Dunbar acts to complete paperwork
DUNBAR – Council agreed Thursday to allow Widmer Engineering Inc. of Connellsville to complete the paper work so that the borough can begin to meet new federal requirements pertaining to the stormwater management program. Richard Widmer, vice president of Widmer Engineering, said that the federal regulations require municipalities in “urbanized areas” to obtain permits and implement the new program beginning in March.
“The borough is now required to participate in the stormwater management program,” said Widmer. “It’s another one of those federal programs that you are not going to like very much but you are going to have to deal with it.”
Widmer said permit applications must be filed with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by March 10 and the full municipal program must be implemented by March 2008.
“DEP has developed a pre-approved plan to meet the March 2003 permit application requirement – the stormwater management protocol,” said Widmer.
Widmer said the federal government’s plan is to get rid of the most pollution in streams and rivers by 2008.
“This law was passed by the federal government five years ago,” said Widmer. “The regulations are similar to the sewerage regulations.”
Widmer said the plan is now entering the second phase, which includes small municipalities such as South Connellsville, Vanderbilt, Everson and Dawson boroughs, the cities of Connellsville and Uniontown and small townships.
The first step in the process is adopting the DEP five-year plan, said Widmer. The second step has to do with public education and outreach.
Widmer said it would be the borough’s responsibility to get the word out through advertisement.
“The public has to participate,” said Widmer.
“You can go to groups such as the Lions Club or the schools and have children get involved.”
Another step in the process is passing a new stormwater ordinance that deals with pollutants getting into local streams. The borough will also have to do some mapping so that DEP knows where the stormwater pipes are located in the borough.
Widmer said the borough also would be required to do a yearly inspection to make sure that pollutants are not draining into borough pipes and emptying into the stream.
“You will be required to check garages and the borough maintenance building to make sure that oil and other pollutants are not going down the drain and into the stream,” said Widmer. “If you find that there is a problem you will be required to correct it.”
Widmer said anyone coming into the borough who wants to “conduct earth disturbance activities,” such as building a new house or business, will be required to develop an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (E&S Plan), which minimize the potential for accelerated erosion and sedimentation during construction.
Widmer said the borough might have to work with the Soil Conservation Service on that one. He also said that the DEP would have to issue a permit before construction can begin and before land is moved.
The last regulation stipulates that municipalities must do regular yearly maintenance on their catch basins. They will be required to develop a plan that has to be accepted by DEP.
Widmer said the application fee is $100 and it will take his office at least five hours to fill out the form.
Councilman and ex-Marine Frank Zadell said, “Sometimes I wonder if anyone up there likes us. I don’t think they (the federal government) realize what something like this does to a small municipality.”