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Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4

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Page 1: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4

Page 2: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

• Urban stormwater identified as source of impairment (2004 WQ Report) — 22,559 miles of impaired rivers and streams

— 701,024 acres of impaired lakes

— 867 square miles of impaired estuaries

• Stormwater pollutants — Sediments, nutrients, metals, temperature, trash, bacteria – Cause beach closures and swimming illnesses – Impact fisheries and shellfish harvesting — Increase the costs of treating drinking water supplies

• Hydrologic impacts – Increased stormwater volume can cause flooding, scouring and sewer overflows – Reduce groundwater recharge

Urban stormwater is a leading source of water quality impairment

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Page 3: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Stormwater is a growing water quality concern

• ~800,000 acres being developed every year, growing to ~1.2 million acres by 2040

• Development increases the amount of impervious cover in the landscape – Currently 100 million acres developed; 25% is impervious

– Discharge from 1 acre of impervious cover is 16x the discharge from a 1 acre of undeveloped land

• Small increase in impervious cover leads to big impacts in receiving waters – Watersheds with <1-2% of impervious land area = biological impacts to

surface waters

– Watersheds with >5-15% of impervious land area = surface water declines rapidly to degraded levels, loss of function; Loss in base flow in streams and groundwater recharge

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Page 4: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Smarter Stormwater Management

Traditional approach • Convey stormwater quickly from site to

MS4 system, detention pond or directly to waterbody.

• Manage peak flows for flood control, drainage and large scale downstream erosion.

New approach Integrate green infrastructure in

the design of the project • View stormwater as a resource. • Slow down the flow, allow to infiltrate. • Reduces pollutant loads to waterbodies. • Obtain multiple community benefits.

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Page 5: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

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Green Infrastructure Approaches

• Reduce impervious cover in parking & street designs

• Bioretention/rain gardens • Permeable pavements • Green roofs • Cisterns & rain barrels • Trees & expanded tree boxes • Reforestation & restoration

Infiltration - Evapotranspiration - Capture & Use

Page 6: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Current MS4 Program

Map of current coverage (green) • Primarily in urbanized area • Accounts for much of the population • Only 2% of the land area

Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s >

100,000 pop. • Small MS4s in urbanized areas MS4 Permit Requirements • Public Education & Outreach • Public Participation • Illicit Discharge Detection and

Elimination • Pollution Prevention/Good

Housekeeping • Active Construction Program • Post construction program for new

development and redevelopment sites ≥ 1 acre

– General requirement – No performance standards

required 6

Page 7: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Current Post Construction Requirements Under NPDES

• The Phase II Rule sets the goal that BMPs chosen should "attempt to maintain pre-development runoff conditions."

• Identification of low impact development opportunities to reduce stormwater volume and velocity

• EISA 438 Guidance

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Page 8: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Phase II Requirement for Post Construction

40 CFR 122.34(b)(5): 5) Post-construction stormwater management in new development and

redevelopment. (i) You must develop, implement, and enforce a program to address stormwater

runoff from new development and redevelopment projects that disturb greater than or equal to one acre, including projects less than one acre that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale, that discharge into your small MS4. Your program must ensure that controls are in place that would prevent or minimize water quality impacts.

(ii) You must: (A) Develop and implement strategies which include a combination of structural

and/or non-structural best management practices (BMPs) appropriate for your community;

(B) Use an ordinance or other regulatory mechanism to address post-construction runoff from new development and redevelopment projects to the extent allowable under State, Tribal or local law; and

(C) Ensure adequate long-term operation and maintenance of BMPs.

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Page 9: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Goals of Permit Language

• Recognize the environmental performance of different development strategies in post-construction requirements

• Create model permit language that pushes the envelope

• Provide information/guidance from the state to the MS4 level

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Page 10: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Underlying Principles – NPDES Stormwater and Green Infrastructure

• Green Infrastructure to be the foundation for a state’s NPDES stormwater management program

• Recognize that some development patterns have better environmental performance, e.g., redevelopment

• Use of an iterative approach to permitting, e.g., each permit cycle builds off gains made in the previous permit cycle

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Page 11: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Expanding the Iterative Approach

MEP “standard”

Maximum Extent Practicable

• Technically feasible

• cost-effectiveness

• environmental benefit

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Page 12: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Post-Construction Planning

• An effective post-construction plan will: – Include a pre-and post-development hydrologic

analysis – Identify low impact development opportunities – Identify pollutants of concern – Identify pollution prevention measures – Identify controls that provide treatment and reduce

stormwater volume and velocity – Provide for long-term operation and maintenance of

controls – Provide for plan review, inspection, and enforcement

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Page 13: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

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2009 NRC Report: Urban Stormwater Management in the U.S.

• Current approach unlikely to produce an accurate picture of the problem and unlikely to adequately control stormwater’s contribution to waterbody impairment

– Requirements leave a great deal of discretion to dischargers to ensure compliance

• “A more straightforward way to regulate stormwater contributions to waterbody impairment would be to use flow or a surrogate, like impervious cover, as a measure of stormwater loading ….”

• “Efforts to reduce stormwater flow will automatically achieve reductions in pollutant loading. Moreover, flow is itself responsible for additional erosion and sedimentation that adversely impacts surface water quality.”

• “Stormwater control measures that harvest, infiltrate, and evapotranspirate stormwater are critical to reducing the volume and pollutant loading of small storms.”

Page 14: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Key Elements of the Proposed Rule

1. Establish performance standards for discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites.

2. Require certain regulated MS4s to develop a program to address discharges from existing sites (retrofits).

3. Extend protection of MS4 Program.

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Page 15: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 1: Performance Standards Why ∙ What ∙ Who ∙ When ∙ How ∙ Where

Why: – New and redevelopment presents an

opportunity for stormwater management practices at sites to be designed in a way that protects water quality.

– Retention of small storms onsite mimics natural hydrology and results in a reduction in pollutants leaving the site, erosion of the receiving waterbody, local flooding and many other benefits.

– The standard will promote cost effective methods to protect water quality.

Page 16: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 1: Performance Standards Why ∙ What ∙ Who ∙ When ∙ How ∙ Where

Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection, 2008

What: - Performance standard could

require that newly developed and redeveloped sites of a certain size must retain stormwater discharges resulting from small storms.

- Small storms could be defined as a percentile storm event.

- Rule could allow site-specific hydrologic analysis, however a minimum standard may be necessary to reduce pollutant loading.

Page 17: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 1: Performance Standards Why ∙ What ∙ Who ∙ When ∙ How ∙ Where

How: – The standard could be met by reducing

impervious cover and/or installation of stormwater controls which infiltrate, evapotranspire and harvest and use the rain water.

– Proper operation and maintenance must be ensured.

– Standard could accommodate site constraints: volume that cannot be retained on site could be managed through treatment, off-site mitigation in the same subwatershed or payment in lieu.

– Site constraints could include water rights laws.

Pervious Paver Parking Stalls,

Redlands, CA.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Endicott.

Page 18: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

EPA rule could allow much flexibility for states with existing standards. How should EPA evaluate state standards that are “as protective” as a national standard?

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Current Volumetric Retention Standards for Discharges from New Development

State or Locality (date enacted)

Size Threshold

Standard

California 1 acre LID BMPs designed to retain runoff from 24-hour 85th percentile storm event

Montana (2009) 1 acre Infiltrate, evapotranspire, or capture for reuse runoff from first 0.5” of rain

Wisconsin (2010) 1 acre Infiltrate runoff to achieve 60% -90% of predevelopment volume based on impervious cover level

West Virginia (2009) 1 acre Keep and manage on site 1” rainfall from 24-hour storm preceded by 48 hours of no rain

Denver, CO 1 acre Manage excess urban runoff volume (approximately 1 inch for Denver)

Page 19: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 1: Performance Standards Why ∙ What ∙ Who ∙ When ∙ How ∙ Where

Where: – The standard could be

applied to newly developed and redeveloped sites nationwide or only those sites discharging to regulated MS4s.

– Applying the standard nationwide would create a level playing field for developers among municipalities and protect downstream communities from upstream development.

District of Columbia Metro Area Urbanized Area Map US Census 2000 (red hatched)

Page 20: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 1: Performance Standards Why ∙ What ∙ Who ∙ When ∙ How ∙ Where

Who: – All types of construction projects including residential, commercial,

industrial, and institutional. – Owner of a construction project which meets the site size threshold.

• Current site size threshold in the MS4 program is projects which disturb one acre or more; or less than one acre if the project is part of a greater plan of development.

– Responsibility for proper operation and maintenance transfers to new owners of a property.

When: – Stormwater discharges after construction is complete. – Cost effective ways to meet the standard

• Incorporate controls in the site design by preserving vegetation, reducing impervious cover

• Integrate green infrastructure practices into landscape or other areas which would manage the specified volume in the standard.

File Notice of Intent

Begin Site Design

File Notice of Termination

Active Construction

Project Timeline

Standard applies to discharges from the site

Page 21: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 1: Performance Standards

Discharges from Redeveloped Sites

– Recommend lower standard for redevelopment Recognize site constraints

To encourage redevelopment to revitalize urban communities

Considering additional incentives for smart growth and brownfields development

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LA Infiltration Planters. Photo courtesy of Bill DePoto.

Page 22: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

How have developers responded to post construction standards in GA?

• What percentage of developers changed their site design to reduce impervious cover (ex. narrower streets, cluster design, short setbacks) to meet the standard in Georgia?

• What percentage of developers implement stormwater controls (ex. bioinfiltration, green roofs, pervious pavement) to meet the standard in Georgia?

• What is the correct combination of reduced impervious cover and structural controls to assume?

• Have municipalities in Georgia changed codes and ordinances to allow developers to implement narrower streets or smaller parking lots?

• Studies show increase in property value in residential development with narrower streets and LID. Are these results typical? Are there locations in Georgia we can study?

• How has smaller parking lots or LID impacted commercial properties? Are there locations in Georgia that we can study? 22

Page 23: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 2: Municipal Program to Manage Discharges from Existing Sites (Retrofits)

• Address existing degradation from existing sites and help restore urban waters

• Proposed approach could require certain regulated municipalities to: – Identify long term goals, highest priority projects and milestones

– Integrate green infrastructure into projects cities are already doing

– Implemented through an iterative approach as part of stormwater management plan

• Could Apply to: – Regulated MS4s serving 100,000 population or greater

– Regulated MS4s serving 50,000 population or greater

– Could allow exemptions where MS4 discharges do not cause or contribute to violations of water quality standards

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Page 24: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Retrofit Projects

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Vacant Land Program

BEFORE

AFTER

Curb Extension

Green Roofs Downspout Disconnection

Page 25: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 3: Extending the Protection of the MS4 Program

• Helps ensure standards are properly implemented which could reduce need for expensive retrofits later

• Builds on existing framework of local oversight

• Implements 6 minimum measures which help prevent contamination

• Options 1. Urbanized clusters as defined by Census (density

of 1,000 people/mi2) – Reaches unregulated densely populated areas – Could specify a population threshold

2. Small watershed (HUC 12) which overlap with urbanized area

– Reaches areas of high growth – Promotes watershed approaches – Could specify a population threshold

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Page 26: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Element 3: Extending the Protection of the MS4 Program to All Principal Arterial Roads

Federal Highway Administration Category: roads which connect urbanized areas with more than 50,000 people and urban areas

• 61% of principal arterials are currently regulated

• Rulemaking could extend the MS4 program to the remaining 39% of principal arterials

• 12 states currently apply the MS4 program to all state-owned roads

–Arizona, California, DC, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah

Page 27: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Replace the SIC code system with the NAICS system to modernize the identification of industrial discharges covered by NPDES stormwater regulations.

Government-owned maintenance yards – 1990 rule included the SIC Code covering maintenance yards

– Government-owned maintenance yards are listed under a administrative SIC code, which unintentionally excluded them from regulation

– Rule could propose including these facilities as an industrial discharger

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Industrial Program

Page 28: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

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www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking

Rulemaking Website

Page 29: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Current Status – Rulemaking Update

• EPA and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are currently in negotiation to determine a new schedule for proposal of the stormwater rulemaking and for taking final action.

• EPA is continuing work on developing the proposed stormwater rule.

• The rulemaking schedule has been delayed to provide EPA additional time to develop its benefits and cost analyses.

• Important to note : There has not been a major change in the rulemaking considerations: – performance standard for new/redevelopment, – MS4 expansion, retrofits, principal arterials and maintenance yards. – It is important for EPA to continue to get feedback on these ideas until

proposal.

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Page 30: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Other EPA Activities • MS4 Program

– Developing summaries of current stormwater program activities that MS4s are performing

www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/municipal

• Construction Program

– EPA finalized its Construction General Permit (CGP) in February 2012

– Updates will be made to existing documents and tools

www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/construction

– Construction & Development Effluent Limitation Guideline federal register notice requesting additional data and information

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/construction/index.cfm 30

Page 31: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Other EPA Activities (Cont’d)

• Industrial Program – Begin updating the EPA’s Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)

for industrial stormwater discharges (the current permit expires 9/29/13)

www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/msgp

• Green Infrastructure – Continuing to work on community partner efforts

www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure

• Available Grants – Sustainable Communities Partnership

http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov/ – Urban Waters (Proposals due 1/23/12)

http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/funding/index.html

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Page 32: Mike Mitchell U.S. EPA Region 4 · Regulated Entities • Medium and Large MS4s > 100,000 pop. ... Rainfall Frequency Spectrum for Minneapolis, MN. Center for Watershed Protection,

Questions & Answers

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