Agenda - 06-07-1993 - VII-C - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 While urban runoff impacts are less widespread than, for example, agricultural impacts, they can have severe impacts on local water quality, and the harmful contributions of urban runoff are increasing in the Albemarle-Pamlico region. The expansion of stormwater control regulations to apply to the entire watershed would provide inland waters and downstream estuarine waters with the same protection from urban and suburban runoff that is now afforded coastal waters. In addition, the implementation of these regulations should be conducted with increased levels of monitoring to ensure proper construction, operation, and maintenance and with increased availability of technical assistance to those who are subject to these regulations. (See Water Quality Action Plan, Management Action G.) • Improve outreach to small landowners and small logging operators to increase education concerning forest practice guidelines for water quality protection. Landowners and logging operations can voluntarily use forestry best management practices (BMPs) to remain exempt from the Sedimentation and Pollution Control Act, and their use of forestry BMPs helps to protect water quality. Increased outreach efforts to educate small landowners and logging operators about forestry BMPs and regulations would encourage the use of practices which protect water quality. (See Water Quality Action Plan, Management Action H.) • Create an enforcement program which specifically targets nonpoint source violations of water quality standards. Currently, it is difficult to enforce against nonpoint sources of pollution for violations of water quality standards. Nonpoint source enforcement actions are time and labor intensive and usually only occur in response to citizen complaints. A specific program for nonpoint source enforcement would increase active enforcement of water quality standards and provide more complete resource protection. (See Water Quality Action Plan, Management Action J.) • Increase efforts to research alternative on-site wastewater treatment systems;investigate the adequacy of the protection that current on-site wastewater regulations provide for water quality; improve maintenance inspections of existing septic systems. In the Albemarle-Pamlico region, approximately 4.4% of the population is served by septic tanks. Much of the land in the region, however, is unsuitable for effective operation of septic systems. Additional research is needed on alternative systems which can be used in areas where conventional systems are unsuitable. As they are proven effective, the use of alternative systems can be supported through the nonpoint source nonagricultural cost- share program discussed above. Installed septic systems and alternative systems should be more closely monitored through increased levels of local enforcement. A small fee charged when systems are installed could support local inspections. In addition, the impacts of conventional systems and the adequacy of existing regulations needs further research. (See Water Quality Action Plan, Management Action E.) • Consider the establishment of a state marinas policy as a forum to address concerns regarding siting, maintenance, public trust rights, cumulative impacts, sewage management, public education, and permit enforcement for marinas, piers, and mooring areas;provide cost-share opportunities to support projects to retrofit existing docking areas with pump-out equipment; increase education programs concerning water quality impacts of boating. Recreational and commercial boats can contribute a variety of pollutants to the estuarine environment, particularly in places where boats are docked or stored. Most pollution caused by boating, however, is preventable or controllable. Proactive strategies should be • pursued to manage boating sources of pollution. A state marinas policy may provide for enhanced protection of estuarine resources and public trust rights. This policy should Executive Summary --8