A STORM WATER OUTREACH PROJECT TO SMALL COMMUNITIES IN TENNESSEE TENNESSEE

HOW WE GOT STARTED Tennessee’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) participated in a MS4 work group meeting. Purpose: Provide information on available training for small businesses impacting water quality in their community Results: Attendees from communities in the area indicated they needed the training Shortly after that ……………………….

ECOS through funding from EPA TO THE RESCUE !!!! The Environmental Council of the States’ Compliance Committee Issued Call for Proposals – April 13, 2005 for Small Communities Compliance Assistance Pilot Project Grants

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS !!! Tennessee’s proposal: conduct small communities Train the Trainer Storm Water management project Funding amount: $14,000 Target: 75 small communities with a population between 3,300 and 10,000

WHY DID WE APPLY? The grant provided the opportunity to:  affirmatively respond to a prior request-meet a demand  leverage resources  apply existing knowledge and information  expand use of previously developed materials

PROJECT GOALS 1.Decrease storm water violations 2.Train a trainer for targeted small local governments 3.Help cities understand their environmental obligations 4.Encourage adoption of environmental policies and ordinances and use of Small Communities Audit Policy, if needed 5.Help assess the staff technical skills 6.Provide information on storm water rules and impacts of poor water quality from storm water run off

PROPOSED ACTIVITIES  Conduct a survey to determine current knowledge of environmental rules, regulations and to determine environmental resources  Provide EMS training and materials  Encourage participation in the State’s Pollution Prevention Partnership that provides environmental training discounts  Provide outreach assistance, technical advice, and follow-up to small cities  Conduct 3 train the trainer workshops

SAMPLE SURVEY QUESTIONS 1.Does your Town have an Environmental Manage- ment System (EMS)? 2.Are you or other staff familiar with Storm water - Best Management practices? 3. Would you like to attend a free workshop on training staff person in storm water compliance matters? 4. In what areas of your Town’s operations would you feel environmental assistance is needed? 5.Is staff available to handle/address environmental issues for your Town? 6.Does your town need help understanding environmental rules or requirements?

ADDITIONAL SURVEY QUESTIONS Have you observed any of the following at a Town facility? Dust Odors Stressed Vegetation Discolored soil or water Stressed, Dead, or dying fish or wildlife Smoke Open Burning

KEY SURVEY RESULTS 109 small communities were sent the survey. 27 small towns, responded. (24.8% response rate)  89% (24 of 27) said they would attend a workshop  85% (23 of 27) without an EMS  44% (12 of 27) wanted more information on Best Management Practices (BMPs)  67% (18 of 27) have 5 or fewer staff to handle environmental issues

OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOP PURPOSE Provide a Train the Trainer Storm Water workshop, an overview of EMS and information about TP3. Discuss storm water violations now occurring within the State and help towns better understand environmental requirements, and encourage adoption of environmental policy and appropriate ordinances. Help small cities assess technical skills and identify storm water training needs. Resources when they discover problems!

WORKSHOPS The Agenda for four workshops included:  Overview of workshop sponsors and a preview of why the workshops are needed  Storm water/pollution prevention overview  Review of sample storm water ordinances  EMS Overview  Small Communities Compliance Assistance Policy Review  Video on solutions to problems  Resources

W orkshop sponsors and a preview of why the workshops are needed This Project represented a partnership of: EPA ECOS State of Tennessee Local Government Participation

WHY SHOULD THE LOCAL OFFICIALS ATTEND ?  Newspaper articles on community non compliance issues and resulting penalties were provided  Pictures were shown of what can happen when stormwater controls aren’t properly in place  Dominoes

COMMUNITY WATER COMPLIANCE ISSUES TDEC detected a higher than usual E-Coli bacteria level when it a staph infection outbreak among XXX River Rafting Guides. At least ten Rafting Guides have contracted staph infections in recent weeks, including two who required hospitalization. The five ‑ year permit, sets a staggered series of goals to achieve compliance, such as enacting laws to prohibit illicit pollution discharges and construction storm ‑ water runoff. The county's storm ‑ water control program progress would be measured against its originally stated goals.

Examples of Erosion and Sediment Problems

Silt fence not maintained or poorly directed flow

Storm drain inlet not protected

Have you seen this in your neighborhood?

Storm water regulatory and pollution prevention overview Stormwater rules Stormwater runoff Watershed(s) How to identify sources of stormwater pollution Adoption of Environmental Policy(ies) and ordinance(s) Resources- TP3

REGULATORY HIERARCHY Congress (Clean Water Act) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) States (NPDES Permit) Local (Permit, Policy, and Ordinance)

Storm Water Pollutants Oil & Grease Transmission fluids Hydraulic fluids Antifreeze Lawn care chemicals Toxic chemicals Sediment Bacteria

Why a Watershed Matters Everybody lives within a watershed Protecting watersheds can prevent problems like: –Pesticides found in local wells –Fish Population decline –Polluted streams, creeks and rivers –No swimming sign(s) on creeks and rivers

Introduction to Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Our Objective was to introduce the concept, requirements and benefits of: a systematic way of managing an organization's environmental aspects a focus on continual improvements a way to address immediate and long term impact of products, services, and activities on the environment; a tool to improve environmental performance.

EMS RESULTS! Improved environmental performance Reduced liability Improved compliance Reduced cost Fewer accidents Enhanced trust

When the unexpected happens -Non compliance-  Utilize the Small Communities Audit Policy  Join the State’s Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3)  Identify problems before someone finds them for you  Correct deficiencies/problems  Participate in training programs  Be proactive in protecting the environment!

WORKSHOP HANDOUTS Each workshop participant received: a hard copy training manual a compact disk (CD) of all workshop materials that included: -sample storm water ordinances -slide presentation -news articles on cities facing problems -EPA Compliance Assistance Policy -a landscaping brochure

WHAT DID THEY HAVE TO LOSE OR GAIN?

PROJECT RESULTS 38 participants from small communities attended the training Pre and Post tests indicated a knowledge base of 75% prior to the training and 92% knowledge post training Workshop materials are included in curriculums for local government training All materials are included on Department’s web page

LESSONS LEARNED  Develop realistic goals  Define a narrow focus and target group  Utilize existing materials/resources  Understand the variables—community characteristics  Know the audience  Have incentives  Fully understand gov’t contract process

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER! Healthy and Compliant Communities Identified Need Willing Partners Available Resources Interested and Informed Leaders

QUESTIONS ???? Tennessee Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Web: