Stormwater regulations

[Irv]

EPA would like to announce that we are requesting comments on a survey
for a rule to strengthen stormwater regulations. Please feel free to
forward the following message to groups who are interested in
commenting.

Stormwater discharges from developed sites can negatively impact water
quality through increases in stormwater volume and increased pollutant
loads to the receiving waters. These impacts, as well as
recommendations to mitigate them, were recently documented by the
National Research Council in a report titled ???Urban Stormwater
Management in the United States.???

Because stormwater discharges from the built environment are a
principal contributor to water quality impairments nationwide, EPA
signed an FR Notice announcing:

??? Its plans to propose and take final action by November 2012 on a
national rulemaking to strengthen stormwater regulations and to
establish a comprehensive program to reduce stormwater discharges from
newly developed and redeveloped sites; and
??? A proposed information collection request (ICR) to inform the
national rulemaking.

The proposed ICR consists of three separate mandatory questionnaire
instruments: one specific to the construction industry, one directed
to owners and operators of MS4s, and one directed to States and U.S.
territories.

The industry questionnaire is designed to gather current or baseline
information on a firm???s finances, and information on stormwater
management and controls for newly developed and redeveloped sites
including design, and installation and maintenance costs of such
practices.

The MS4 and State/Territory questionnaires would gather information to
characterize the current scope of the program; the level of stormwater
controls and best management practices at newly developed and
redeveloped sites; incentives and disincentives for such practices;
and the current burden and expenditures to States and MS4s associated
with existing requirements.

The Federal Register Notice has a 60-day comment period. In order to
facilitate your review and comment, I would like to alert you to the
following website where you can find the following: 1)FR Notice 2)
Fact sheet; 3) ICR support statement; and 4) Questionnaires.
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking .

We look forward to discussing this ICR with you during the comment
period. If you have questions about the Notice, the proposed ICR, and/
or the rulemaking, please contact me at (202) 564-1489 or
galavot...@epa.gov.

Thank You! Holly Galavotti