A STORM WATER OUTREACH

PROJECT TO

SMALL COMMUNITIES IN TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE

HOW WE GOT STARTED

Tennessee’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) participated in a MS4 work group meeting.

Purpose: Provide information on available training for small businesses impacting water quality in their community

Results: Attendees from communities in the area indicated they needed the training

Shortly after that ……………………….

ECOS through funding from EPA

TO THE RESCUE !!!!

The Environmental Council of the States’

Compliance Committee 

Issued Call for Proposals – April 13, 2005

for

Small Communities Compliance Assistance Pilot Project Grants

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS !!!

Tennessee’s proposal: conduct small communities Train the Trainer Storm Water management project

Funding amount: $14,000

Target: 75 small communities with a population between 3,300 and 10,000

WHY DID WE APPLY?

The grant provided the opportunity to:

affirmatively respond to a prior request-meet a demand

leverage resources

apply existing knowledge and information

expand use of previously developed materials

PROJECT GOALS

1. Decrease storm water violations

2. Train a trainer for targeted small local governments

3. Help cities understand their environmental obligations

4. Encourage adoption of environmental policies and ordinances and use of Small Communities Audit Policy, if needed

5. Help assess the staff technical skills

6. Provide information on storm water rules and impacts of poor water quality from storm water run off

PROPOSED ACTIVITIES

Conduct a survey to determine current knowledge of environmental rules, regulations and to determine environmental resources

Provide EMS training and materials

Encourage participation in the State’s Pollution Prevention Partnership that provides environmental training discounts

Provide outreach assistance, technical advice, and follow-up to small cities

Conduct 3 train the trainer workshops

SAMPLE SURVEY QUESTIONS

1. Does your Town have an Environmental Manage-ment System (EMS)?

2. Are you or other staff familiar with Storm water - Best Management practices?

3.  Would you like to attend a free workshop on training staff person in storm water compliance matters?

4.  In what areas of your Town’s operations would you feel environmental assistance is needed?

5. Is staff available to handle/address environmental issues for your Town?  

6. Does your town need help understanding environmental rules or requirements?  

ADDITIONAL SURVEY QUESTIONS

Have you observed any of the following at a Town facility?

•Dust•Odors•Stressed Vegetation•Discolored soil or water •Stressed, Dead, or dying fish or wildlife •Smoke•Open Burning

KEY SURVEY RESULTS

109 small communities were sent the survey. 27 small towns, responded. (24.8% response rate)

89% (24 of 27) said they would attend a workshop85% (23 of 27) without an EMS 44% (12 of 27) wanted more information on Best Management Practices (BMPs)67% (18 of 27) have 5 or fewer staff to handle environmental issues

OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOP PURPOSE

Provide a Train the Trainer Storm Water workshop, an overview of EMS and information about TP3.

Discuss storm water violations now occurring within the State and help towns better understand environmental requirements, and encourage adoption of environmental policy and appropriate ordinances.

Help small cities assess technical skills and identify storm water training needs. 

Resources when they discover problems!

WORKSHOPS

The Agenda for four workshops included:Overview of workshop sponsors and a preview of why the workshops are neededStorm water/pollution prevention overviewReview of sample storm water ordinancesEMS OverviewSmall Communities Compliance Assistance Policy ReviewVideo on solutions to problems Resources

Workshop sponsors and a preview of why the workshops are needed

This Project represented a partnership of:

EPA

ECOSState of Tennessee

Local Government Participation

WHY SHOULD THE LOCAL OFFICIALS ATTEND?

Newspaper articles on community non compliance issues and resulting penalties were provided

Pictures were shown of what can happen when stormwater controls aren’t properly in place

Dominoes

COMMUNITY WATER COMPLIANCE ISSUES

•TDEC detected a higher than usual E-Coli bacteria level when it a staph infection outbreak among XXX River Rafting Guides. At least ten Rafting Guides have contracted staph infections in recent weeks, including two who required hospitalization.

•The five‑year permit, sets a staggered series of goals to achieve compliance, such as enacting laws to prohibit illicit pollution discharges and construction storm‑water runoff. The county's storm‑water control program progress would be measured against its originally stated goals.

Examples of Erosion and Sediment Problems

Silt fence not maintained or poorly directed flow

Storm drain inlet not protected

Have you seen this in your neighborhood?

Storm water regulatory and pollution prevention overview

•Stormwater rules

•Stormwater runoff

•Watershed(s)

•How to identify sources of stormwater pollution

•Adoption of Environmental Policy(ies) and ordinance(s)

•Resources- TP3

REGULATORY HIERARCHY

•Congress (Clean Water Act)

•Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

•Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

•States (NPDES Permit)

•Local (Permit, Policy, and Ordinance)

Storm Water Pollutants

•Oil & Grease•Transmission fluids•Hydraulic fluids•Antifreeze•Lawn care chemicals•Toxic chemicals•Sediment•Bacteria

Why a Watershed Matters

•Everybody lives within a watershed•Protecting watersheds can prevent problems like:

–Pesticides found in local wells–Fish Population decline–Polluted streams, creeks and rivers–No swimming sign(s) on creeks and rivers

Introduction to Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

Our Objective was to introduce the concept, requirements and benefits of:

•a systematic way of managing an organization's environmental aspects

•a focus on continual improvements

•a way to address immediate and long term impact of products, services, and activities on the environment;

•a tool to improve environmental performance.

EMS RESULTS!

•Improved environmental performance

•Reduced liability

•Improved compliance

•Reduced cost

•Fewer accidents

•Enhanced trust

When the unexpected happens-Non compliance-

Utilize the Small Communities Audit PolicyJoin the State’s Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3)Identify problems before someone finds them for youCorrect deficiencies/problemsParticipate in training programsBe proactive in protecting the environment!

WORKSHOP HANDOUTS

Each workshop participant received:

a hard copy training manual

a compact disk (CD) of all workshop materials that included:

-sample storm water ordinances

-slide presentation

-news articles on cities facing problems

-EPA Compliance Assistance Policy

-a landscaping brochure

WHAT DID THEY HAVE TO LOSE OR GAIN?

PROJECT RESULTS

38 participants from small communities attended the training

Pre and Post tests indicated a knowledge base of 75% prior to the training and 92% knowledge post training

Workshop materials are included in curriculums for local government training

All materials are included on Department’s web page

LESSONS LEARNED

Develop realistic goals Define a narrow focus and target groupUtilize existing materials/resourcesUnderstand the variables—community characteristics Know the audience Have incentivesFully understand gov’t contract process

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

Healthy and Compliant

Communities

Identified Need

Willing Partners

Available Resources

Interested and

Informed Leaders

QUESTIONS ????

Tennessee Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

1-800-734-3619

E-mail: BGSBEAP@state.tn.us

Web: www.state.tn.us/environment/ea/sbeap