HR 4202 Green Infrastructure for CWA of 2009

Greetings!

NeFSMA anticipates the delivery of our first newsletter of the year this week, but this legislative item came across my desk that I'd like to share. I encourage you to look into it and, if inclined, support the Bill. www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h4202/text

House Bill 4202 would provide funding for five centers of research focused on Green Infrastructure development. Research is definitely needed and the results of the National Research Council 2008 Final Report to EPA indicated that this type of research structure is needed to stem problems caused to receiving water impacts caused by urbanization. The Bill also proposes grants for Green Infrastructure projects at the local level. Priority for funding would be given to projects that address combined sewer overflows, but it seems that straight stormwater management projects would be applicable as well.

Here is a summary of the Bill from American Rivers. I encourage you to read and let me know your thoughts.

2010 Membership Renewals

If you haven't already renewed your membership to NeFSMA, now is the time!

NeFSMA is your state organization for floodplain and stormwater management. We're here to answer your questions, provide training and education, and much more.

Our Purpose

1. To promote public awareness of floodplain and stormwater management.
2. To promote the professional status of floodplain and stormwater management and secure all benefits resulting there from.
3. To promote cooperation and information exchange between individuals and entities concerned with floodplain and stormwater management.
4. To keep individuals concerned with floodplain and stormwater management well informed through educational and professional seminars, and to provide a method for dissemination of information, both general and technical.
5. To inform and educate concerned individuals of pending floodplain or stormwater legislation, funding, and other related management matters.

Go to our website at http://www.nefsma.net/ or click here for a copy of the 2010 Membership Renewal form. If you have any questions, contact any board member.

Greetings From the Dallas EC10 Conference

I'm finally back at my room tonight after a very long day at the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) conference in Dallas, Texas. I'm down here to learn everything I can about the new three letter curse word taking over the construction industry. That's right; ELG (Effluent Limitation Guidelines) for the construction industry. Jesse Pritts with the EPA gave a summary of the expanded narrative limitations and the new numeric discharge limits that were finalized at the end of 2009 and will be finding their way into a NPDES permit near you. One thing to remember at this point is that these new rules will require much guidance. Questions that remain unanswered are widly varied and Jesse indicated the intent to publish something to answer a lot of the guidance questions early next year; before the turbidity limits go into effect in the EPA permit. IECA will play an important role in making sure this guidance is representative of the construction, consulting, and municipal stakeholders likely to be impacted.

*Rules went into effect February 1, 2010

*Beginning August 1, 2011 turbidity limits go into effect

*More information is available at www.epa.gov/guide/construction

The other reason I have come to this symposium of soil strategy specialists was to present a half-day session about purposeful Phase II MS4 compliance. A good spirited group of consultants, regulators, and MS4 coordinators attended this morning's interactive session and learned how to improve the measurable goals in their Storm Water Management Program. Most of these communities are just now putting together the nuts and bolts of their construction stormwater program, but we also see major changes in the works for federal post-construction rules. They also learned some of the questions they should be asking their permitting authority, their community and themselves in order to create a program that has the best chance to actually realize water quality improvements and not just meet blindly comply with the minimum control measures. It was fun and speakers were given a pen with a laser pointer in the head. Cool!

Signing off from Dallas,
Jesse W. Poore, CFM
2010 NeFSMA Chair

2010 National ASFPM Conference Registration Open

You can access full information and registration forms for the National ASFPM Conference in Oklahoma City by navigating to http:://www.floods.org/index.asp?menuid=381&firstlevelmenuid=181&siteid=1 or click on the image below.

Missouri FSMA Annual Conference - Registration Open

We received notice today that registration is open for the 15th Annual Missouri Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association Annual Conference. The dates are April 7-9th, 2010.

The links to information about the conference are included below if you are interested.

http://www.mfsma.org/conference

http://www.mfsma.org/docs/conf10/2010ConferenceBrochure.pdf

NeFSMA is still exploring options for a 2010 conference in Nebraska. We'll keep you posted with details as they become available.