Background Info
Phase II Storm Water Management Program
- In March 2003, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) issued Phase II Stormwater Regulations to control pollutants from storm water runoff
- The regulations, initially focused on municipalities with populations of 100,000 and less
- In March 2006, these regulations were amended to include public entities such as school districts, state facilities, universities and other public institutions
- Under these regulations, school districts must apply for a permit by filing a Notice of Intent (NOI)
- Once the NOI is filed, the district receives a permit from the state, for a five (5) year period, authorizing the discharge of stormwater runoff from the school district property into adjacent Waters of the United States (public waters)
- The permit requires the district to initiate and implement a storm water management program by educating the school community about the storm water program and soliciting their participation in the control of pollution from storm water runoff
- The permit also requires the school districts to prepare storm sewer maps of the campus, conduct a field survey of illicit discharges (non-stormwater discharges) and develop a pollution prevention training program for Operations and Maintenance Staff.
Current Permits
- Under current permits, school district must fully implement their SWMP by the end of the five (5) year period, which ends on January 8, 2008
- Under current permits, Annual Reports are due to NYSDEC by June 1, 2008
New Second Term Permits
- As part on the ongoing SWMP, new permits will issued for another five (5) year term beginning on January 8, 2008 and extending to January 8, 2013
- Coverage for existing permittees will be automatically continued when the initial permit expires on January 8, 2008
Newly Regulated Permittees
- School districts, such as the Chappaqua Central School District, which did not obtain a State, permit (newly regulated permittees), during the first five (5) year period, must now file an NOI by January 9, 2008
- Newly regulated permittees have a three (3) year time frame has been to fully implement the SWMP, from January 9, 2008 to January 8, 2011
- Annual Reports for newly regulated permittees must be submitted by December 31 for the first year, and by June 1 of each subsequent year
Why the Concern with Stormwater Runoff?
- According to the U.S. EPA, stormwater runoff is the leading cause of pollution across the nation.
- Stormwater runoff is rainwater that runs off the driveways, roofs, paved parking lots and other impervious surfaces.
- When the rainwater hits the impervious ground, it cannot infiltrate into the soil and therefore, it travels over the impervious surfaces collecting pollutants such as:
- Pet Waste from our Yard, Streets and Parking Lots
- Fertilizers, Pesticides, Herbicides and Insecticides from our Lawns
- Detergents and Chemicals from Car Washing
- Motor Oil and Greases from our Automobiles
- Human Wastes from improperly maintained and overflowing Septic Fields
- Salt and De-Icing Chemicals from our Roads
- Construction Debris from Construction Sites
- Pet Waste from our Yard, Streets and Parking Lots
- Stormwater carrying these pollutants ultimately end up in our streams, lakes, reservoirs, ponds and oceans, causing bacterial contamination of our drinking water supplies, weed and algae growth and a reduction of oxygen levels in the water, affecting fish and other aquatic organisms.