Dec. 3, 2010
Huntington’s Storm Water Committee Learns of Proposed Construction, Post Construction Runoff Ordinances
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Assistant Public Workers director Kip Anderson unveiled two construction related baby-steps to bring Huntington into greater compliance with its MS4 storm water responsibilities. During heavy rains untreated pollutants are discharged untreated into water bodies. EPA requires urbanized areas to implement steps to reduce contamination of stormwater runoff.
City leaders and residents have been stymied developing a plan due to the city’s antiquated infrastructure and the cost of developing a separate storm water utility. In fact, Anderson stressed to council members on the Storm Water Committee that the proposals were not a backdoor approach to establishing a storm water utility.
Instead of a Storm Water Utility or multiple directives tied to one ordinance, Anderson has followed suggestions from the EPA to as rapidly as possible implement the minimum portions of the requirements.
“They wanted something on the books,” Anderson explained.
Earlier, an illicit runoff ordinance sailed through council.
Now, the target is sediment and erosion runoff from construction sites of 5,000 or more square feet. The square footage specification exempt smaller residential improvements from the requirement to impede runoff.
“We have to do it,” advised City Attorney Scott McClure who admitted “we do not have the resources for 100% enforcement.”
Contractors at the new First Street and Fifth Avenue McDonald's are an example of compliant construction runoff controls, Anderson said.
Although the construction runoff will be presented as an ordinance, the Department of Public Works will add post-construction policies to also impede untreated runoff.
Anderson emphasized that the proposed ordinance does not contain any language pertaining to re-direction of downspouts. A significant educational mode will be necessary before tackling downspout issues, which will prevent individual compliance attempts that adversely affect their neighbors.
Finally, January 11, 2011 has been selected as a tentative date for the next meeting of the Four Pole Watershed group. The watershed organization will work with water conservation and state Division of Environmental Protection officials to obtain grant money for restoration of meandering stream pathways which will also reduce flooding.
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Huntington’s Storm Water Committee Learns of Proposed Construction, Post Construction Runoff Ordinances
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Assistant Public Workers director Kip Anderson unveiled two construction related baby-steps to bring Huntington into greater compliance with its MS4 storm water responsibilities. During heavy rains untreated pollutants are discharged untreated into water bodies. EPA requires urbanized areas to implement steps to reduce contamination of stormwater runoff.
City leaders and residents have been stymied developing a plan due to the city’s antiquated infrastructure and the cost of developing a separate storm water utility. In fact, Anderson stressed to council members on the Storm Water Committee that the proposals were not a backdoor approach to establishing a storm water utility.
Instead of a Storm Water Utility or multiple directives tied to one ordinance, Anderson has followed suggestions from the EPA to as rapidly as possible implement the minimum portions of the requirements.
“They wanted something on the books,” Anderson explained.
Earlier, an illicit runoff ordinance sailed through council.
Now, the target is sediment and erosion runoff from construction sites of 5,000 or more square feet. The square footage specification exempt smaller residential improvements from the requirement to impede runoff.
“We have to do it,” advised City Attorney Scott McClure who admitted “we do not have the resources for 100% enforcement.”
Contractors at the new First Street and Fifth Avenue McDonald's are an example of compliant construction runoff controls, Anderson said.
Although the construction runoff will be presented as an ordinance, the Department of Public Works will add post-construction policies to also impede untreated runoff.
Anderson emphasized that the proposed ordinance does not contain any language pertaining to re-direction of downspouts. A significant educational mode will be necessary before tackling downspout issues, which will prevent individual compliance attempts that adversely affect their neighbors.
Finally, January 11, 2011 has been selected as a tentative date for the next meeting of the Four Pole Watershed group. The watershed organization will work with water conservation and state Division of Environmental Protection officials to obtain grant money for restoration of meandering stream pathways which will also reduce flooding.
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