JANUARY 2013

1 Newsletter banner new

IN THIS ISSUE
HELPFUL LINKS
LAWSUIT STOPS EPAs SW REGULATION
EPA to STRENGTHEN SW REGS
BMP Corner
RESTORING HABITAT & REPUTATION
ONLINE COURSES
HAYBALES, WHY NOT?
COMPLIANCE TOOLBOX
GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR TRAINING!
UPCOMING EVENTS!
MS4 NPDES PERMIT CERTIFICATION
Quick Links
  
Buy Now
 
Order Your Field Manual Today!
field manual
 

View our videos on YouTube


  

 

Love Your Country....Love Your Clean Water 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SESWA Logo

JOIN TODAY! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weather.com 

KNOW YOUR WEATHER BEFORE BREAKING GROUND! 


 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


 
Stimulus Projects in Georgia
  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  






 

Lake Lanier Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Rainbow Trout w Stonefly Numph
  
NPDES + WILDLIFE CONSERVATION




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






 

IECA Southeast Chapter Logo 

International Erosion Control Association 
JOIN TODAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  



 
  
  
  

US Drought Monitor 
US Drought Monitor
  

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District 
   

  


KEEP AMERICA FISHING  

 

 

 

 

join our mailing list  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings!  

 

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there"!  Will Rogers

 

Getting run over by bulls

A lot is happening this year with storm water! To help you be on the right track with these changes, this newsletter will keep you informed with issues like..... the new 5 year NPDES General Permit for Construction, due out on August 1st, 2013; the publishing of the new Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control (Green Book), due out by June 30th (hopefully), as well as new NPDES Training Institute courses for ES&PC Design GAR100002 Projects, NPDES Field Inspection, and the like.

LAWSUIT STOPS EPA STORMWATER REGULATION! 
 
A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Environmental Protection Agency exceeded its authority by trying to regulate water as a pollutant and restricting storm water flow into a Fairfax County
Dirt and Phosphorous...Oh My!
 creek.  "Stormwater runoff is not a pollutant, so EPA is not authorized to regulate it," said federal judge Liam O'Grady, who sided with the county and Virginia in the ruling.In July, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors filed a lawsuit against the EPA. The agency proposed a plan that required the county to control the flow of water in order to manage sediment discharges in Accotink Creek watershed.

There's no doubt that over regulation of environmental laws can kill an economy, but we have to remember the damage caused to our country because of the rampant lack of understand regarding the economic damage caused by storm water volume and velocity. I hear what the Judge is saying, that storm water technically itself is not a pollutant, but is the judge also saying we shouldn't somehow regulate it? Let's talk China......Between 2010 and 2020, China will invest $615 billion in water infrastructure improvements from storm water damage to their environment.  Poor enforcement of current laws has put China behind the eight ball and has caused an economic catastrophe that will most like grow in coming years due to poor enforcement of existing water laws and new regulations.  Many report that the scale of the problem is so large that it's doubtful their environment will significantly improve. Wouldn't it be to Americ
a's shame to underestimate again the economic damage that occurs from storm water runoff! 
So, whether you agree or disagree with the Judge in this case, educate yourself first before you form a strong opinion.  Check into the volumes of easily available information that displays the damage we've caused and are currently causing to our nations waterways due to the unrestricted volume of impervious surface water in our urban centers, let alone the hard to regulate non-point source pollutants that go with it!  The Clean Water Act has helped us recover from much of water quality issues, but managing storm water volume is an important component to the ongoing challenges we face within our rapidly growing urban areas. 
As Americans, we must stop polarizing on these issues and find common ground that will ultimately result in fewer environmental attorneys, and an American economy and environment that will not only sustain our generation, but our children and their children's generation!

EPA INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN THE 

EPA NPDES

NATIONAL STORMWATER PROGRAM 

  

Tallapoosa RiverThe EPA has already announced that it will propose a rule to strengthen the national storm water program by June 10, 2013 and complete final action by December 10, 2014. The rule making is to establish a program to reduce storm water discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites and make other regulatory improvements to strengthen its storm water program.

MORE

FISHING TRIP WINNER....

WILL YOU BE THE ONE?

Kaaba Striper Trip Aug 2012

 

 
Well, believe it or not, it's NOT uncommon for us to contact a lucky former course attendee and have them tell us they just can't go on a FREE 1/2 day guided fishing trip.  So...we are still in search for a winner!  
 
Clements Fishing Day on Lanier  
 
Keep in mind that you and one other person can go, and it's a great time with one of Lake Lanier's top Striper Fishing Guides!

RESTORING HABITAT - and REPUTATION!

Janice Kaspersen - Erosion Control   

Lake Lanier InformationThe US Army Corps of Engineers has a tough reputation to overcome. Although it has spent more than a century undertaking some of the largest public works and flood control projects in the nation, our ideas of what appropriate projects are have changed over the years. This is especially true in the Everglades, where the Corps once filled in (or "reclaimed") swamps to create farmland, and is now undoing much of that work, at great expense, and trying to restore the region's natural hydrology. 
CONSTRUCTION & NPDES COMPLIANCE
American's Working Together for WATER QUALITY!"
 
  Click Here for
Classroom NPDES Training 

  

SIGN UP FOR A COURSE 

 

***FREE FIELD MANUAL 

WITH EVERY 

 

CLASSROOM REGISTRATION!***

 

 

Find us on Facebook

 

   View our profile on LinkedIn
AGC New LOGO

 PROUD TO BE AGC's STORMWATER

TRAINING PROVIDER

WHAT's Wrong With Placing HAYBALES in a SWPPP for Construction! 

 

Haybale damage Most of us in the business of construction and/or NPDES site inspections have seen a lot problems with hay bales when they're used in channels.  It's kind of strange how some states still allow haybales to be used for check dams, while others have outlawed it for years.

 

So.....what's the problem?  Why does GDOT and many other DOTs continue to use hay bales?  Is it an installation issue or is it one of those best management practices (BMPs) that we should never use regardless? 

 

Answer - Hay or straw bales are very impermeable and are not able to withstand high flows, and care must be taken during placement and installation to avoid failure from undercutting, overtopping, and end-running. USDA NRCS states that water depth should never exceed 1 foot at any one time and straw bale structures should never be installed across streams, ditches, or where flow is concentrated because they can exacerbate erosion and flooding!

MORE

Compliance Toolbox
 
 
 
2012 303d LIST -
GEORGIA
 

CITY OF ATLANTA - CAD Sample Plans
 

 

BUILDING & RENOVATING A POND in GEORGIA    

 

CONCRETE WASHOUT PROCEDURES

 

STATE WATERS (CCouch Ltr 2004)  

 

LOCAL ISSUING AUTHORITIES - NEW FEB 2012 List

 

NOIs and NPDES GENERAL PERMITs

 

ALTERNATIVE BMP GUIDANCE DOC

 

TMDL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

 

PLAN REVIEW GUIDANCE DOC

 

NPDES FACT SHEET (Summarized changes)

 

STREAMBANK & SHORELINE RESTORATION in GEORGIA 

 

GESA Exemption #8

 

BUFFER VARIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR DAMS

Classroom NPDES Training
Must know's about our training!
  1. We GUARANTEE our Training! If you don't pass a test when you train with us, you will not pay to re-test!
  2. field manualFor a limited time - you will receive a FREE Field Manual with EVERY registration! This is a $20 value, and is MUST HAVE in the field.  Sign up today for any level 1A, 1B, Level II or any re-cert class and get your Field Manual on the day of training ABSOLUTELY FREE!! REGISTER HERE 
  3. We offer training now in Gainesville, Athens, Lawrenceville, Tifton and Cumming in addition to our other training locations throughout the  State.  Be sure to check out our SCHEDULE OF COURSES for all of our training locations!  REGISTER HERE 
  4. We offer PRIVATE COURSES at your location!  These are often the same price or reduced price from our regular training!  Call today to discuss your training needs. 678-469-5120  
  5. We offer online recert training for all Certification levels that can be done from the comfort of your home or office - 24 hours a day!  Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the online re-cert training. Visit www.geologiconline.com to sign up for an online recert class, or call us with any questions at 678-469-5120  
  6. Want some feedback from our past students?  Read reviews from our "Raving Fans" 

STORMWATER CONFERENCES

IECA ENVIRONMENTAL CONNECTION 2013

SAN DIEGO, CA

 

SOUTHEAST STORMWATER ASSOCIATION (SESWA)

ANNUAL CONFERENCE - CHARLOTTE, NC

 

GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF WATER PROFESSIONALS (GAWP)

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE - ATHENS, GA

  

GEORGIA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION (GRWA)

ANNUAL CONFERENCE - JEKYLL ISLAND, GA

 
NPDES MS4 Training
Click Here for 
CERTIFIED MS4 OPERATOR CERTIFICATION!
 
MS4 Inspections - City of Atlanta We customize our MS4 courses around your training needs.  One or two day trainings available! Our 2-Day Training is awesome and combines classroom with actual field inspections in a great way!  
 
We also help you with your reporting.  Have a difficult time organizing all of those records and submitting that Annual Report to the EPD? Not only do we provide MS4 Training for cities, counties, DOTs and universities, we also get you connected with a cost effective solution for your MS4 Annual Reporting Requirements!  The MS4 Web and Desktop program is a customizable, state of the art software that can make annual reporting less expensive, much simpler, and a lot easier! 

 

CONTACT US if you would like more information about our highly rated training!

Fishing w GrandpaIt's important that we sacrifice a little to give our future generations an equally great place to work, live, fish, hunt, and enjoy.  As construction picks back up, let's remember the importance of having a healthy economy; a strong construction sector that is mindful of storm water runoff impacts to America's  watersheds.  
Before the Clean Water Act was passed, sediment, sewage, and chemicals caused America's rivers, like the Chattahoochee River, to be void of fish. As Americans, we cannot take our eyes off of the importance of water quality. Respecting our neighbors downstream is what the Clean Water Act is all about! There is a lot happening today with water regulations that affect a diverse community of public and private entities. If you have areas of interest that you would like included in this newsletter, please contact us at 678-469-5120. 
LOCO Spencers NPDES Training

 

 Sincerely,
 
NPDES Logo  
 
T. Luke Owen, PG

 TLO Sig


 
President/Principal Training Consultant
NPDES Stormwater Training Institute