NCS000442_2016 Permit Application-SWMP_20161130

NPDES STORMWATER PERMIT RENEWAL APPLICATION FORM
This application form is for use by Loca l Governments seeking NPDES stormwater permit coverage for
Regulated Public Entities (RPE) pursuant to Title 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 2H .0126 . A
complete application package includes this form and one copy of a Na r rative of The Stormwater
Management Program . T he requ ired Narrative of The Stormwate r Management Program is described
in Section VII of th is f orm.
I. NAME OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PERMIT NUMBER, AND EXPIRATION DATE
Name of Loca l Government City of Rocky Mount
Permit Number NCS000442
Expiration Date November 30, 2016
II. CO-PERMIT APPLICATION STATUS INFORMATION
(Complete this section only if co-permitting)
a. Do you intend to co-permit
with anothe r regulated public DYes~ No
entitv?
b. If yes , name of regulated
public entity
c. If yes, have legal
agreements been finalized D YesD No
between the co-permittees?
III. RELIANCE ON ANOTHER ENTITY TO SATISFY ONE OR MORE OF YOUR PERMIT
OBLIGATIONS (If more than one, attach additional sheets)
a. Do you intend that another
entity perform one or mo re DYes~ No
of you r perm it obligatio ns?
b. If yes, identify each entity and the element they will be implementing
• Name of Entity
• Element th ey will
implement
• Contact Person
• Contact Address
• Contact Telephone
Number
c. Are legal ag reements in
place to establish D YesD No
respons ibilities?
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NPDES RPE Stormwater Permit Application
IV. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY (OPTIONAL)
The signing official may delega t e permit implementation autho ri ty to an appropriate staff member.
This delegation must name a specific person, their title/pos it ion . Documentation of board action
delegating permit authority to this person/position must be provided.
a. Name of person to which permit
authority has been delegated
b. Title/position of person above
V. SIGNING OFFICIAL'S STATEMENT
If authority for the NPDES stormwater permit has been app ropriate ly delegated through
board action and documented i n this permit application , t he person/position listed in Section
IV above may sign the official statement below .
I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the
information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate,
and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information,
including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations.
r'\
Signature r:..J--.1. /L~~ r 1\
Name Charles Penny ~ IJ
Title City Manager
Street Address 331 S. Franklin Street
PO Box 1180
City Rocky Mount
State NC
Zip 27804 (PO Box: 27802)
Telephone [phone]
E-Mai l [e-mail]
VI. LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Provide the following information for the person/position that will be responsible for day to day
implementation and overs ight of the stormwater progra m.
a. Name of Contact Person Mike Tolson, PE , PLS
b. Title Assistant Director of Pub li c Works -Stormwater Manager
c . Street Address 331 S. Franklin Street
d. PO Box 1180
e. City Rocky Mount
f. State NC
g. Zip 27804 (PO Box: 27802 )
h. Telephone Number 252-972-1294
j. E-Mail Address [e-mail]
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Form -SWU -264 June 17, 20 15 City of Rocky Mo un t
NPDES RPE Stormwater Permit Application
VII. NARRATIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Attach one copy of a narrative describing the stormwater management program. The report must
be presented in the following order.
1. Population and Estimated Growth Rate
2. Jurisdictional Area
3. Describe Stormwater Conveyance System
4. Estimated Land Use
5. Identify the Receiving Streams
6. Identify TMDLs (if applicable)
7. Identify impaired streams, likely sources, and existing programs that address the impairment
(if applicable)
8. List any existing water quality programs
9. Identify and describe any partnerships and/or inter-local agreements
10. Describe any state programs
11. Identify any other entity that the regulated public entity relies on to implement or manage its
stormwater program.
12. Identify points of contacts
13. Describe the public education and outreach program
14. Describe the public involvement and participation program.
15. Describe the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program.
16. Describe the post-construction stormwater program
Describe practices to inspect and maintain municipally-owned facilities
17. Describe practices to inspect and maintain structural stormwater control devices
18. Describe practices to reduce polluted stormwater runoff from municipally-owned streets,
roads, and public parking lots, piped and vegetative conveyances, manholes, cleanouts, drop
inlets, and drainage structures.
19. Describe any training programs for municipal staff.
20. Describe spill response procedures for those at Municipally Owned and/or Operated Facilities
as well as those in the public right-of-way.
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Form -SWU-264 June 17, 2015 City of Rocky Mount
NPDES RPE Stormwater Permit Application
The City of Rocky Mount has a population of 55,806 based on the most recent data available.
The annualized population growth rate is -0.672% per year. Th is is based on the growth between July
2010 and July 2015. The jurisdictional and MS4 service area is 44.4 square miles. The city 's
stormwater conveyance system is comprised of pipes, ditches, creeks, and streams. In a typical urban
area, stormwater is conveyed to large branches or creeks via a pipe network. In less developed areas ,
road-side swales are utilized more often than drop inlets and pipe systems. One notable system,
Parkers Canal, serves as the primary outfall for down town Rocky Mount. This canal is variously open
and piped , and ultimately discharges into Cowlick Creek. Ditches are maintained by dedicated crews
on a six to eight-week rotation. The city utilizes street sweepers to min imize floatables in the sys t em,
and pipes and catch basins are cleaned as needed using hand tools and/or a vacuum truck. Land use
within the city is approximately 38.7% residential, 11.1% commercial, 14.0% industrial, and 36.2%
open space. There are no water bodies within the city which are subject to a TMDL.
Below is a list of the receiving streams located within the City 's jurisdictional and MS4 service area:
Receiving Streams
Table 1
Tar-Pamlico R ive r B asin
Stream W Q Use Su pport 303 (d ) List
Stream Name Seg m e nt Class if ica tion R ating Wat er Quality Iss u es (2 0 14)
Tar R iver 28-(64.5) WS-IV; NSW Not Listed None No
Grape Branch 28-65 WS-IV; NSW Not Listed None No
Maple Cree k 28-66 WS-IV; NSW Not Listed None No
Tar R ive r 28-(66.5) WS-IV; NSW c None No
Tar R ive r 28 -(6 7) NSW B None No
Stony C r ee k 28 -68 NSW c Eco/Bio Integrity Yes
Benthos; Low DO
Tar R ive r 28-(69) NSW c None No
Goose Bra n ch 28-70 NSW c None No
Cowlic k Branch 28-71 NSW c None No
Compass Creek 28-72 NSW c None No
Horn Bea m 28-72-1 NSW c None No
Swamp
Gay Bra n ch 28 -72.5 NSW c None No
There are no water bodies within the city which are subject t o a T MDL.
The City of Rocky Mount has several local or locally delegated programs related to stormwater
management. These programs include Water Supply Watershed, Delegated Erosion Contro l, and, most
notably, the Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Sensitive Waters rule.
As part of the Water Supply Wate r Shed Program the city has adopted a watershed protection
ordinance that regulates development in the water supply watershed. Through this ordinance, the city
requires that developers of property within the watershed install BMP 's or utilize low intensity
development practices to reduce or eliminate their projects ' negative impacts on the water supply. The
City has had a locally delegated sedimentation and eros ion control program for over 12 years and has
staff dedicated to erosion control plan review, field inspections , and enforcement. Developers who
disturb more than one acre of land are required to submit formal erosion control plans and
calculations, and once approved, a permit is issued. Once all erosion control measures are installed
appropriately, city inspectors sign off on the site and construction is allowed to begin. Enforcement is
provided via the city 's erosion control ordinance, which provides for significant fines for out of
compliance sites. The State of North Carolina has adopted the Tar-Paml ico Nutrient Sens itive Waters
rule which establishes a broad set of rules for certain municipalities within the basin. One of these
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Form -SWU -264 June 17, 20 15 City of Roc ky Mou nt
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rules requires the establishment of buffers along all "blue line" streams. The city enforces this
requirement through the Land Development Code and other development requirements.
Currently, the City of Rocky Mount does not rely on any partnership or inter-local agreement to satisfy
the permit obligation.
The City of Rocky Mount became subject to the Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Sensitive Waters rule, which is a
State program in 2004. Through this rule, the city is required to meet many of the same requirements
imposed by the NPDES Phase 2 Permit. These requirements include Construction Site Stormwater
Controls and Post-Construction Stormwater Controls. As a part of this program, the city submits
annual reports to the Division of Water Quality, each of which have been received favorably.
The Responsible Party Contact List is as follows:
Mike Tolson, P.E. Asst. Dir. of Public Works and Stormwater Manager
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
Responsible for Public Education and Outreach, Public Involvement and Participation, Illicit
Discharge Detection and Elimination, Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal
Operations, Construction Site Runoff Control and Post Construction Stormwater Management in
New Development and Redevelopment.
The City of Rocky Mount's public outreach program targets pollution caused by over fertilization, auto
maintenance, buffer vegetation removal, and littering. In addition, pet waste and oils and grease are
addressed through public education efforts. Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, and
sediment are of particular concern in the Tar River.
The target audiences for advertisements and educational materials varies by type of pollutant. For
instance, education regarding proper disposal of used motor oil is targeted to young men, the most
likely group to change their own oil. General litter prevention is typically targeted at middle or high
school aged children and young adults.
The City engages in an education program each year known as the Citizens' Academy. Residents are
invited to apply for the opportunity to attend weekly 3-hour seminars highlighting the various
components of our local government. The Academy has provided another opportunity to educate the
citizens of Rocky Mount about stormwater management, spill prevention, nutrient management, value
of buffers, and other clean water issues.
The City of Rocky Mount participates in the Clean Water Education Partnership (CWEP) administered
by the Triangle J Council of Governments. This partnership allows member entities to pool resources
to purchase advertising on major television and radio stations, as well as to maintain a website
specifically for pollution prevention materials and information. Through CWEP, the city has reached
tens of thousands of households in Nash and Edgecombe Counties with messages regarding over
fertilization, oil disposal, littering, the importance of buffer protection, and other relevant topics.
Since Fall of 2010, informational radio ads aired over 2,400 times in the Nash and Edgecombe radio
markets and were heard over 390,000 times. In Rocky Mount, CWEP was able to run informational
radio ads which have 30 second television ad campaign in the fall and most springs in the past five
years. These television spots were viewed over 950,000 times. CWEP also ran cinema pre-show
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Form -SWU-264 June 17, 2015 City of Rocky Mount
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campaign series which was viewed over an estimated 130,000 times in Rocky Mount. To reach
broader audiences, CWEP maintained its internet presence leading to an average of over 2,400 unique
visitors to www.NCcleanwater.org per month for the past five years.
In addition to the city's participation in CWEP, Keep America Beautiful of Nash and Edgecombe
Counties (KAB) is also very active in promoting the importance of stormwater pollution prevention.
Through participation in expos and presentations, we have reached an estimated 50,000 people
throughout the twin counties, including distribution of almost four thousand pamphlets, litter bags, and
other educational materials.
A public hearing was held when the city's stormwater program was established in 2005. At that time,
a committee comprised of representatives from throughout the city was formed to provide input
regarding the formation of the program. The committee members represented interests from all facets
of the community, including property owners, environmentalists, and business owners.
Over the past four years, KAB of Nash & Edgecombe Counties has conducted many clean up events,
including annual events such as the Great American Cleanup and Twin Counties Big Sweep. Details on
the response to these two events are as follows (2013-2016):
Great American Cleanup: KAB of Nash & Edgecombe Counties coordinated 172 cleanup events with
4,022 volunteers. These volunteers retrieved 34,755 pounds of litter and debris and worked more
than 6,658.55 hours. In addition, volunteers have cleaned up 12 illegal dumping sites and collected 29
tires. Approximately, 2,833 volunteers planted over 21,165 flower bulbs and beautified 53 public
spaces. Roughly 8,000 tree seedlings were planted because of the Arbor Day Tree Seedling Giveaway
during the Great American Cleanup.
Twin Counties Big Sweep: KAB of Nash & Edgecombe Counties coordinated 101 clean up events with
1,064 volunteers. These volunteers retrieved 19,520 pounds of litter and debris and worked more than
2,623 hours. In addition, four illegal dumping sites were cleaned up and 17 tires were collected.
The city implemented a pilot storm drain marking program in cooperation with a local Eagle Scout
candidate. Through his efforts, 100 storm drain markers were installed in the city's downtown area,
which is thought to be higher risk for illegal dumping activities due to the increased pedestrian traffic.
The City of Rocky Mount completed its multi-phased stormwater system inventory in 2009.
Information for all stormwater infrastructure within the city is quickly accessible via GIS, with material-
of-construction, size, invert elevation, and survey grade location, enabling staff to quickly trace spills
and illicit discharges to their sources. Also, the city has a dedicated stormwater infrastructure
inspection crew that is equipped with a camera truck, all terrain pipe inspection camera vehicle, and
other inspection related tools. Additionally, this information has allowed more targeted inspection of
high-risk areas. Over the past five years, city inspectors have located illicit connections to the
stormwater system. Some of these locations were found to be condensate lines, under drains, or other
allowable discharges, but they were mapped nonetheless and continue to be monitored.
The inventory data is constantly updated, and data for newly installed infrastructure is merged with the
existing data using in-house resources. Areas that were unsatisfactorily located during the initial
stormwater system inventory from 2009 are surveyed, lV inspected & revised in GIS to improve the
overall quality of the data .
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Form -SWU-264 June 17 , 2015 City of Rocky Mount
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submitted to the Stormwater Engineer for approval, and the City's paralegal ensures executed
documents are recorded in the Nash or Edgecombe County Register of Deeds. The Stormwater
Engineer maintains a master list of all BMPs, their owners, performance and warranty bonds, recording
information for operation and maintenance agreements, and annual inspection reports. Reminder
emails are also sent to each owner annually for inspection reports.
Good housekeeping and chemical handling practices for the Wastewater & Water Treatment Plants are
addressed through their respective NPDES Permits as noted previously. The City of Rocky Mount
operates 53 different parks and recreation facilities throughout its jurisdiction. Maintenance personnel
are trained through programs offered by NCRPA, NRPA, and Recreation Resources Services (affiliated
with NCSU), in areas such as fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide application. When not in use, these
materials are stored in secure, protected buildings and are therefore not subject to release to the
stormwater system. The main outfall at our streets and stormwater facility is protected by a grit
chamber basin that is inspected weekly. Most equipment is stored underneath shelters to protect from
rainfall and other weather related elements. In addition, the facility grounds are inspected routinely
for any leaks and cleaned of any potential trash, floatables etc. At our fleet maintenance facility,
maintenance activities are conducted inside a permanent building. In addition, a grit chamber collects
particles/residues from vehicle cleaning areas within the facility. This device is inspected frequently
and serviced/vacuumed by Eastern Environmental, LLC on a quarterly basis.
It is the city's current practice to maintain and annually inspect and perform maintenance, if needed,
on all BMPs within residential subdivisions. Though this is the policy, executed Operation and
Maintenance Agreements are entered into with all home owners' associations to place the ultimate
responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of BMPs on property owners. In addition, the City
construction inspector and stormwater engineer randomly audits annual private BMP inspections.
The City of Rocky Mount reviews plans for all new development projects except for single-family
dwelling or duplex units. All plans are reviewed for compliance with the LDC, current DWQ
requirements for stormwater management including BMP design, and current NCDENR Division of Land
Quality requirements for sedimentation and erosion control. Section 802 of the LDC requires that any
activity that disturbs more than 0.5 acre of land to establish, expand, or modify a multi-family
residential development or a commercial, industrial, institutional or other non-residential facility must
meet the provisions of the Tar-Pamlico stormwater nutrient management requirements.
The Stormwater Engineer works closely with consulting engineers for private development projects to
ensure that appropriate BMPs are utilized for reducing nutrient loading. The City requires compliance
with both the LDC and DWQ's latest version of the Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual.
The City of Rocky Mount has a very aggressive stormwater system maintenance program, with over 30
full time positions responsible for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the system. Crews
maintain and inspect open ditches on a six to eight-week rotation, including vegetation control,
litter/floatables abatement, and the removal of obstructions/debris. Roadside litter pickup is performed
prior to mowing of City maintained right-of-ways on a six-week rotation during the growing season.
The City performs street sweeping activities on an eight-week rotation. An annual loose leaf collection
program takes place for two weeks in each month from November to March. In addition, the City has
a dedicated stormwater infrastructure inspection team that is equipped with a camera truck. A Pre-
Significant Storm Plan/Protocol is enacted prior to any impending storm events such as tropical storms,
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Form -SWU-264 June 17, 2015 City of Rocky Mount
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The city's stormwater ordinance expressly defines the enforcement mechanism to be used to rectify
violations. The process begins with issuance of a Notice of Violation specifying necessary remedial
actions to be performed within a noted time frame. If compliance is not gained within the timeframe,
the city can contract with a private company to perform the cleanup or infrastructure modification, and
the violator billed for that cost in addition to a civil penalty, if warranted. Should the violator not pay,
the ordinance provides for hearings and, ultimately, relief through the court system. It is important to
note that the vast majority of illicit discharges within the city are fairly benign in nature, i.e. innocuous
condensate discharges or leaves raked into a ditch. In the latter case, a letter citing the applicable
ordinance typically stops the violation.
In addition, the city continues to manage a Stormwater Hotline, 252-972-1500, to receive calls from
citizens who witness illegal dumping. These reports have led to several enforcement actions against
violators, ranging from illegally dumping grass clippings in ditches to more severe cases of motor oil
disposal in storm drains.
Since the inception of the city's stormwater program, several situations have occurred which required
increased enforcement action against land owners. While these cases were sometimes difficult, they
are also uncommon. The method by which enforcement is carried out continues to be refined by the
Stormwater Manager. As each case is unique, enforcement is tailored to each specific violation.
The city's ditch maintenance crews have been trained to recognize illicit discharges and report them to
program staff for follow up. Also, one component of the city's public education effort is to provide
citizens with information on the hazards of illicit discharges. This information is provided through
CWEP, the utilization of the city's public access television channel, C.I.T.Y. TV19, the city's website,
utility bill inserts, and the KAB program.
The City of Rocky Mount's Land Development Code (LDC) addresses post-construction runoff from new
developments and redevelopments. Chapter 7 addresses general development standards and chapter
8 addresses all aspects of stormwater management including sedimentation and erosion control, Tar-
Pamlico nutrient management and buffer controls, water supply watershed protection, and BMP
facilities.
The City of Rocky Mount reviews plans for all new development projects except for single-family
dwelling or duplex units. All plans are reviewed for compliance with the LDC, current DWQ
requirements for stormwater management including BMP design , and current NCDENR Division of Land
Quality requirements for sedimentation and erosion control. Section 802 of the LDC requires that any
activity that disturbs more than 0.5 acre of land in order to establish, expand, or modify a multi-family
residential development or a commercial, industrial, institutional or other non-residential facility must
meet the provisions of the Tar-Pamlico storm water nutrient management requirements.
The Stormwater Engineer works closely with consulting engineers for private development projects to
ensure that appropriate BMPs are utilized for reducing nutrient loading. The City requires compliance
with both the LDC and DWQ's latest version of the Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual.
Operation and maintenance is managed through Section 804 of the LDC requires that prior to final plat
approval or issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the property owner must enter into a binding
operation and maintenance agreement with the City. The agreement requires the owner to maintain,
repair and, if necessary, reconstruct a stormwater control structure in accordance with the operation
and maintenance plan provided by the design engineer. The agreement also requires the owner to
submit annual inspection reports of the BMP facilities and delineates the penalties for failure to
complete the required inspections, maintenance or improvements. Executed agreements are
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Form -SWU -264 June 17, 2015 City of Rocky Mount
NPDES RPE Stormwater Permit Application
hurricanes, etc., which includes stormwater conveyance inspection, monitoring, and cleaning. This
plan is implemented in the field by approximately six four man crews equipped with dump trucks,
manual debris moving devices, backhoes, etc.
In addition, the stormwater program has a vacuum truck used to remove floatables and debris from
catch basins. Also, the City purchased a combination jet-vacuum truck, which will allow for even
greater removal of debris from pipes and catch basins on a routine basis.
Areas in which vehicles are washed or serviced, or in which refuse is transferred or handled, drain into
oil/water and grit separators and are discharged to the sanitary sewer system.
Debris from the city's three street sweepers is screened, and floatables are taken to the city's transfer
station for appropriate disposal. Organic matter and soil is added to the city's top soil or compost
stockpiles. Similarly, materials removed from the stormwater system during maintenance activities is
separated and disposed of properly or reused, as appropriate.
The stormwater staff members are constantly receiving training and updates to improve their general
knowledge of stormwater pollution prevention and the City's stormwater system. Several the crew
supervisors have attended BMP inspection training, and general hydrology training. In addition,
stormwater training/discussion regarding stormwater pollution frequently takes place at safety
meetings. In addition, the City's Fire Department is staffed with a HAZMAT Team that trains bi-
monthly and all fire department employees are hazmat operational trained and perform annual training
that includes the installation of dikes and dams.
Superintendents and supervisors at municipally owned and/or operated facilities are very responsive to
any spill. Spill response procedures include immediate protection of any storm drain or floor drain
outlet structures. Also, there are spill kits available at various locations that can be immediately
accessed in the event of a spill. In the event of a small spill that is contained on-site, the department
superintendent is notified and if deemed necessary, the Assistant Director of Public Works/Stormwater
Manager is notified as well.
Eastern Environmental Management, LLC located here in Rocky Mount serves as the City's on call spill
response partner. In the event of a large spill or a spill that poses imminent danger of going off-site,
Eastern Environmental Management, LLC is contacted and retained to assess the situation and process
the scene as deemed necessary. In addition, the City's Emergency Management Coordinator in the
Fire Department and the County Fire and Emergency Management are notified of any spill which is not
contained on-site. Spills in the public right-of-way are handled much the same way, with the
exception, the Streets and Stormwater is the division that would be the first response unless the Fire
Department's Emergency Management were to be notified first. Also, Applicable spills are reported to
NCDPS Emergency Management through the EM-43.
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Form-SWU-264 June 17, 2015 City of Rocky Mount