SPENCER_COMPLETE FILE - HISTORICAL_20110202

STORMWATER DIVISION CODING SHEET
Municipalities NOT MS4
PERMIT NO.
NCS0000 OA�,
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0 COMPLETE FILE - HISTORICAL
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Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Randall, Mike
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 11:55 AM
To: Jeff Bumgarner
Cc: Bennett, Bradley; Devane, Boyd; Diuguid, Bill; Georgoulias, Bethany; Jones, Jennifer; Larsen,
Cory; Lowther, Brian; Munger, Bridget; Patterson, Robert; Pickle, Ken
Subject: RE: Spencer, NC
It would probably be best to meet in Spencer so I can see first hand what's going on in Spencer. I'm available the
February 9th or 101h. Also I could come on either Saturday or Sunday February 5th or 61h if either the 91h or 10th didn't
work for you. Doesn't give much time to get your comments in but it should not take too long to put together a short
description of your existing programs.
Mike
From: Jeff Bumgarner[mgiLILo:[e-mail]
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 10:14 AM
To: Randall, Mike
Subject: Spencer, NC
Mr. Randall,
Early last month we received a letter stating that we had been identified for consideration for Phase II regulations.
We met with our Alderman this week to inform them of the upcoming decision and were asked several questions that I
was hoping you could help answer. I understand the public comment announcement, but we were asked is there was a
formal appeals process. Our Alderman are under the assumption that they can appeal a decision and push back our
inclusion for a few years. This would give us time to pay for the program. I have completed enough stormwater training in
the past year to know our inclusion is.inevitable due to our proximity to the Yadkin River. We were also asked about the
cost. I have done some research on first year cost, but have come up with nothing substantial. Do you have or know
where to find cost data associated with the implementation. Any information you could provide would be great.
Thanks,
Jeff Bumgarner
Public Works Director
Town of Spencer
704-633-5331
704-202-4014

Public Comment
TOWN (FjP
SPENCER
Response to NCDENR
NPDES Phase 11 Stormwater Program

Spencer was founded as a repair facility for Norfolk Southern in the early
1900s. The town is located on the Yadkin River roughly between Atlanta,
Georgia and Washington, D.C. Town founders gave no thought to the soil
conditions as they began to build the town and its infrastructure. Spencer sits
directly on a heavy clay base. This clay base has been ideal for the stability of
structures, but absorption to filter and recharge ground water has and will
continue to be a problem here in town.
As such, storm water has been and continues to be a high priority here in
Spencer. Over the past year we have spent thousands of dollars upgrading
infrastructure and on training for our personnel. Our public works department
has two workers that are BMP Maintenance and Inspection Certified. They have
also attended many classes through ITRE pertaining to water quality concerns.
We do plan on maintaining a high level of education and training for each
employee as it relates to water quality concerns.
As a town we currently reach out to our citizens through our website, word
of mouth, an aggressive code enforcement program, and a quarterly newsletter
we publish that is sent to all citizens. We have made plans to add more storm
water education information, possibly even a special section, to each newsletter.
In addition we have space available on our website for additional material and
links to DWQ.
Spencer has historically done a great job organizing volunteer groups.
We have utilized our Community Appearance Commission for landscape and
streetscape updates. Although these are not directed solely at DWQ issues, they
do accomplish much of the same goals. Town staff manages many of their
projects and will continue in a direction that will better utilize their projects to
accomplish our water quality goals. We are also organizing a spring sweep
campaign made up of volunteers, to clean litter from our streets and waterways.
Our public works department inspects all storm water infrastructure on a
regular basis. During these inspections we not only look for damage, but also
illicit discharges. We also clean debris and litter from each stream and creek
within our corporate limits on an annual basis. This enables town personnel to

Public Comment
TOWN
SPENCER
Response to NCDENR
NPDES Phase II Stormwater Program

view each waterway on a regular basis. We have also been in the process of
mapping our storm sewer system. The complete town map should be finished by
mid spring.
We have entered into agreements with Rowan County in assisting the
town with spills and erosion control. The environmental Health Department will
assist the town with professional expertise when situations arise such as spills,
containment and disposal of toxic materials. The county's erosion control office
provides assistance to the town when land disturbing activities exceed one acre
resulting in decreased turbidity and a lower sediment load into Grants Creek. We
have also collaborated with the Land Trust of Central North Carolina to protect a
fully wooded 40-acre tract of land within our corporate limits which also contains
dozens of specimen trees. Promoted as a passive area, minimal development is
desired in terms of planning for the future use of this area. Thereby, the
protection of this tract from development will greatly minimize sedimentation into -
Grants Creek and will continue to promote the infiltration of storm water and
assist in negating the harmful effects of acid rain due to natural filtration via the
soil.
Our code of ordinances already covers many of the DWQ's concerns with
respect to construction and post -construction runoff. Erosion control has always
been an issue due to Grants Creek's periodic flooding. Issues such as this have
led us to develop comprehensive ordinances to protect our environment.
Our Land Management Department requires property owners to provide
suitable drainage structures to ensure that storm water flows in the desired
direction. We have also dedicated land to public use for storm drainage and park
purposes. New subdivisions have also been required to leave ten percent open
for green spaces allowing for filtration and ground water recharge. All new
construction is also required by ordinance to provide the town with a detailed
storm water plan. Developers are required to acquire a grading permit issued
from our Planning Board, which regulates grade and use. Existing yards are
required to be graded so no standing water will accumulate. Buffers are required
for green screening between mixed use districts. Integrated landscaped areas
0)

are required for new developments to minimize runoff. Realizing that impervious
parking areas contribute to increased storm water runoff we have enacted an
ordinance allowing developers to build conservation, or cluster subdivisions
within the town, thereby promoting the minimal use of land and thus encouraging
the preservation of natural areas. We can require an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for new subdivisions. Spencer received special authority via the
General Assembly in 2001 to refuse building permits for a period up to 5 years on
land when clear cutting takes place (effectually by removing perimeter buffer
trees) and therefore enacted a clear cutting ordinance. The town's Land Use
Plan encourages infill residential development, thereby minimizing the need for
further land -clearing activity for new development on currently wooded tracts.
Currently our public works department maintains all street and storm
sewer infrastructure. They inspect all catch basins on a semi-annual basis.
Regular cleaning and maintenance is completed on an as -needed basis
throughout the year. All our creeks and streams are cleaned of debris and trash
each spring. A part-time employee is also used year-round to pick up litter from
all town -owned streets and rights of way. The town's Board of Aldermen has
also allocated enough resources to contract out street sweeping services to be
completed once each year. We have also instituted several ordinances that
assist with water quality issues. We require all solid waste dumpsters used for
business purposes to "nave a lid placed on the container to minimize the
potential contamination of storm water runoff." The town also disallows grass
clippings, leaves or other debris to be placed "in the town gutter, storm drains,
alleys or other public easements and rights -of -way". This successfully assists in
lessening clogs which could reroute storm water and limits the amount of
excessive organic material into our storm water system.
Grants Creek covers roughly 487 acres from its mouth to Buck Steam
Station. This encompasses rural farmland as well as most of Salisbury.
Salisbury -Rowan Utilities owns and maintains all water and sewer lines here in
town. We rely solely on Salisbury to prevent any sewer leaks that will impact our
water down stream. We also must rely on county control in the rural farm lands
3

view each waterway on a regular basis. We have also been in the process of
mapping our storm sewer system. The complete town map should be finished by
mid spring.
We have entered into agreements with Rowan County in assisting the
town with spills and erosion control. The environmental Health Department will
assist the town with professional expertise when situations arise such as spills,
containment and disposal of toxic materials. The county's erosion control office
provides assistance to the town when land disturbing activities exceed one acre
resulting in decreased turbidity and a lower sediment load into Grants Creek. We
have also collaborated with the Land Trust of Central North Carolina to protect a
fully wooded 40-acre tract of land within our corporate limits which also contains
dozens of specimen trees. Promoted as a passive area, minimal development is
desired in terms of planning for the future use of this area. Thereby, the
protection of this tract from development will greatly minimize sedimentation into
Grants Creek and will continue to promote the infiltration of storm water and
assist in negating the harmful effects of acid rain due to natural filtration via the
soil.
Our code of ordinances already covers many of the DWQ's concerns with
respect to construction and post -construction runoff. Erosion control has always
been an issue due to Grants Creek's periodic flooding. Issues such as this have
led us to develop comprehensive ordinances to protect our environment.
Our Land Management Department requires property owners to provide
suitable drainage structures to ensure that storm water flows in the desired
direction. We have also dedicated land to public use for storm drainage and park
purposes. New subdivisions have also been required to leave ten percent open
for green spaces allowing for filtration and ground water recharge. All new
construction is also required by ordinance to provide the town with a detailed
storm water plan. Developers are required to acquire a grading permit issued
from our Planning Board, which regulates grade and use. Existing yards are
required to be graded so no standing water will accumulate. Buffers are required
for green screening between mixed use districts. Integrated landscaped areas
2

that drain to the creek and impact our water quality. Salisbury is in the process
of renewing their NPDES permit now, which will include TMDL on Grants Creek.
We have discussed a partnership with Salisbury to improve water quality, but our
town would not be able to impact water quality in any measurable amount, even
with the most stringent storm water program.
In such a small, bedroom community whose population and rooftops have
seen no significant increases within the past 20 years, obviously our funds and
resources are extremely limited. Spencer is renowned locally for the ambitious
goals and services we undertake with such limited resources, especially in the
recent economic downturn which has seen our already extremely limited
commercial tax base dwindle and vacancies increase. Stormwater is of course
just one of these services we invest so much time into. We respectfully believe
that the very proactive measures we already undertake with our storm water,
land management programs and other practices already meet the intent of the
State's standards and regulations. We therefore likewise respectfully request
that the State consider exclusion of the Town of Spencer from NPDES Phase II
designation at this time.
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