Agenda - 08-30-2011 - 1b - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Regional Nutrient Management Rules $ August 2011 development as well as the necessary upgrades to the wastewater treatment plants in the watershed. The wastewater rules will not involve Orange County. The fiscal analysis prepared by the Planning Section of DWQ estimated the total cost to comply with the-Falls Rules to be more than $1.5 billion in 2010 dollars, with most of this cost borne by Focal-governments in the Upper Ideuse watershed. The most significant costs are forecast to be associated with the Stormwater rules for existing development, as well as for the upgrades to wastewater treatment plants that will be required. Given the projected-total cost for compliance with the Falls Rules, there is interest from -local governments within the watershed in modifying the Rules.. The Upper Neuse River Basin Association {UNRBA); of which Orange County is-a member, is preparing to build on the regional consensus achieved during the development of the Falls Lake Consensus Principles {previously ad-opted by Orange County and others) and pursue a strategy intended to consider possible revisTOns to the .Falls Lake Rules. Currently, the UNRBA is working to select an environmental consultant of national stature to conduct an evaluation of the Falls Lake Nutrient 1Vlanagement Strategy and associated water quality legislation. This evaluation, which is intended to determine options for changing the existing Falls Lake-RuleS, is likely to take several years, involve the collection of a considerable amount of water quality information, and require a substantial amount of money to complete. ~if successful, this process would likely result in a reduction of the currently mandated nutrient reductions listed above. Possible means of achieving this outcome could include revising the nutrient based water quality standards for Falls Lake, completing a Use Attainability Analysis for the lake, developing site specific water quality standards for the lake, or possibly pursuing a variance from water quality standards for the lake. This evaluation of the lake and regulatory options is also likely to determine nutrient loading to Falls Lake from each jurisdiction in the Upper watershed. Individual sections of both sets of nutrient management rules are discussed in more detail below. IV. Existing Development Stormwater A. Jordan Lake Stage I Requirements As required, in 2009 Orange County submitted a Stage (Existing-Development Stormwater Program to DWQ that included the following elements: • A public education program • A program to map stormwater outfalls, municipal separate stormwater systems, and waters of the US • An illegal discharge detection and elimination program