May 31, 2010
Nation's Building News

The Official Online Newspaper of NAHB

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Environment
Completing EPA’s Storm Water Management Survey Can Take 70 Hours

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made more changes to a pair of storm water management surveys it plans to distribute to 2,400 builders and developers in July.

NAHB continues to voice its objections to the questions, some of which require respondents to detail sensitive financial information. The surveys are still too burdensome as well, with the longer version expected to take about 70 hours to complete, according to the EPA’s own estimates.

The agency is accepting comments from the development community through June 9. The draft is available at the EPA storm water Web site.

The survey is being sent to landowners and developers to gather information on their current storm water management practices as the EPA prepares a new rulemaking designed to further reduce storm water runoff from job sites.

“As sites are developed, there is an increase in areas where water cannot infiltrate, so storm water volume increases,” according to the EPA website. “The resulting storm water flows across roads, rooftops and other surfaces, transporting pollutants that are then discharged into waterways. EPA intends to propose a rule to control storm water from, at minimum, newly developed and redeveloped sites, and to take final action no later than November 2012.”

The EPA will use the results as it considers five new regulations, including one that would require existing developments to retrofit inadequate storm water management controls and another that would require developers to create long-term controls designed to better manage storm water discharges well past the construction phase.

To submit comments to the docket — Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0817 — click here.

For additional information, e-mail Ty Asfaw at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8124.


Are You Ready for a Visit From the EPA? 

“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.

The publication has been prepared to help builders comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's stormwater requirements, and includes information on state permitting programs and more than 50 of the most commonly used Best Management Practices.

Also included are tips on compliance, including how to handle visits from inspectors.

To view or purchase this guide online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.

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