TDEC finalized and issued the permit for stormwater discharges from certain small municipal separate storm sewer systems (Phase II MS4s).  Earlier this year TCWN worked with several other groups to review and submit comments on the draft version of this permit.  A few of these comments were incorporated into the final permit, but overall the permit was not significantly altered.  Click here to see the final permit, response to comments and other information about municipal stormwater.

Wow! What a shocker to hear that TDEC was going to levy such a high fine against TVA for the December 22, 2008 Coal Fly Ash Disaster. I was impressed until I read TVA’s response.  It’s just 1% of their annual revenues! Will this will deter future bad behavior?  I guess we’ll see…

BTW, what’s going on with the other coal fly ash storage ponds?  They getting fixed?

RvH

TDEC put Chattanooga’s draft stormwater permit on public notice last month.  Unfortunately, TCWN believes this draft permit could use some major improvements and made several recommendations to TDEC.  The intent of these permits is to improve water quality - as is this permit won’t do that.

To learn more about Tennessee’s municipal stormwater program click here.

TDEC put on public notice the general stormwater permit for small municipalities.  This permit regulates about 85 local governments and sets the standards by which their urban runoff must be controlled.  Urban runoff is a major contributor to pollution in Tennessee’s rivers and streams - accounting for 18% of the contribution to polluted waters throughout the state. 

Take this opportunity to review the permit and let TDEC know how you think the permit could be improved in order to better protect our water quality.

EPA is working to prevent construction runoff from polluting our waters.  They announced plans to initiate national rulemaking to develop a program to minimize stormwater runoff from new development and redevelopment.  Sediment is the primary pollutant running off construction sites and polluting adjacent streams, but other pollutants can quite feasibly be included in the runoff.  Proper installation and maintenance of best management practices (BMPs) can keep runoff onsite during most rain events.  The EPA and states already have rules addressing construction sites, but this proposal will expand those rules and establish specific requirements for stormwater control.  They also intend to ensure consistency and analyze mechanisms to protect “sensitive areas.”  Five hearings across the country are being held to gather public input.  Unfortunately none of these hearings are being held in the southeast.  To learn more about this rulemaking process go to EPA’s stormwater website.