NAHB members concerned about plans to expand federal storm water management regulations for the construction and development industry have a chance to help shape policy this week.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has drafted two surveys that, once completed, will be sent to about 2,400 developers and land owners in July.  

NAHB is seeking comments on the contents of the surveys. Click here to read the long version of the survey and click here to read the short version. Send comments to Ty Asfaw, an environmental policy analyst at NAHB. The comments need to be submitted to her by this Friday, May 7.

The new surveys will be posted on the EPA’s website within a few weeks for a 30-day comment period, but NAHB has acquired a prepublication version to provide comments early.

Click here to read the survey and send comments to the EPA.

NAHB is encouraging members to rewrite questions so that they are clearer and more straightforward and to also make suggestions that would help the agency better understand how the construction and development industry manages storm water runoff on current projects.

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.

As the result of comments submitted by NAHB late last year on the first draft of the survey, the questions have become more focused and the agency has created a shorter version of the questionnaire, according to Asfaw.

However, according to members of the NAHB Environmental Issues Committee who discussed the revised survey during the association's recent spring board meeting, it still takes too long to complete the survey and questions about a firm’s financial position are too intrusive.

The original survey would have taken about 61 hours to complete, according to EPA estimates. In the latest draft, 1,500 developers and land owners will be sent a short version of the survey, which should take about 20 hours to complete, and 870 others will get the long version, which takes about 70 hours.

Both the short and long versions of the questionnaire require respondents to disclose revenue figures and the value of projects over the last five years, and the long version requires more detailed financial information.

Developers and owners will be selected randomly by the EPA to participate and under federal law recipients of the surveys will be required to complete them.

For more information, e-mail Ty Asfaw, 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.