The Next Phase of the Clean Water Act: Getting Ready for NPDES Phase II Re-permitting

Sunday, October 19, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
1 day, 0.6 CEUs

The Clean Water Act cites 2008 as the transition year for many to move from the first round to the second round of Stormwater Phase II permits. While the rate of implementation and level of compliance has varied from State to State (and even with the states themselves) concerns about the next round of requirements and the ability to implement them looms in the minds of many.  This workshop will provide participants with the information they need to plan for their new permit: understanding the new requirements; learning from others on innovative ways to meet those requirements; cost considerations; and alternatives for financing and organizing to encourage sustainable programs. Working in small groups the attendees will begin applying this information to create a preliminary cost/needs analysis plan to bring back to their communities.

The workshop will start with an overview of how well communities around the country faired in meeting the requirement of the first NPDES Phase II permit cycle.  There has been a wide variety of compliance levels and approaches to meeting those requirements.  Community officials often ask “how well are we meeting the requirements in relation to others;” this overview will provide participants a way to evaluate their program against what others are doing based on the audits done by the U.S. EPA.

The discussion will continue with a presentation on what the new requirements are: at the Federal level; how the implementation may differ between States; and the differences between Phase I and Phase II.  While the actual implementation schedule for communities will vary depending on the implementation schedule of each State a representative from EPA will review the renewal process.  Participants will be able to take the information back to their communities in order to ready themselves.

During the first cycle of Phase II some communities have gone beyond the minimum requirements by developing innovative and holistic programs that go to the spirit of the Clean Water Act in addressing overarching water quality concerns.  The majority of the morning session will focus on practical application of techniques and programs with presentations from various parts of the country and representing various sizes of communities presenting case studies and lessons learned on TMDLs, watershed planning, water quality monitoring and effective BMPs.  These presentations will be followed by a panel and audience discussion on applying these tools in other communities.

Meeting additional requirements and providing updated or new services comes with a cost.  Understanding the costs associated in complying with new regulations is a concern raised by many.  This workshop will serve as an early opportunity to hear what the U.S. EPA 2008 Clean Watershed Survey found in its research on the real cost of meeting the Clean Water Act.

The typical follow-up questions are “How much will it cost?” is “How are we going to pay for this?”  There will be two afternoon sessions to provide ideas on ways to fund new and even current programs through the creation of “new money” or new alliances to meet these new costs.

The remainder of the afternoon session will be devoted to working in small groups to take the ideas presented and working through a cost/needs analysis methodology develop the beginning of an action plan.  After a report out from the various work groups each participant should be able to revise their plan and take it to their community as a basis for future planning to Getting Ready for NPDES Phase II Re-permitting.

Chair
Marlou Church Gregory, AMEC Earth & Environment

Co-Chair
Jim Scholl, Malcolm Pirnie

Speakers
Jenny Malloy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Nick Singelis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Christine Kosmowski, City of Battle Creek, Michigan
Jonathan Bishop, California State Water Resources Control Board
Tanya Amrhein, Fairfax County, Virginia
Jonathan Bishop, California State Water Resources Control Board