OBJECTIVE B - Management Action 6
Enhance stormwater runoff control by strengthening existing regulations and developing new ones, if needed, by 1995. Improve enforcement to ensure that stormwater management systems are properly installed and regularly maintained.
Explanation:
At present, the North Carolina Stormwater Management Program targets priority areas and high risk pollutant sources. Additional benefits from this program may be realized by evaluating expansion of the areas of coverage to target more -- or potentially all -- waters. Under this initiative, various regulating agencies would coordinate their efforts to protect all state waters. The Division of Environmental Management (DEM) would dedicate more staff time to monitoring the installation, operation and maintenance of stormwater systems. A critical part of enforcement would be providing education and technical assistance to private land owners, industries, municipalities and others required to comply with these regulations.
Critical Steps:
- DEM will evaluate current stormwater management rules for comprehensive coverage of all state waters and to ensure that all current stormwater programs are integrated.
- The Division of Coastal Management (DCM) will evaluate current enforcement of its rules for Outstanding Resource Waters as they apply to stormwater management within the CAMA permitting process.
- DEM will evaluate the effectiveness of management practices in protection of water quality in coastal areas.
- DEM would hire more staff to monitor the construction, operation, and maintenance of stormwater control facilities. In addition, the state stormwater control program would dedicate more staff to education and technical assistance of private land owners, industries, municipalities, and regions required to comply with the state or federal stormwater control regulations, so that these parties understand the reasons for the regulations and how to improve maintenance.
Evaluation Methods
The state would hold biannual meetings between the regulating agencies to discuss goals and strategies and to determine if the stormwater runoff program is being implemented properly. At this time, changes may be made as necessary to meet the goals of the program. Changes in water quality within significant water body classifications will be analyzed using trend analysis to determine whether pollutant loads have been reduced or water quality improved.
Costs and Economic Considerations
DEM would require $150,000 per year for three staff persons to evaluate current stormwater management rules; monitor coastal and inland stormwater control facilities to ensure proper construction, operation, and maintenance; and to provide outreach education and technical assistance to private landowners, industries, municipalities, and counties to ensure proper maintenance of stormwater management facilities. Improvement of stormwater management through education, technical assistance, monitoring, and certification could reduce loadings of sediment and toxicants from stormwater runoff from inland as well as coastal sources. This could provide more comprehensive water quality protection for estuarine and coastal waters, and would also benefit inland waters. Proper maintenance of stormwater systems such as wet detention ponds provides for continued flood control and retention of sediment and other pollutants associated with particulates that settle in the ponds.
Funding Strategy
The hiring of additional staff members by DEM would require a $150,000 appropriation from the General Assembly.