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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 15, 2000 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~-m <br />SUBJECT; Oran a Count Stormwater Pro ram for Lands within the Neuse River Basin <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) ~] <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Phased Implementation Schedule <br />Minutes from the Public Hearing <br />Orange County Stormwater Program for Lands within <br />the Neuse River Basin (Ordinance under separate <br />cover) <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig Benedict, Ext. 2592 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane (336)227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To comply with NC Administrative Code Section 15A NCAC 2B .0235. To provide <br />greater water quality protection within the nutrient sensitive Neuse River Basin within Orange <br />County. <br />BACKGROUND: The Neuse River Basin Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy is a set <br />of rules adopted in August, 1998 by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) with a <br />goal of a 30% reduction in nitrogen output from each of the following sources: Wastewater <br />Treatment, Urban Stormwater, Agriculture, and Nutrient Application., Included within the rule is the <br />protection of Riparian Buffers due to their ability to aid in the removal of nitrogen from groundwater. <br />The excess amounts of nitrogen currently entering into the Neuse River have been the primary <br />cause of the recent algae blooms and the resulting fishkills in the coastal areas of the basin. <br />The Model Stormwater Program addresses the requirements of the Neuse River Basin Nutrient <br />Sensitive Waters Management Strategy (also known as the "Neuse Rules") as they apply to <br />stormwater. The stormwater section of these rules applies only to the larger local governments <br />within the basin, and includes Orange County. The main focus of the stormwater requirements is to <br />reduce nitrogen loaded runoff from leaving urban and rural areas and entering the streams and <br />rivers of the basin. <br />The Orange County Stormwater Program and Ordinance are based upon the Model Stormwater <br />Program and other guidance documents provided by the Triangle J Council of Governments and <br />the Environmental Protection Agency. <br />