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New Videos Educate Texas Builders on Storm Water
 In a series of videos, the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) has joined forces with NAHB to educate Texan builders and developers on the importance of complying with the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.
Commonly referred to as SWP3, or “Swip,” the plan is enforced by state and national environmental regulatory agencies to inhibit pollution from construction sites.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conduct construction site investigations and impose fines when violations are found. Because builder members were concerned over the lack of guidance from the agencies on SWP3 and the size of their fines, the Texas association and NAHB created the storm water training videos.
The videos are broken down into three modules:
- An introduction module shares first-hand accounts from builders and developers who have dealt with EPA inspections. Interviews were conducted with NAHB representatives, NAHB National Vice President Douglas Gilliland, NAHB Texas State Representative Jerry Carter and TAB Past President Bobby Bowling IV. The introduction also reviews the permits needed to comply with the law, and includes discussions with Inspector Everett Spencer, EPA’s storm water coordinator for Texas, and TCEQ Team Leader David Waterstreet on how their organizations are enforcing the law.
- The second storm module focuses on the paperwork that is needed and provides full explanations of the forms involved, with the goal of making compliance a less daunting task. Highlighted are the SWP3, the Notice of Intent (NOI) and the self-inspection process. Included are interviews with TAB Director of Regulatory Affairs Jay Dyer and Johnny Combs, president of Paradigm Engineering, who stress the importance of following storm water regulations and point out that inspectors rely on SWP3 to determine whether a builder or developer is in compliance with the permit.
- The third module goes to the construction site and focuses on properly installing and maintaining best management practices (BMP) and preparing for EPA and TCEQ inspections to avoid being fined.
 TAB Executive Director Kristi Sutterfield noted the importance of educating state association members on storm water prevention so that her members can focus on construction.
The videos were produced by the NAHB Production Group and are hosted by National Geographic correspondent Boyd Matson. They are scheduled to be released this spring.
This story was originally reported in the March/April issue of Texas Builder magazine, the official publication of the Texas Association of Builders, by Johnny Combs, president of Paradigm Engineering.
View a clip of the storm water videos during the Spring Board of Directors Meeting in Washington. You can see it on the board floor or in the Advocacy Booth.
Home builders associations interested in producing a customized storm water video for your members should contact Cary Goldweber in NAHB's Production Group at 800-368-5242 x8543 or cgoldweber@nahb.com.
‘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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