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10/18/2003 1

Comprehensive Stormwater Management Program

Pa SW Mgt SymposiumVillanova University

October 16,2003

Durla Lathia, P.E.

Bureau of Watershed ManagementPa DEP

10/18/2003 2

Stormwater ManagementChallenging Issues??

Quantity & Quality of Surface Runoff

Impact of SW on Quality of ReceivingWaterbodies (Stream Health)Infiltration and Groundwater RechargeLimit of Available Techniques to Predict Accurate Results

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10/18/2003 3

Stormwater Management Challenges…….

Do Current Regulatory Framework Adequately Accommodate Technical Issues?Do Federal and State Existing/New Requirements Sufficiently Include Local Perspectives?How Receptive Are the Implementing Agencies?Regulations Promote Sustainable Development??Legal Considerations Costs??

10/18/2003 4

DEP’s Initiative For Public Input for New Directions

15 Water Forums held in 2001Public Identified Stormwater Management as a Consistent Issue, and Wanted a Comprehensive Implementation of Various Water Management Programs

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10/18/2003 5

“…..to improve and sustain ground and surface water quality and quantity ……

Pennsylvania’s Comprehensive Stormwater Management Policy

GOAL:

September 2002

www.dep.state.pa.usDirect Link to “Stormwater”

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Under what authority was the policy issued?

Comprehensive SW Policy

Antidegradation Requirements

Section 93.4a

• Existing In-Stream Water Uses and the Level of Water Quality Necessary to Protect the Existing Uses Shall Be Maintained and Protected

•The Water Quality of High Quality & Exceptional Value Waters Shall Be Maintained & Protected

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Implementation Goals

To successfully implement the Comprehensive Stormwater Management Policy the goals must:Be reasonably attainableTarget and prioritize major obstaclesBe effectively implemented utilizing existing resources

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Comprehensive Stormwater Management Approach

Integration of Planning, Technical and Regulatory Programs Financial Incentives Provide Necessary Technical Tools and Support – BMP Tech Manual

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10/18/2003 9

COMPREHENSIVESW

POLICY

Special Protection

Waters

NPDESConstruction

Permits

NPDESPhase II

MS4 Permits

ACT 167PlanningProgram

10/18/2003 10

NPDES Construction Permits

Permits require protection of uses and maintenance of water qualityl E/S Control Plan to minimize pollutants from

earth disturbance activities. l Post Construction SW Mgt. Plan

l Permits now emphasize requirement for PCSM Plansl Identification, Assurance for Operation and

Maintenance of BMPs

l Preparedness, Prevention, Contingency Plan

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10/18/2003 11

PCSM PLANSMust Accompany Permit Application

Identifiy BMP’s

BMP’sMUST be Designed and Constructed in accordance with:

DEP Approved Act 167 SW Plan with Water Quality Requirements, if a Plan Exist,

Existing MS4 Municipal Ordinance, IF No Act 167 SW Plan,

A 2-Year - 24 Hour Runoff Volume Difference Management(Post - Pre Development Conditions), If neither Act 167 nor MS4 Municipal Ordinance exists.

A Long Term Maintenance of BMP’s is Required

10/18/2003 12

Act 167 Stormwater Planning Program

Incorporates hydrologic and hydraulic Evaluation of a Watershed for Existing and Future Land Use Scenario Requires County and Municipal participation Considers Existing Local Regulatory ProgramsRecommends Control of Stormwater Runoff from Development ActivitiesA Recommended Model Ordinance

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10/18/2003 13

NPDES Phase II MS4 Program

“Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)”l 20 Urbanized Areasl 929 municipalities, 30 counties, 14 potential municipalities, plus

state and federal institutions (PADOT, PTC, prisons, universities)

Permit Requires Implementation of 6 Minimum Control Measuresl Public Educationl Public Participation & Involvementl Illicit Dischargesl Constructionl Post-constructionl Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

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NPDES II-MS4 PermitFor General Permits, MS4s have Two options:l Follow DEP “SW MGT. PROTOCOL”

l “Pre-approved” Tasks l Relaxed deadlines for Multi-municipal

Efforts, Working on Watershed Based Approach

l Funding Opportunity, if Act 167 Planning is Involved

Or

l Develop own programl Must get DEP approvall No funding

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10/18/2003 15

Expanded Scope of Act 167 Program

In addition to the requirements of the Section 5(b) of the Act, ALL Minimum Control Measures of the NPDES MS4 Permit requirements may be included in a SW Plan, if Counties and Municipalities wish to do so

Funding is also included for the expanded scope

10/18/2003 16

Act 167 SW Management

Planning

Rate &Volume Control

Water Quality

NPDESMS4

Permit

SpecialProtection

Waters

InfiltrationGroundwater

Recharge

Tailored Municipal

Ordinances

NPDESConstruction

Permit

Financial Assistance

Technical Assistance

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10/18/2003 17

How Does Act 167 SW Planning Implement Comp SW Policy???

Recommend Measures and Techniques to Address Stormwater Runoff Impact with a Goal to Mimic Pre-Development Conditions after Development is Completed.Control Standards for Quantity, Quality,Groundwater Recharge and Stream ProtectionNPDES Regulatory Components Included

10/18/2003 18

Act 167 SW Planning Status

85 Plans approved for 47 countiesPlans approved after Aug. 2001 contain WQ Components777 Municipalities to enact and implement ordinances42 additional Plans currently under way (23 Counties, 603 Municipalities): All Plans have WQ Components

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IMPACT of COMP. SW POLICY on ACT 167 SW PLANNING

401 Municipalities Sought Funding for NPDES Activities28 Plans Initiated(include MS4 elements)

Increased Budget Demand $$$$ !!!Increased Education/OutreachIncreased Central/Region Office Coordination

10/18/2003 20

How About Funding $$$$??

Yes….$$$$$ !! Funding Available to Counties and Municipalities, Up to 75%, for the Costs of Preparing/Implementing SW Plans & MS4 Management Measures! Over $13 Million Appropriated To Date$1.2 Million average Appropriation

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10/18/2003 21

MS4 Permit Activities

General Permit Documents Finalized Dec 2002 and Obtained EPA Approval6 Outreach workshops for the DEP Regions and Municipalities held in February 2003929 Munic., 30 Counties Required to get Permits784 Permit Applications Received186 Waiver Requests Received20 Permits Issued20 Waivers Approved

SW Files

10/18/2003 22

STORMWATER ORDINANCE

MS4 Ordinance(available on DEP Website) A General SW Ordinance which includes all the components of Stormwater Management. Counties include this ordinance in their SW Plans, subject to watershed specific modifications. Municipalities, not part of a SW Plan, are encouraged to consider adoption

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10/18/2003 23

Pa BMP Technical Manual

Tech Manual to Provide Computational Procedures and Specifications- It will NOT Be a Regulatory Handbook18 Month ProjectConsultant Has Been SelectedOversight Committee Members AppointedFirst Oversight Committee Meeting Held on October 10, 2003DEP Contacts: Dennis Stum/Ken Reisinger

10/18/2003 24

Stormwater ManagementContinuing Challenges!!!

Refinement of Technical ProceduresUnderstanding How The Hydrologic Process WorksAre our Goals and Targets Reasonable and Achievable?Education:Acceptance by Local Officials and PublicCan We Support $$$$ Demands??

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Stormwater ManagementHow Can We Help ??

Central OfficeRegional Offices

WWW.DEP.STATE.PA.USDirect Link to “Stormwater”