Bluefield, and at least four other cities in West Virginia, are urging the state Department of Environmental Protection to delay the implementation of new storm water rules until the cities can argue their case on how the new rules could be financially devastating to the already economically strapped municipalities.
Wilbur “Will” Smith, executive director of the Sanitary Board of Bluefield, is projecting that the size of the structure the city would have to construct to meet Bluefield’s requirements under the new rules would have to hold about 107 million gallons of water in a holding pond that is about the size of one and one-half the local Wal-Mart parking lot, 10-feet deep.
According to Smith, finding and erecting a storm water holding facility of that size, “could bankrupt the city.” Smith also serves as director of Bluefield’s Storm Water Management program.
In addition to Bluefield, the cities of Princeton, Morgantown and Fairmont have joined in filing for injunctive relief. Smith said that the steep terrain in Bluefield already causes major challenges for addressing storm water issues. He emphasizes the existing system is already “over-taxed.”
The cities that sought injunctive relief were initially scheduled to appear in Charleston before the Environmental Review Committee in February, but the hearing was continued until March. Smith is predicting that other cities in West Virginia, including Welch in McDowell County as well as towns in Virginia like Bluefield, Va., will soon be required to meet the same standards for the permitting process.
The Sanitary Board is working with the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce to develop storm water management materials to educate the public about the proposed changes. Smith is even hoping to talk with students about the importance of storm water management initiatives.
We, too, are concerned about these new and potentially costly regulations being sought by the state EPA, and urge lawmakers and Gov. Joe Manchin to intervene. Clearly, the new regulations have the potential to be financially devastating upon the already financially challenged cities. They are also unrealistic.
We would urge the EPA to take a visit to Bluefield and Princeton, and to try to find a suitable location that could hold 107 million gallons of water — especially in Bluefield. Finding and erecting such a storm water holding facility of that size would not only be costly, but practically impossible given the unique geography of our region.
This is another unrealistic and unacceptable mandate from the EPA.
Editorials
February 5, 2010
Costly regulations — Storm water rules could hurt cities
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