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Stormwater Management in Christiansburg, VA

There’s a new page on my Special Studies section of MyVaRecources.com (informational site for citizens of the Town of Christiansburg and everywhere else this side of Pluto). (From any page on the site, simply click on the Special Studies link, then on the Stormwater link.)

Guess what the topic is …. “Stormwater“. There is very little discussion on the page, rather it is a collection of links that I found to be informative on the topic of stormwater. They cover a variety of the issues related to stormwater including: runoff, flooding, health hazards, environmental hazards, property damage, state laws, your rights under those laws, and general information sites.

A reader asked me a while back if I was really ignorant enough to believe that Town officials would read the blog. Well, the answer was and is, of course not! If they were that motivated to know about the problems around town, they would wait for someone to call them, they would be asking questions before making decisions, they would be demanding firm answers rather than “I think so.” They would already know about all of these sites and the information they contain. What I do, I do for citizens. Hopefully, there are some of those citizens who will decide to run for the office of Town Council or Mayor in the next election. It is my goal to be sure that citizens know their rights and that anyone running for office will be able to be effective leaders in the community.

I will note there there is/are one/or more elected/appointed official(s) that do/does read the blogs, does go to the sites, asks for more information, and is/are trying to make change. He/She/They is/are prevented from doing some of the things that need to be done by a block of those with voting power who insist things be done the way they have always been done. That is a problem that it will be up to voters to remedy. I could nearly guarantee that any citizen who spends 15 minutes looking at some of these information sites will know more about stormwater than most Town Council members. (Yes, I am being vague for a purpose. If you think citizens are the only ones that are being intentionally left in the dark, you are wrong!)

I will not provide information on who that/those may be but if you look at some of the vidoes or listen to some of the audios, or better yet, come to some of the meetings and see for yourself, you can tell who has done their homework and who hasn’t. I’ve been working hard to update the videos and all are loaded and ready to go except for the 5/19 Town Council Meeting which I am still working on. (Sorry, but trying to protect Historic Buildings from stormwater damage has to take priority.)

I understand that a citizen’s group is in the process of forming and when I hear more, I will let you know. I will be there! I have a few ideas of my own in the works and as soon as the rain slows down, it is going to be “Katie bar the door!” time. I want to see how the town responds before I get those going so that time and resources can be most effectively used…..planning….they’ll never figure out what I’m up to because they don’t understand planning:)

Anyway, if you have some time, check out the Stormwater page. If you find things on your own that could be added, let me know.

My thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement during these trying times. Your encouragement via emails and phone calls has kept me going! I’m feeling a lot like the David and Goliath scenario is in place. But, we all know how that one turned out!:)

Don’t forget to check out ThinkChristiansburg’s blog on Stormwater and the role of the DCR! Rain, Rain Go Away.
Have a great day!

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Posted by on May 28, 2009 in Citizen Participation, Environment, Historic Preservation, Land Use

 

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What is an MS4 and what does it mean for Stormwater Management in Christiansburg?

According to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation: Soil & Water Conservation: Virginia Stormwater Management Program Permits, MS4 is Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems Permit. Christiansburg is listed as one.

Way down on this page you’ll find a couple of interesting sections:
Stormwater discharges from Phase I municipal separate storm sewer systems are authorized under individual VSMP permits. Under these permits, the MS4 owner/operator must implement a collective series of programs to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the given storm sewer system to the maximum extent practicable in a manner that protects the water quality of nearby streams, rivers, wetlands and bays.

The programs must include elements to:

  • Operate and maintain structural stormwater controls.
  • Control discharges from areas of development and significant redevelopment.
  • Operate and maintain public streets, roads and highways.
  • Identify, monitor and control discharges from municipal waste treatment, storage or disposal facilities.
  • Control pollutants related to application of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
  • Implement an inspection program to enforce ordinances, which prohibit illicit connections and illegal dumping into the MS4.
  • Screen the MS4 for illicit connections and illegal dumping.
  • Implement standard investigative procedures to identify and terminate sources of illicit connections or discharges.
  • Prevent, contain and respond to spills that may discharge into the MS4.
  • Limit the infiltration of sanitary seepage into the MS4.
  • Identify, monitor and control discharges from municipal landfills; hazardous waste treatment, storage, disposal and recovery facilities; facilities subject to EPCRA Title III, Section 313; and any other industrial or commercial discharge the permittee determines to be contributing a substantial pollutant loading to the MS4.
  • Control pollutants in construction site runoff.
  • Conduct public education on stormwater.

and
The second phase of MS4 regulations became effective March 23, 2003, and requires that operators of small MS4s in “urbanized areas” (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest decennial census) obtain permit coverage for stormwater discharges. Click here for maps detailing current urbanized areas in Virginia.

Small MS4s include storm sewer systems operated by cities, counties, towns, federal facilities such as military bases, Veteran’s Affairs hospitals and research facilities, Department of Defense facilities and parkways, and state facilities such as VDOT, community colleges and public universities. Discharges from small MS4s are regulated under the General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (PDF).

Under that permit, small MS4s must develop, implement and enforce a program that includes the following “six minimum control measures”:

  • Public education and outreach on stormwater impacts.
  • Public involvement and participation.
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination.
  • Construction site stormwater runoff control.
  • Post-construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment.
  • Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations.

Guess their claim to fame on the public education end of things will be the town’s newly installed website that does have a page on stormwater. Guess the outreach, public involvement and participation must be interpreted as those times citizens come before council to complain.

Or maybe they’ll lay claim to blog articles like

Low Impact Development — Now THAT’S PROGRESSIVE

Low Impact Development Part 2: “What is this new LID stuff?”

Storm Water Management – In Christiansburg, In Virginia

The Many Faces of Storm Water

Where are the studies for stormwater and traffic? How old is that data?

Storms bring Stormwater … What does that mean for you?

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Posted by on May 23, 2009 in Citizen Participation, Land Use

 

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