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.