Tighter Standards On Storm-Water Runoff Proposed
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
proposed tighter controls on storm-water discharges on construction sites.
If adopted, these proposed standards may end up costing the construction
industry in excess of $2 billion annually to monitor and chemically treat
and filter storm-water runoff from construction sites, according to an
industry group.
The Problem
The EPA says that it wants to strengthen existing regulatory programs for
discharges from construction sites. The agency has stated that improper
control of storm-water discharges from construction activity is “among the
many contributors of sediment, which is one of the major remaining water
quality problems throughout the United States.” The EPA notes that
storm-water discharges during the clearing, excavating and grading of
construction sites can cause a range of physical, chemical and biological
impacts on lakes, streams and rivers.
What the Guidelines Propose
Current regulations require contractors to implement control measures to
manage discharges associated with construction activities. The proposed
standards, known as effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs), and new source
performance standards (NSPSs) would establish a technology-based “floor,”
or minimum requirements, that contractors would have to meet in order to
obtain the required construction permits. Under the proposed ELGs,
storm-water discharges from construction and development sites would have to
meet a numeric effluent limit designed to reduce the amount of sediment,
turbidity, total suspended solids and other pollutants in discharges from
the sites.
The proposed regulations are designed to supplement existing state and local
programs that seek to impose limits on pollutants in storm-water discharges.
Costs to the Construction Industry
The EPA states that, if implemented, these standards would cost the
construction industry close to $2 billion annually. Construction industry
groups argue that the real cost of the new standards would be significantly
higher. Experts with the Associated General Contractors of America estimate
that the new rules would cost site operators approximately $20,000 per acre
for compliance.
Work-In-Process is provided by
Somerset for our clients and other interested persons upon request.
Since technical information is presented in generalized fashion, no
final conclusion on these topics should be made without further review.
For additional information on the issues discussed,
please contact
Ken
Hedlund,
Jay Feller,
Steve George,
Chris
Mayfield or
Rebecca Ogle
of our
Construction & A/E Team.
This document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used,
for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the
taxpayer.
Somerset CPAs,
P.C.
3925 River Crossing Parkway, Third Floor
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
317.472.2200 • 800.469.7206 • FAX 317.208.1200
www.IndianaConstructionCPAs.com
