Agenda - 09-17-1996 - 8c - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 TRIANGLE J COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS W o r l d C l a s s 100 Park'Drive,P.O.Box 12276 Research Triangle Park,NC 27709 R e g i o n 919.549.0551 FAX:919.549.9390 July 20, 1996 Mr. Moses Carey, Chair Orange County Commissioners P.O. Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Mr.Carey: I am writing to request your organization's consideration of participating in an exciting new effort- the formation of the Upper Cape Fear River Basin Association. In cooperation with other agencies, including several interested local governments, Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) is initiating efforts to establish a forum for local governments, water suppliers, wastewater dischargers,and others in the Upper Cape Fear River Basin to come together to discuss water resources planning and management issues of mutual concern. Possible objectives of this proposed forum- the "Upper Cape Fear River Basin Association% are listed on Attachment#1. The formation and operation of this Association will be closely coordinated with and complementary to other cooperative planning efforts in the Cape Fear River Basin, including the activities of the Cape Fear River Assembly and the Lower and Middle Cape Fear River Programs. The geographical area of immediate concern to the proposed Association is anticipated to be the Jordan Lake watershed and the Deep River Basin(Attachment#2). Within this area there are 11 counties, 33 municipalities, and nearly 150 permitted wastewater discharge facilities. Permitted wastewater discharges total more than 140 million gallons per day. Clearly, water resources planning and management in this rapidly growing area is becoming an increasingly challenging and complex task. It is anticipated that the initial focus of the Association will be to consider developing a cooperative, coordinated approach to meeting certain NPDES permit monitoring requirements. Such an approach could be patterned after the program in effect in the Lower Neuse River Basin. The Lower Neuse River Basin Association, a coalition of more than 20 dischargers, has implemented a cooperative water quality monitoring program through a Memorandum of Agreement with the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management(DEM). That program has resulted in significant cost savings for several participants in the Association (Attachment#3). It has also improved the timeliness and usefulness of water quality monitoring data for DEM. Preliminary discussions with staff of DEM indicate that the State is willing to consider such an approach for the Upper Cape Fear River Basin, also. Significant cost savings may be achievable in the basin as a result of this effort; however,the primary benefit of the proposed Association will be greater opportunities for improved management and protection of the water resources in the basin.