EPA S NEW NPDES SMALL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM PERMIT

Transcription

1 EPA S NEW NPDES SMALL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM PERMIT Sarah Holcomb Industrial and Stormwater Team Supervisor Point Source Regulation Section Surface Water Quality Bureau New Mexico Environment Department NMIFC October 29, 2015

2 BACKGROUND Clean Water Act amended in 1972 to become what we know today amendments to the CWA added stormwater to the permitting universe.

3 STORMWATER FACTS It is produced from everywhere in a developed landscape during storms. It accumulates and transports much of the collective waste of the urban environment. The U.S. population is growing at an annual rate of 0.9%. Urban land areas are growing even faster. Urban stormwater is the primary source of impairment for 13% of assessed rivers, 18% of assessed lakes, and 32% of assessed estuaries. Urban areas are just 3% of the land mass of the nation.

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5 FLOOD CONTROL AMAFCA Albuquerque Metro Area Flood Control Authority Est in response to floods throughout the1940s Deluge of 3.25 prior to elections also helped Concept was to get the water out of town as fast as possible A drop of rain that falls in the foothills makes it to the Rio Grande in ~30 minutes.

6 2008 NRC REPORT EPA commissioned the NRC in 2006 to review the entire NPDES stormwater program. EPA s current approach to regulating stormwater is unlikely to produce an accurate or complete picture of the extent of the problem, nor is it likely to adequately control stormwater s contribution to waterbody impairment. EPA should base all stormwater and other wastewater discharge permits on watershed boundaries instead of political boundaries. Implement regulations at the land use development stage Set strict limits on the quantity and quality of stormwater discharged Rigorous monitoring of stormwater discharges to ensure it is not degrading receiving water quality Green Infrastructure/LID Watershed Based Permitting

7 Ramsey Washington Watershed District Milwaukee Metro Watershed Middle Rio Grande, Albuquerque, NM 7

8 WHAT S DIFFERENT? Cooperation/Flexibility Incentives for working together = more time to comply Savings through cooperation Look at watershed water quality goals from a larger perspective. Innovation Green Infrastructure

9 ARID APPROPRIATE GI/LID

10 Compact Obligations 8 interstate compacts NM must comply with, plus Mexico. Surface runoff is part of NM s water supply. All surface water in NM is fully appropriated. Impoundments NMAC Rainwater harvesting WATER RIGHTS

11 POTENTIAL PERMITTEES Farmington UA: City of Farmington San Juan County City of Aztec Town of Kirtland NMDOT District 5 Santa Fe UA Santa Fe County City of Santa Fe NMDOT District 5 Los Lunas UA: Town of Belen Village of Los Lunas Valencia County NMDOT District 3 Village of Peralta Las Cruces UA: Town of Mesilla NMSU Dona Ana County City of Las Cruces NMDOT District 1 El Paso UA: City of Anthony City of Sunland Park NMDOT District 1 Dona Ana County

12 REQUIREMENTS Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) 6 Minimum Measures Public Outreach and Education Public Participation Construction Runoff Control Post Construction Runoff Control Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations Incorporation of TMDL and Water Quality Concerns (303(d)) Sampling/Monitoring Program Legal Authority Floatables Monitoring Reporting

13 MONITORING

14 EPA MAY OFFER WORKSHOPS MS4 Workshop today to discuss cooperative agreements EPA Region 6 Permits should be offering webinars specifically for small MS4s to train on the new permit

15 DETAILS: Permit is currently on public notice at: nmdraft.htm Comment period ends: Friday, December 18 NMED runs a concurrent public notice period for our state 401 Certification process: Comments are due December 18.

16 QUESTIONS?