New stormwater regulations ‘good, but burdensome’
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
MCDONALD – Robinson Township is just one of many municipalities across the commonwealth working to comply with state and federal stormwater regulations. But for the small community, the tedious nature of the endeavor translates into a need for increased manpower.
“It’s a good concept, but burdensome,” said township solicitor Gretchen Moore of the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit, or MS4.
Township staff, supervisors, attorneys and engineers have been working for months to adopt a new ordinance in compliance with the regulations, aimed to minimize the impacts from runoff, including better pollution control caused by stormwater.
The board of supervisors approved increasing a part-time administrative assistant position to full time Tuesday in order to deal with the increased work associated with MS4.
“The office has changed incredibly,” said Chairman Rodger Kendall. “MS4 is a stranglehold on municipalities. It takes up a lot of time.”
According to regulations, municipalities are required to incorporate the following elements related to managing stormwater: public education, outreach and participation, elimination of illicit discharge, construction site runoff control, new development and redevelopment stormwater management and pollution prevention. The DEP can fine up to $150,000 if required systems are not in place.
Supervisors also approved MarkWest’s Cibus Ranch developer’s agreement, which includes access to the site by the township in order to test runoff, as required by MS4. Cibus Ranch is the natural gas electric-powered compressor station to be built between Route 980 and Quicksilver Road.
Supervisors will vote on two ordinances relevant to MS4 during their July 13 meeting.
In other business, township supervisors voted to extend grading hours for the development of Cibus Ranch. The existing ordinance allows for work Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Supervisors, minus Mark Brositz, who was not in attendance, voted to allow MarkWest to work from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday for 60 days. MarkWest made the request in order to catch up with its construction schedule.