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Sponsored by the Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for Small
Business at UNC Charlotte, The Environmental Corner is
designed to serve as an environmental management and pollution
prevention resource. The theme for the month of October is
Stormwater Management.
With
the recent rain from Hurricanes Ivan, Frances and Gaston, stormwater
has been more of an issue than normal. The excess water runs off of
surfaces into the stormwater system which discharges to local
creeks, lakes and rivers. In this issue, we have provided you with
an overview of stormwater, how it is managed, what requirements you
may face to control stormwater and how many stormwater issues may
lead you to pollution prevention.
In
this issue:
Why Is Stormwater a Concern?
A
water cycle illustration at
http://www.ci.lenexa.ks.us/Stormwater/illustration.html
shows quickly the impact of development on water quality.
As
more and more development occurs, more impervious area is created.
This is area in which water cannot flow through the ground to the
water table below. Therefore, the stormwater flows with increased
volume and speed into the stream, which can cause flooding, change
water banks with channel widening and erosion, create loss of
habitats, and increase sediment deposits. The runoff stormwater is
not treated before entering our streams, lakes, and rivers;
therefore it brings pollutants and trash into the waters.
Take
a look at the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual at
http://www.georgiastormwater.com/
which details the need for management and impacts of stormwater.
Stormwater management examples from the southeast region include:
Mecklenburg County - seeking to ensure compliance at
construction site;
Fort Bragg, NC - using a better-designed parking area
enabling less paving and increased grasslands;
Asheville, NC - working to improve water quality and
increase river access, by building a greenway and enhancing wetlands
along the river. For more case study details go to
http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap7.asp .
What is Stormwater Management?
Stormwater management improves water quality in streams and lakes
while minimizing impacts of damage caused by the heavy flows. The
North Carolina Department of Environmental and Water Resources Water
Management manuals, reports, and fact sheets provides information on
NC actions and plans.
http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/su/Manuals_Factsheets.htm
Standard
stormwater management ideas along with basic and advanced Best
Management Practices (BMP) are given at
http://www.absorbentsonline.com/stormwater_management_information.htm.
Information includes acronyms and definitions of key terms and
products that can be used in the application of BMP. More
definitions are given in the erosion glossary at:
http://netlec.com/common/glosserosion.html
.
It highlights the structural management practices which makes use of
infiltration systems and ponds along with non-structural practices
which include education, Low Impact Development (LID), and proper
pollution prevention. LID makes use of objectives to reduce
disturbance, keep natural landscape and filtration processes in
place, and minimize impervious areas. Examples are highlighted in
the Low Impact Development Chapter 12 at the Natural Resource
Defense Council Site:
http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap12.asp
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Does Your Industry Need an Industrial Stormwater Permit?
Determination of Industrial Activity
Stormwater Discharges accountability is discussed in the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes that fall within Eleven
Categories for the EPA. Check and see if the ruling applies to your
industry at:
http://cfpub1.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swcats.cfm. Exemptions from stormwater permit
requirements are also dependent on the SIC code the industry falls
under and the activities of the business. Details on how SIC codes
are defined can be found at this website.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.html.
Companies with stormwater permits are required to develop a
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The NC Division of
Water Quality website,
http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/su/Manuals_Factsheets.htm,
has a page with manuals and fact sheets related to stormwater. The
guidance document for writing Industrial SWPPPs has a link on their
webpage. The guidance document
SPPP - Industrial sites (Guidance Document)
is an adobe
acrobat document that explains all of the sections required in the
plan and provides details of what should be included in each
section.
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Pollution Prevention That Can Be Done!
The
Charlotte, NC stormwater webpage,
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Stormwater+-+City/Pollution+Prevention/home.htm,
has
links that tell about things individuals can do to help prevent
stormwater pollution. Included are links about yard activities,
volunteer opportunities, and ways to reduce runoff.
Stormwater management for homeowners provides educational materials
and action items that can be implemented to protect the streams in
your neighborhood. Easy to read format with drawings along with
questions that enable the development of an individual action plan.
http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/assist/homeassist/stormwater/
An
article about flood insurance coverage encourages everyone to remove
trash and debris (leaves and branches) from stormwater drains. Our
communities have drainage systems to protect against flood damage by
providing piping to take the water away from our homes. Let’s do
our part in keeping stormwater drains open and clean.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb157187.htm
Urban Stormwater Pollution -- Fact and Fiction chart shows the
impacts and gives tips on what can be done to decrease stormwater
pollution. Ideas included controlling erosion, preservation of
natural drainage of streams and vegetative buffers, eliminate
illegal discharges, recycle used oil, and use of mass transit
systems.
http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/q2storm.asp.
Stormwater Management Resource Center
fact sheet highlights usage of Pervious Pavement. (This pavement
allows the water to flow into the ground)
http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Assorted%20Fact%20Sheets/Tool6_Stormwater_Practices/Infiltration%20Practice/Porous%20Pavement.htm.The
fact sheet provides information on suitable applications, which
include low traffic and low load areas along with design
considerations and effectiveness. More information on pervious
concrete can be found at:
http://www.secement.org/pervious_concrete.htm.
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Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for Small Business
The
Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business provides
non-regulatory, client-confidential pollution prevention assistance
to small businesses in the greater Charlotte region. The EAO is
designed to assist regional businesses in their efforts to
voluntarily prevent pollution. The EAO staff can provide timely
assistance for pollution prevention planning, including information
about industry-specific case studies, waste-specific case studies,
and new technologies. The office provides links of resources to
needs between the region's business community, government,
municipality, and university. If there is a particular issue or
question you would like to see in an upcoming edition, please send
an e-mail to
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu.
Contact Information:
Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business:
9201
University City Blvd. 136 Kennedy Building, UNC Charlotte,
Charlotte, NC 28233-0001
Phone number: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115
Email:
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu
Services:
·
Assistance with Air Permits - Assistance for small businesses in
completing paperwork for EPA air permits.
·
Educational Materials - Educational pamphlet, brochures, flyers, and
other materials to relate facts on pollution prevention.
·
Educational Outreach - Develop educational outreach campaigns and
presentations for the public or employee training.
·
University Resources - Library information, faculty expertise,
student projects and research at both graduate and undergraduate
levels.
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