Managing Stormwater Locally A Workshop for Municipal Officials October 29, 2008

1. Managing Stormwater LocallyA Workshop for Municipal OfficialsOctober 29, 2008

2. Steven A. Hann, Esquire Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin 375 Morris Road, Lansdale, PA 19446 215-661-0400 Email: shann@hrmml.com

3. STORMWATERAUTHORITIES Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

5. What has triggered the concept of Stormwater Authorities? Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

6. STORMWATER EPA’S PHASE II STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

7. TMDLs • Phase I triggered a review of stormwater programs for large municipalities • Phase II has similar effect on smaller municipalities Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

8. TMDLs • Development of TMDLs could impact municipalities Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

9. TMDLs • Stormwater – contributes to stream impairment Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

10. WHAT SYSTEMS CONVEY STORMWATER? • Combined Sewer Systems • Separate Stormwater Systems Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

11. COMBINED SEWER SYSTEMS • Sanitary sewers and stormwater sewers are interconnected • Wastewater and stormwater flows conveyed through single pipe to treatment plant • CSO program designed to eliminate overflows during certain wet weather events (excessive flow discharged to water bodies prior to headworks of treatment plant) • See EPA’s CSO Control Policy (April 19, 1994) Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

12. SEPARATE STORMWATER SYSTEM • Collects and conveys only stormwater • Stormwater not discharged to treatment plant, but directly to ground or stream Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

13. WHAT TYPES OF POLLUTANTS ARE FOUND IN STORMWATER? • Sediment • Nutrients • Metals • Pesticides Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

14. MECHANICS OF STORMWATER FLOW • Impervious surfaces have increased in many communities • Decreased ability of water to soak into ground surface • Greater potential for flooding • DEP’s BMP manual designed to address these issues Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

15. STORMWATER UTILITIES Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

16. STORMWATER UTILITIES – THE BEGINNING • Early 1970’s • Washington, Oregon • Florida is good case study Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

17. PENNSYLVANIA LAW • UTILITIES – FOR PROFIT • AUTHORITIES – NOT FOR PROFIT Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

18. STORMWATER UTILITIES AUTHORITIES Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

19. STORMWATER AUTHORITIES IN PENNSYLVANIA The Solution? Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

20. LEGAL ISSUE • Can an authority be created under state law for stormwater management purposes? Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

21. STORMWATER AUTHORITIES CAN: • Address growing need for stormwater management • Act as funding source for stormwater management programs Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

22. WILL THERE BE A PERCEPTION PROBLEM? • Water authorities and sewer authorities Vs. • Stormwater authorities Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

23. HOW TO OVERCOME ANY NEGATIVE PERCEPTION • EDUCATION • EDUCATION • EDUCATION Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

24. ISSUES: (Non-Exclusive List) • Municipality vs. Municipal Authority - Who is best able to implement a stormwater program? • Funding • Permits • Current Regulatory Environment • TMDLs Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

25. MUNICIPALITY VS. MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY • Who is best able to implement a stormwater program? Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

26. CURRENT REGULATORY PROGRAM • Burden on municipalities, which lack legal basis (other than taxes) to collect fees for stormwater program • Authorities have demonstrated successful track record in operations involving water and sewer • Authorities deal more frequently with regulatory agencies, such as PADEP Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

27. …CURRENT REGULATORY PROGRAM (CONT’D.) • Authorities can integrate sanitary and combined sewer requirements • Authorities can operate on either a municipal or inter-municipal level, which allows for watershed based authorities • Revenue issues Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

28. Funding Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

29. RESPONSIBILITIES OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT • Planning • System inventory • System maintenance and upgrade • System repair (rehabilitation) • System cleaning • Detection of illicit discharge • Reduction and elimination of illicit discharges • Regulatory monitoring and compliance • Permits • Other Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

30. WHAT ARE SOME COSTS TO OPERATE STORMWATER PROGRAM? • Cleaning • Operation and Maintenance • Repair • Improvements • Administration • Regulatory Compliance Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

31. FUNDING ISSUES • Concept of stormwater fee to support stormwater program (including maintenance, upgrade and construction) • Legal • Must not be a tax • Supported by case law • Political Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

32. FUNDING ISSUES (CONT’D.) • Who should pay? • Those who benefit • How to determine the assessment • Based on impervious cover? • Flat rate? • Based on acreage? Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

33. PERMITS Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

34. Integration of NPDES permits – is it possible? • Compliance • Reporting Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

35. Current Regulatory Environment Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

36. PENNSYLVANIA’S STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MANUAL • Final Manual – December, 2006 • Addresses many components of stormwater program in Pennsylvania Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin

37. SUMMARY Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin