The 2010 draft construction stormwater permit is out for public review.  TCWN is working with other environmental groups to thorough review the draft permit, but her is a quick breakdown of the major changes:

• Sites covered under the current CGP automatically get coverage under the new CGP,
• Buffers are now required on all streams,
• Coverage under the permit may be delayed until other required permits (ARAP, wastewater, etc.) are issued,
• Quality assurance of the erosion prevention and sediment controls structures must be done by a licensed engineer or landscape architect,
• EPSCs must be consistent with the state’s EPSC handbook,
• Physical and chemical treatment must be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s protocol,
• All inspections require documentation,
• EPA’s construction stormwater effluent limitation guidelines were added.

Go to TDEC’s public participation page to check out the permit.

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.