March-2006 Issue

Storm Water Permits and the RDI

The RDI is a Regionally Developed Initiative, and a useful tool for North Central Texas municipalities that are getting ready for a storm water discharge permit expected to be issued by the state sometime in the next few months. More than 100 municipalities in the DFW area will be required to obtain a permit to discharge storm water this year. As Best Management Practices (BMPs) with a distinct potential for regional impact, RDIs are developed by the Regional Storm Water Management Coordinating Council (RSWMCC) to address the specific minimum requirements of the Small MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit.

A Regional Policy Task Force met in January to begin developing Policy Objectives that will guide the development and implementation of RDIs. The Policy Objectives will be integrated into the Regional Strategy for Managing Storm Water Quality, providing support and context for the RDIs as they are reviewed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and then adopted by local governments.

Four Task Forces established by the RSWMCC last December had their first meeting this month to further develop the RDIs that were initially drafted in the FY2006 Regional Storm Water Program. The refined RDIs are being prepared for presentation at the March 22nd RSWMCC meeting.

In the coming months, E&D storm water staff will assist with municipal adoption of RDIs by meeting with the TCEQ for a review of all RDIs and regional program implementation. Staff is also joining with the EPA and the City of Fort Worth to conduct a two-day workshop, Getting in Step with Phase II, A Workshop for Storm Water Program Managers on May 3rd and 4th. Watershed Roundtables are also in the works for later in the year when the submittal date for municipal management plans has been determined.

More Features for March | InsidER Home