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EPA Aims at Reducing Storm Water Permit Paperwork
Action by the Environmental Protection Agency to encourage regional offices to accept erosion and sediment control plans approved by local authorities instead of requiring duplicative permitting paperwork is a victory for the environment, builders and home buyers, who stand to benefit from associated cost savings, according to NAHB.
Following a meeting with NAHB members, the EPA last week contacted its regional offices and state agencies that administer its programs to encourage them to use the agency’s “local qualifying program” guidelines to reduce storm water permit paperwork for builders.
While in Washington to attend NAHB’s spring board of directors meeting, association members visited EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to reiterate their long-standing request for regional EPA offices to use the detailed information on storm water management that builders and developers already supply to their cities, counties and local jurisdictions, rather than requiring duplicative forms and additional fees.
Depending on the size of the lot and the complexity of the project, builders spend up to $7,000 per home complying with the federal storm water permitting regulations.
“We are delighted that EPA agrees that encouraging the so-called local qualifying program would be a time and cost savings for both the agency and builders,” said NAHB President David Pressly. “We both have the same goal: to protect our nation’s waterways from construction site runoff. For years, NAHB has argued that there are more efficient ways to achieve that goal.”
NAHB must do its part as well, Pressly said. “I call on our state and local association leaders to contact their permitting authorities and tell them about this rule,” he said. “The additional time and effort needed to complete this duplicative paperwork can be eliminated, and it’s another way the industry can keep housing affordable.”
For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132.
 ‘Storm Water Permitting: A Guide for Builders and Developers’ Available at BuilderBooks.com
“Storm Water Permitting: A Guide for Builders and Developers,” available through BuilderBooks.com, provides a starting point for builders and developers to use in locating and understanding storm water permitting requirements.
To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.
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