STORMWATER
                                                                       Stormwater in New England
                                                    FINDING  SOLUTIONS
                                             we're  doing
                                        in  Rhode  Island
                         U.S.  EPA  |  STORMWATER  OUTREACH  AT EPA  NEW  ENGLAND
                                                           STORMWATER  Is a leading cause of poor water qudity. Rain or
                                                            meked snow runs down driveways, sidewalks and streets carrying oil,  din
                                                             and other pollutants into nearby waterways. Polluted runoff,  which  can
                                                             cause erosion and flooding, runs into waterways and degrades plants, fish,
                                                             shellfish and other wildlife.  In water used for recreation,  the runoff can
                                                             lead to illness, and people who eat contaminated fish can also become sick.
                                                            Untreated stormwater can also contaminate drinking water sources.
INTRO:
Rhode Island issues permits for discharging pollution into bodies of water. Modeled after the federal National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), the program requires permits for construction sites of an acre or more,
industrial sites and some munidpal sewer systems. Rhode Island's permits go beyond federal stormwater regulation
to require methods of developing land that protect the environment. The state permits encourage growth that avoids
wetlands, maintains open space, protects the edges of sensitive water bodies and minimizes paving over green areas.
The state encourages building in urban areas and areas that can handle more runoff.
TO MANAGE  STORMWATER
IN  RHODE  ISLAND  WE ARE:
Developing in ways that pollute less — The Rl  Depart-
ment of Environmental Management requires low impact
development practices, as mandated by a 2007 state law.
These practices include various ways to filter, absorb and
reduce stormwater runoff. The law calls for developers
to control stormwater, not to contaminate the  ground-
water more than necessary and to avoid an increase in
polluted discharges after storms.

Training local officials—The state sent municipal officials
to the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center
to learn about successful stormwater management tech-
niques, known as "best management practices."

Exploring stormwater utilities — Representatives of 17
towns and cities in the state went to a one-day forum
hosted by DEM on creating local stormwater utilities to
help pay for managing runoff pollution.

Reducing paved surfaces — The town of Bristol is reno-
vating the town beach parking lot to capture untreated
runoff that flows from the pavement to the beach. This
pollution has led to dosing the beach in summer because
of water quality violations.
Promoting Green Roof Tedinology — An urban indus-
trial building in South Providence was restored as a busi-
ness incubator site, incorporating a green roof and rain-
water recovery system. A green roof was also one of the
many sustainable features included in the restoration of
a formerly contaminated site on the waterfront in Provi-
dence that was developed as the new headquarters for
Save the Bay,  an environmental organization. The state
has funded several  green roof projects  and provided
support for other site design features that reduce storm-
water pollution, including porous  pavement and rain
garden landscaping.

Enforcing against violators — A concrete plant in East
Providence was  discharging  unpermitted  industrial
process water and  stormwater, both separately and
eomirvgled. In addition  to  paying  a  $55,000  penalty
to EPA, the company spent $170,000 to comply with
permit requirements and agreed to spend $178,000 for
projects, including one that will allow the company  to
recycle water and cement sediment year-round.

All of the projects  listed  above received EPA  funding
or support.
KEY CONTACTS:


EMC BECK
Rhode Island DEM
Supervisor, RIPDES Program
(401)222-4700, x7202
eric.beck@dem.ri.gov

M ABC HE RITA  PRYOR
EPA New England
Oceans it Coastal Protection Unit
(617)918-1597
p ryo r.margherita@epa.gov


GENERAL INFO:


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               United Slates
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                                                              EPA-901-F-10-008
                                                                November 2010

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