people per square mile and located near an urbanized area (Philadelphia, Trenton & Wilmington) Designated = >1000 people per square mile and located near an urbanized area (Philadelphia, Trenton & Wilmington) Small = less than 100,000 people Small = less than 100,000 people MS4 = Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (M + four S’s) MS4 = Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (M + four S’s)

Separate Storm Sewer System Series of curbs, gutters, ditches, channels, pipes or any other means of conveying water, that was specifically put in place to handle only storm water runoff. Series of curbs, gutters, ditches, channels, pipes or any other means of conveying water, that was specifically put in place to handle only storm water runoff. Does NOT include combined or separate sanitary sewers. Does NOT include combined or separate sanitary sewers. Parts can be natural. (i.e. pipe to swale) Parts can be natural. (i.e. pipe to swale)

What is Goal of Phase II? Protect the environment from negative effects of runoff from human activities. Protect the environment from negative effects of runoff from human activities. Another step towards meeting the requirements of the Clean Water Act of Another step towards meeting the requirements of the Clean Water Act of Catch some of the problems we missed with Phase I. Catch some of the problems we missed with Phase I.

How Can We Meet this Goal? Develop a comprehensive storm water management program for each watershed. Develop a comprehensive storm water management program for each watershed. Design the program using today’s technology and knowledge. Design the program using today’s technology and knowledge. Implement the program. Implement the program. Maintain the program. Maintain the program.

What Will the Program Do? Reduce the discharge of pollutants (including increased quantity) from a designated separate storm sewer system to the “maximum extent practicable.” Reduce the discharge of pollutants (including increased quantity) from a designated separate storm sewer system to the “maximum extent practicable.”

Watershed? MS4? Watershed – natural drainage basin formed by landscape. Watershed – natural drainage basin formed by landscape. For a program to work we need to all play by the same rules and to cooperate. For a program to work we need to all play by the same rules and to cooperate. Here’s where it gets tricky. Here’s where it gets tricky.  Multiple municipalities within each watershed.  Multiple watersheds within a municipality.

How Will Watershed Thing Work? Not sure, still figuring it out. Not sure, still figuring it out. ~171 designated small MS4s in SE region. ~171 designated small MS4s in SE region. ~10 watersheds in SE region. ~10 watersheds in SE region. PADEP’s policy not finalized yet. PADEP’s policy not finalized yet. State didn’t receive any $$ to run Phase II. State didn’t receive any $$ to run Phase II. Most MS4s won’t receive any $$ either. Most MS4s won’t receive any $$ either.

Best Bet is to Share Cost! Example: 10 MS4s within a watershed. Example: 10 MS4s within a watershed.  Cost of Storm Water Management Program (includes plan, implementation & maintenance)  Divided by 10 MS4s  Each MS4 only pays one tenth. All runoff within one watershed should be handled by same rules (i.e. master plan). All runoff within one watershed should be handled by same rules (i.e. master plan).

Coordination/Cooperation It up to municipalities to work together. It up to municipalities to work together. Not mandatory according to regulations. Not mandatory according to regulations. We think it makes the most sense, both financially and in how effective the program will work. We think it makes the most sense, both financially and in how effective the program will work. PADEP will help facilitate cooperation wherever possible. (see handouts) PADEP will help facilitate cooperation wherever possible. (see handouts)

What’s Required by the Regs? Designated MS4s must submit Phase II application by March Designated MS4s must submit Phase II application by March Application is documentation of how discharge of pollutants will be reduced by the “maximum extent practicable.” Application is documentation of how discharge of pollutants will be reduced by the “maximum extent practicable.”

Maximum Extent Practicable Develop Storm Water Management Program. Develop Storm Water Management Program. Periodically evaluate your program. Periodically evaluate your program. Proper record keeping. Proper record keeping. Reports to PADEP. Reports to PADEP.

Storm Water Management Program Specify BMPs for the Six Minimum Control Measures. Specify BMPs for the Six Minimum Control Measures. Specify measurable goals for the Six Minimum Control Measures. Specify measurable goals for the Six Minimum Control Measures. Provide an implementation schedule. Provide an implementation schedule. Identify responsible person or entity. Identify responsible person or entity.

What’s a BMP? Best Management Practice. Best Management Practice. Schedule of activities, prohibition of practices, maintenance procedures and/or the use of pollution control devices to reduce discharge of pollution in storm water. Schedule of activities, prohibition of practices, maintenance procedures and/or the use of pollution control devices to reduce discharge of pollution in storm water. Includes “Paper” and “Physical” BMPs. Includes “Paper” and “Physical” BMPs.

Six Minimum Control Measures 1. Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination. 2. Construction Site Runoff Control. 3. Post-construction Runoff Management. 4. Pollution Mun. Operations. 5. Public Education and Outreach. 6. Public Involvement and Participation.

PADEP to the Rescue! Storm Water Phase II “Kit.” Storm Water Phase II “Kit.” Generic program that addresses all six minimum control measures. Generic program that addresses all six minimum control measures. Draft out to public by April…..maybe. Draft out to public by April…..maybe. MS4s can adopt “as is” or can use parts they like and change parts they don’t like. MS4s can adopt “as is” or can use parts they like and change parts they don’t like.

What Can You Do To Help? Assist municipal officials with all parts of storm water management program. Assist municipal officials with all parts of storm water management program. Read through PADEP’s Phase II “Kit.” Read through PADEP’s Phase II “Kit.” Read all about Phase II from other sources. Read all about Phase II from other sources. Get involved with Public Education and Outreach activities. Get involved with Public Education and Outreach activities. Foster cooperation within watersheds. Foster cooperation within watersheds.

Ideas to Get Across… Proper use/storage/disposal of chemicals. Proper use/storage/disposal of chemicals. Keep clean rainfall away from pollutants. Keep clean rainfall away from pollutants. Preserve pervious surfaces. Preserve pervious surfaces. Intelligent land use planning. Intelligent land use planning. Post-construction runoff equal to pre- construction runoff. Post-construction runoff equal to pre- construction runoff.

This is a Good Program! Many benefits of proper storm water management: Many benefits of proper storm water management:  Decreased flooding.  Improved surface water quality.  Improved groundwater situation.  Improved animal habitats.  Land preservation.

The End.