WATER POLLUTION: House panel takes on urban stormwater runoff
Katherine Boyle
Environment and Energy Daily
03/16/2009
Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will scrutinize efforts to address urban stormwater runoff at a Thursday hearing as concerns about the nation's water supplies increase.
The hearing arrives as U.S. EPA is looking at revamping its stormwater program in the wake of a critical report by the National Research Council in October.
The report says EPA must make radical changes to its stormwater program in order to reverse degradation of freshwater resources. The council recommended that EPA base all stormwater and other wastewater discharge permits on watershed boundaries rather than political boundaries. EPA requested the study in order to improve its Clean Water Act regulations for stormwater pollution.
The study also says EPA should attempt to integrate stormwater management and land management practices, noting that limiting impervious surfaces is one way to address the problem (Greenwire, Oct. 15, 2008).
Members of Congress have been looking at urban stormwater problems as well. The House last week passed major water infrastructure and cleanup legislation that included several provisions aimed at stemming stormwater pollution.
An amendment to H.R. 1262 would require states drawing on state revolving fund cash to give priority to projects that construct natural, vegetation-based systems to filter and store stormwater runoff and floodwaters for future water supply and recharging of natural aquifers. The amendment would provide technical assistance and grants to communities that include bioswales and other forms of green infrastructure in their water management plans and infrastructure improvements.
Another amendment, by committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.), would require states to set aside 20 percent of their combined sewer and sanitary sewer grants for communities that implement green infrastructure or other water and energy efficient improvements (E&ENews PM, March 12)...
Schedule: The hearing is Thursday, March 19, at 10 a.m. in 2167 Rayburn.
Witnesses: TBA.
