The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to initiate national rulemaking to strengthen its storm water program. In order to seek stakeholder input to help EPA shape this proposed rule, EPA will be holding a series of public listening sessions the last two weeks of January. Specific information, including locations and dates, is available in a Federal Register Notice. For individuals who cannot attend a specific listening session, EPA will make a listen-only conference call line available.
EPA is also announcing a webcast as a virtual listening session on Feb. 3, 2010, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST. This webcast will be similar to the five listening sessions and is intended for anyone who cannot participate in the on-site listening sessions.
EPA will give a brief presentation at the beginning of each listening session, but the intent of these listening sessions is to receive feedback from the public. The focus of the listening sessions is on the following preliminary rulemaking considerations as described in the Federal Register Notice:
• Redefine the area subject to federal storm water regulations;
• Establish specific requirements to control storm water discharges from new development and redevelopment;
• Develop a single set of consistent storm water requirements for all MS4s;
• Require MS4s to address storm water discharges in areas of existing development through retrofitting the sewer system or drainage area with improved storm water control measures; and
• Explore specific storm water provisions to protect sensitive areas.
Please note that these listening sessions are not intended to solicit comments on the recently finalized Construction and Development Effluent Limitation guidelines.
