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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-01-21 Sewer Committee MinutesSewer Cadmium Meeting Muwms January 21,1998 Councilors Amending: Nichi Farnham, Tun Tyler Staff Attending: 7 Ring John Murphy, Brad Moore Others Attending: Chip B nchinq Tom Emero Melting cocooned at 4:05 p.m. Brad explained that the problem was afaulty toilet that has since been replaced. The meter was replaced and the add ore was tested far any defects and tested out to be in Working order. The shadow, ifgranted, would be in the amount of 31,237.58. Abatementapproved. Tao Emco wrdeto rNuort a sews abetwent for. properties located M49 Bruce ]toad and 20 South Streit. Brad Moore explained that the only abatement to be considered at this meeting is for 20 South Street. Brad word to look at the building and nates that the high covsummicar on this second is a result of a lawn sprinkler system that was not completely installed. plumbingchangesw bemadethisspsdgtomax [he lawn sprinkler, which coat have a dedicated motor for that use only. Once the plumbing has been changed, it will become a "water only" bill. The request is for what was used this pad summer. if the abatement is granted, the amount calculated for 2 billing periods is $1,347.15. Abatement approved. a Jim Ring explained that staff has raeived a draft copy of the Stonnwata Phase B Regulations. fon provided the Committee with an outline of the regulations. Back in 1972, there was the Clean Water Act which established TaPDES, originmBy designed W regulate point source discharges suchas the Treatment Plant, ac. N 198], the Clean Water Act was amended to require implementation of a more cmnpreheurive approach for addressing monmw err discharges recognizing that stonnwater discharges also have a pollution impact. The first phase of Stor mvder targeted discharges associated with heavy industrial activity as well as the large municipalities Nat had smrm sewers (over 250,000) and medium municipal storm systems (over 100,000) and than specific discharges that were identified as having serious impacts on receiving waters. Phase B was to deal with smaller municipalities Qessthan100,000) Tfie EPA delayed in moving forward and subsequently was sued by the National Resources Defense Counsel hi 1995, resulting hi a consent decra. It was required that they propose Phase B by but September, which did not happen. It was published in the Federal Respeacronthe9thoflammry. Staffu in the process ofreviewing this biforrration. Phase E is focusing not on large capital Programs but preventive practices. Under this proposed rude there ere several additional categories of discharges that will be affected and automatically will require a Permit. One is oPentors of small municipal separate stormwater symemslma[ed withinanmbanizal area Bangmiswithwtheurbaniaedarea Theyalsowili include uwners/opermors of the small systems outside the formal urbanized areas if the population is at least 10,000 and has the density of 1,000 per square mile or greater. There maybe same outlying conmmnnitiea that are not m the urbardud mea but may fall under this. Anmhe, m terms of numbers affected, will be construction activities which disturb an acre m vpre oflmrd area Thereaw a number ofmdusbialfmilides that have separate swunwater discharges and in the proposed rule each of Nese categories liars automatically included and potaroally included. The City is automatically included but there is the potential for many in Maine and elsewhere to be affected by this. The intention of Storrawerer II is to reduce stomrwater pollution through ben nvanageman[ practices and public education. They have identified and listed 6 minimum controls, which the permittees will have to abide by in order m satisfy the PenhiairiB ralu'memems. Tice Citywmuldbavemdevdop aspecific Plan of beat management practices and education for the various departments that could have an impact. Al this point, the regulation as proposed, does not speak to any big capital programs such as a CSO program. Thee will be some financial impacts to the City. N order to identify and determine exactly what is involved, it takes a certain amount of staff time and more so after ge[tinginto [beprogmm There arealso ammber of other Potential expenses. Tunexplawed that depending upon how much is required to be don for each of the mnimum controls, it could be a fairly broad mage mfcoms. In looking at the construction permits and to insure that there is compliance, another position will probably be required. public Education and outreach already cAms Newsletters, DEP and EPA materials are available. Staff will numerous to discuss other ways of communicating to the public (Internet, rusertmit materials in sewer bilis, etc.). Thee is a 90 day comment Period through the 9th of April. BPA mount issue a final regulation by March 1, 1999. Those that would fall under this would have to submit an application by August 7, 2001 end the permit would have to be issued by the and of May, 2002. The present provision mchMes a reevaluation of the effectiveness of SicnnwmerOuproposedafterawtalofl3yems. Wnhinths90-daycommemperiod, staff wants to provide comments to EPA The Water Environment Federation is also very, inemested mains and they wig Aso be compiling comments and will forward them to the EPA mwell. Aflernaffdraflsthecommentsforthe EPA, limwillbringthem to the aen Sewer Committee Mating for review. This issue relates to the DEP Delegation ofpetrmmut authority to the State of Mame DEP. Qmently there are about 42 states that have had the authority delegated m them Maine is pursuing this and DEP is very solidly behind'. Ica explained that late last winter when the City received a notice that tbe Natural Resources Legislative Committer was going to consider this Jim and Brad Moore attended the meetings and voiced their concerns and objeedooa There are two diuLarge pertains, the Federal NEPDES pe+TMit(no cost), and the State Discharge licevse. lithe delegation dossgo though,, the City would be dealing with the DEP billy on both of these licenses, however, there would then be a charge for the N DES parent.. The state permit was originally $1,100 per year and with the combined pemtit the fee originally proposed was approximately 10 time this am nmr. This has since been adjusted to approximately$7,800. There is some federal money involved but in order to do this, the EPA told the DEP that they would need 1L13 more staff people to properly do what thry are doivg as well as what they will have to do. This mrmber is now down to 8. The total cost of the program is $1.58 mi8ioa $434000 of Na would came from the Federal Govemmem, $695,000 would come from the general fired and that figure is up from where it was a year no because they raluested an additional $250,000. If these figures are in place, the pens it fee for the Gty of Bangor would be $5,300 instead of $7,800. The rearming balance would be derived directly from the fees collected. Thiswillbebeard again within the neat week with the Natural Resources Commitee and fun plans to attend. His mascara will be objection ofthe fee schedule, pariculmly because of the increases and the fact thatwmewouldeduppayinglessonttgs Program. Jim will update the Committee mthe Read meeting. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was djoumd.