05-10-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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i v MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 10, 2010 7:00 o `clock p.m. • (5. ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR NPDES PHASE H STORM WATER PERMIT, Continued) Separate Storm Sewer System. The objective of the public hearing is to educate the residents and to obtain their feedback. NPDES, which stands for the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, is a national regulatory program under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is administered at the state level by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. A requirement of the permit is that an annual report be prepared and submitted to the MPCA. Carlson stated the report has been prepared and will be submitted to the MPCA after the completion of this meeting. Best management practices under the permit include such things as public education and outreach, controlling illicit discharge, and street de- icing. There are legal ramifications if the City is not in compliance with the requirements of the permit. Those include the potential for the Federal EPA and/or the MPCA to impose criminal or civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day. Negative local impacts as a result of a failure to comply with the permit include a decline in aquatic biodiversity, habitat loss, increased flooding, impact of aesthetics, human health, and a decline in drinking water quality. Typical pollutants include de -icing operations, grass clippings, which should not be deposited in the street, erosion issues, and discharges from various sources. There are multiple solutions cities can implement to reduce the negative impacts, and they include such things as education of homeowners and construction of rain gardens and buffer areas. • Carlson stated Orono last year promoted the Clean Water Resource Fair held in Independence, provided storm water information on its website, promoted Water is Life Artwork, encouraged its residents to have rain barrels, participated in the Udder Market held in Maple Plain, and implemented a grass and leaf disposal program. Orono's Public Works Department also performs street sweeping on a regular basis, culvert repair, and removal of sump catch basin sediment. In addition, the City undertook some improvements in the Casco Point area last year. Other requirements of the permit mandate that cities look at impaired water bodies, prevent erosion, and attempt to reduce the negative impacts of discharge wherever possible. Wolsfeld Woods and Wood -Rill are two outstanding bodies of water within the City of Orono and have been identified as prohibited discharge areas, which cannot be expanded. The MPCA does perform audits of cities to ensure they are in compliance with the permit. Carlson indicated the City can take advantage of some grant funding to do storm water improvement projects. The Coal Tar Legislation addresses PAHS runoff, which comes from driveway sealants, and requires cities to conduct a pond inventory. The MS4 general permit is on a five year cycle, and the City of Orono's permit expires June 30, 2011. A new permit will need to be adopted or approved by the MN Legislature. The permit requirements for the new cycle are currently being reviewed by the Legislature and will focus on performance goals. Carlson stated the next step in the process is to open up the public hearing, prepare a response to each comment, and then submit those to the MPCA Mayor White opened the public hearing at 7:18 p.m. • Page 2 of 17