“The TMDL program has teeth and, if builders aren’t careful, it can take a bite out of the home building industry,” say the authors of the primer. “Luckily, builders have a well-earned seat at the TMDL table as important stakeholders in this publicly driven process. Unfortunately, too often the first time builders learn of costly TMDL-based requirements is when they are already finalized and being implemented.”
The NAHB kit provides a general overview of water quality standards, the 303(d) impaired waters listing process, basics of the TMDL development process and opportunities for the public to participate.
A second section of the NAHB resource describes the process and the elements that should be included when TMDLs for sediment are developed by the states or the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that they are scientifically defensible and take a practical approach.
“For NAHB members, it is not a matter of ‘if,' but ‘when’ the TMDL process will have an impact on how and where land is developed for residential construction,” the authors say. “So, ‘when’ the time comes for involvement to be necessary, ‘The TMDL Tool Kit’ is ready and available to meet the needs of the advocates of the home building industry and their technical experts.
For more information, email Chandler Morse at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 8327.
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