A STORM WATER OUTREACH PROJECT

TOSMALL COMMUNITIES

IN TENNESSEE

HOW WE GOT STARTEDTennessee’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) participated in a MS4 work group meeting.

Purpose: Provide information on available training for small businesses impacting water quality in their community

Results: Attendees from communities in the area indicated they needed the training

Shortly after that ……………………….

ECOS through funding from EPA

TO THE RESCUE !!!!The Environmental Council of the

States’

Compliance Committee 

Issued Call for Proposals – April 13, 2005

for

Small Communities Compliance Assistance Pilot Project Grants

Tennessee Volunteers !!!

Tennessee’s proposal: conduct small communities Train the Trainer Storm Water management project

Funding amount: $14,000

Target: 75 small communities with a population between 3,300 and 10,000

WHY DID WE APPLY?

The grant provided the opportunity to:

1. affirmatively respond to a prior request-meet a demand

2. leverage resources

3. apply existing knowledge and information

4. expand use of previously developed materials

PROJECT GOALS1. Decrease storm water violations

2. Train a trainer for targeted small local governments

3. Help cities understand their environmental obligations

4. Encourage adoption of environmental policies and ordinances and use of Small Communities Audit Policy if needed

5. Help small cities assess the staff technical skills

6. Inform small local governments about the importance of Storm Water rules and the impacts of poor water quality from storm water run off

PROPOSED ACTIVITIESConduct a survey to determine current knowledge of environmental rules, regulations and to determine environmental resources

Provide EMS training and materials

Encourage participation in the State’s Pollution Prevention Partnership that provides environmental training discounts

Provide outreach assistance, technical advice, and follow-up to small cities

Conduct 3 train the trainer workshops

SAMPLE SURVEY QUESTIONS1. Does your Town have an Environmental Management

System?

2. Are you or other staff familiar with Storm water - Best Management practices?

3.  Would you like to attend a free workshop training to train your very own staff person in Storm Water compliance matters?

4.  In what areas of your Town’s operations would you feel environmental assistance is needed?

5. Is staff available to handle/address environmental issues for your Town?  

6. Does your town need help understanding environmental rules or requirements?  

ADDITIONAL SURVEY QUESTIONS

Have you observed any of the following at a Town facility? •Dust•Odors•Stressed Vegetation•Discolored soil or water •Stressed, Dead, or dying fish or wildlife •Smoke•Open Burning

SURVEY RESULTS109 small communities were sent the survey.27 small towns, (24.8% response rate) responded89% (24 of 27) said they would attend a workshop85% (23 of 27) without an EMS 44% (12 of 27) wanted more information on Best Management Practices (BMPs)67% (18 of 27) have 5 or fewer staff to handle environmental issues

WORKSHOPSThe Agenda for four workshops included:Overview of workshop sponsors and a preview of why the workshops are neededStorm water regulatory and pollution prevention overviewReview of sample storm water ordinancesEMS OverviewSmall Communities Compliance Assistance Policy ReviewVideo on solutions to problems Resources

Overview of workshop sponsors and a preview of why the workshops are

needed

This Project represented a partnership of:

EPA

ECOS

State of Tennessee

WHY?

Newspaper articles on community non compliance and resulting penalties were provided

Pictures of what can happen when stormwater controls aren’t in place were shown

Silt fence not maintained or poorly directed flow

Storm water regulatory and pollution prevention overview

•Stormwater rules

•Stormwater runoff

•Watershed(s)

•How to identify sources of stormwater pollution

•Adoption of Environmental Policy(ies) and ordinance(s)

EMS Overview

Environmental Management System (EMS): Our Objective was to introduce EMS requirements and Benefits •A systematic way of managing an organization's environmental aspects

•Focused on continual improvements of system

•A way to address immediate and long term impact of an organization's products, services, and activities on the environment;

•A tool to improve environmental performance.

Benefits: Why have an EMS?

•Improved environmental performance

•Reduced liability

•Improved compliance

•Reduced cost

•Fewer accidents

•Enhanced trust

WORKSHOP HANDOUTS

Each workshop participant received a hard copy manual and a compact disk (CD) of all workshop materials that included: sample storm water ordinances, slide presentation, news articles on cities facing problems, EPA Compliance Assistance Policy, and a landscaping brochure

What Did They Have to Lose/Gain?

PROJECT RESULTS

38 participants from small communities attended the training

Pre and Post tests indicated a knowledge base of 75% prior to the training and 92% knowledge post training

Workshop materials are included in curriculums for local government training

All materials are included on Department’s web page

LESSONS LEARNEDDevelop realistic goals Define a narrow focus and target groupUtilize existing materials/resourcesUnderstand the variables—community characteristics Know the audience Have incentivesFully understand gov’t contract process

Healthy and Compliant

Communities

Identified Need

Willing Partners

Available Resources

Interested and

Informed Leaders

QUESTIONS ????