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PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE FIELD MANUAL! |
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FISH WITH KIDS!
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International Erosion Control Association JOIN TODAY 
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning
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MEET YOUR END OF YEAR CEU REQUIREMENTS
& RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT
NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 24th when you REGISTER for any online or classroom course
(must use code "HOLIDAY2014"
PLUS
We will present One Person with their choice of a GUIDED STRIPER FISHING TRIP or $200 BASS PRO GIFT CARD
when they register using discount code
"HOLIDAY2014" before December 24th
(Gift will be delivered after January 1, 2015)
PROFESSIONAL GUIDE - CLAY CUNNINGHAM
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SUPERINTENDENTS & TMDLs
(A Necessary Relationship!)
 | | Sediment Missing Here is Sitting at the Bottom of the Chattahoochee River, see below. |
In towns and cities across America, land disturbing activities are a necessary component of our economic growth, but can also have a huge negative impact on water quality for us and our fish populations. If we don't keep things tidy along the way the consequences pile up to be enormous. Just look at China today as one of many examples of a prosperous industrial manufacturing engine that has and is burning up it's air, land, and water resources like it's going out of style!
 | | Chattahoochee River |
The negative impact to our water quality occurs when stormwater containing large amounts pollutants (sediment) drains into the local watershed, filling it up with mud, removing oxygen, water storage capacity and suffocating the fish, fish eggs, and the critters (macro-invertebrates) that crawl on the bottom. Any creek, stream, river or lake can only take so much pollution (sediment in this case) before its water can no longer support the natural life living within it. When a segment of a
creek can no longer clean itself out
naturally given the sediment load it receives every time it rains, scientists call it an "impaired stream" segment. The good news about this tough situation for the USA is the Clean Water Act and the rules that now require we monitor our watersheds and implement plans to either prevent or repair a damaged water body.
One method to repair a stream is for stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) to be properly implemented. In Georgia, we call SWPPPs for construction the "erosion plan" or E&SC Plan or Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan (ES&PC Plan). The not so good and challenging news is that the people who implement the plan must do a good job in designing, installing and maintaining the best management practices
(BMPs) in the SWPPP if our watersheds are to be protected. This is where the rubber meets the road and when the superintend takes responsibility for properly installing and maintaining the BMPS like mulching, grassing, sediment ponds, inlet sediment traps, etc., that will reduce the total maximum daily load (TMDL) of sediment in the stream so it can recover. In the United States, impaired streams are placed in a special list called a "3O3d list" and must be reported to the USEPA with a plan called a TMDL Implementation Plan on the impaired stream segment will be fixed!
A river that is biologically  impaired for fish and macro-invertebrates because of sediment get a little more attention from the TMDL Implementation Plan by requiring the construction site of 1-acre or more of disturbed land, located within 1-mile upstream and in the same watershed to design, install and maintain 4 extra BMPs on their SWPPPs. In addition, if a construction site is going to disturb 50-acres or more, NPDES permittees are also required to implement extra 4 extra BMPs because of the large potential pollutant load from 50-acres of graded land that could end up "in the creek"!
QUESTION:
So, what should a superintendent do?
ANSWER:
Do what the SWPPP calls for and change it or have the design pro change it as necessary if it doesn't work. Keep up with your record keeping and work on stabilizing your soils first, then controlling the sediment second. In other words, keep the mulch down, stabilize those soils and clean out your BMPs....our future depends on it!
To learn more about TMDLs Click this link for a very informative description of our method of cleaning up impaired streams!
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BIG
ANNOUNCEMENT
for 2015
2-DAY
THE MS4 COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT
CERTIFIED INSPECTOR TRAINING
is now a 2-day event
SPEAKERS INCLUDE
US EPA, GA EPD & MS4 Operators
DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, the NPDES Training Institute has made the MS4 CECI classroom only course into a 2-day classroom and field training experience.
In 2014, we trained stormwater professionals representing Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Maine, New Hampshire, Nevada, Tennessee & Texas and the overwhelming vote gathered in our course evaluation forms expressed the need for a 2-day course which will allow more time for the information to sink in and also allow the attendee to apply their newfound knowledge to field situations. Upon completion, you will have the knowledge and tools necessary to perform your duties as an MS4 Compliance and Enforcement Certified Inspector with a certificate of completion and a certification card credentialed by the NPDES Stormwater Training Institute.
Municipalities and private consultants alike love our MS4 CECI training!
"Thanks for a great course! I'm able to take this training back to my MS4 and know what to do to begin our compliance and enforcement efforts!" 12-10-14
"Large amount of information covered, great handouts, organized presentations, comfortable learning environment!" 12-10-14
"I like most the manual with the powerpoints to write notes. Luke was an excellent speaker & instructor." 12-10-14
"The videos with equipment demonstrations really helped make it practical" 2014
"The EPA and EPD discussions made the course practical and helped me understand how to properly regulate water quality problems in my MS4", 2014
"I liked the interaction with the instructor, updated information and all the new resources given out", 2103
"The instructor was very knowledgeable, patient and really did a good job of answering questions", 2013
In addition to the material you receive, after passing your exam, you will receive a Certificate of Completion worth 8 CEUs and a MS4 CECI photo ID card.
Call us at 678-469-5120 and speak with our helpful staff and/or email us at Needinfo@MS4training.com
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CLEAN WATER ENFORCEMENT
USEPA FINES COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION $20,660 for unauthorized release of sediment into tributaries and directly into Lake Lanier.
Under the Permit, developers and construction companies must design, install and maintain stormwater controls to prevent construction area runoff from polluting nearby streams and lakes. Without these controls, pollutants typically associated with construction sites, such as sediment, oil and grease, and concrete washout can enter nearby waterways.
TO READ THE LIST OF VIOLATIONS, CLICK HERE!
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THE INSIDE SCOOP
on USEPA's COMPLIANCE FINDINGS & ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
While a prolonged regional drought is devastating for the millions of people relying on clean abundant water, a superintendant is more than likely ecstatic about being in a drought when he's responsible for erosion and sediment control on his project. Why you ask, because when it doesn't rain his project there's no downstream impact to draw attention to not properly designing, installing and maintaining best management practices (BMPs)!
When the USEPA gets involved in an enforcement action, it is surprising the violations that could have easily been avoided.
See below.......
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WONDERING ABOUT ONLINE RENEWAL INSTEAD OF CLASSROOM?
LEVEL 1A, LEVEL 1B and LEVEL II
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HERE's TO
TIGHT LINES & GOOD TIMES
in
Clean Abundant Water!!!
It's important that we sacrifice a little today to give our kids an equally great place to live, swim, fish, and hunt tomorrow! There is a lot happening 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.
T. Luke Owen,PG
President/Principal Trainer and Consultant
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.A.M 
