TOWN OF NEW CASTLE

SPDES NUMBER: NYR20A177

Stormwater Management Program

Annual Report - DRAFT

June, 2004

TOWN OF NEW CASTLE - NYR20A177

Stormwater Management Program Annual Report - June, 2004

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ………………………………………………………..………. 1

I. Minimum Measure 1: Public Education and Outreach in Stormwater Impacts

Narrative overview ………………..…………………………………………. 3

Implementation of Best Management Practices …..…………………………. 3

Activities planned for the Upcoming Year ……………………………………. 3

II. Minimum Measure 2: Public Involvement/Participation

Narrative overview …………………………………………………………… 4

Implementation of Best Management Practices………………………………. 4

Activities planned for the Upcoming Year ……………………………………. 4

III. Minimum Measure 3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

Narrative overview …………………………………………………………… 7

Implementation of Best Management Practices………………………………. 7

Activities planned for the Upcoming Year …………………………………….. 7

IV. Minimum Measure 4: Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control

Narrative overview …………………………………………………………… 9

Implementation of Best Management Practices………………………………. 10

Activities planned for the Upcoming Year ……………………………………. 10

V. Minimum Measure 5: Post-Construction Stormwater Management

Narrative overview …………………………………………………………… 11

Implementation of Best Management Practices………………………………. 12

Activities planned for the Upcoming Year ………………………………….… 12

VI. Minimum Measure 6: Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

Narrative overview …………………………………………………………… 13

Implementation of Best Management Practices………………………………. 14

Activities planned for the Upcoming Year ……………………………………. 14

Executive Summary

The Town of New Castle has been proactive in stormwater management and water quality for many years prior to the requirements of the Stormwater Phase II Rule. The Town has had a wetlands protection ordinance since 1979, a steep slope protection ordinance since 1992, a tree protection ordinance since 1992, and in 2002, enacted an environmental overlay ordinance that further regulates wetland activities within the eastern and western portions of Town. For many years the Town has required soil erosion and sedimentation control plans for construction-related disturbances of any size. The Planning Board and Town Engineer have required both stormwater quality as well as stormwater quantity issues be addressed on plans that require their approval. In 1989, the Town established the staff position of Wetlands Inspector (retitled in 2001 as Environmental Coordinator) whose primary function is to inspect construction sites as often as necessary to ensure that soil erosion and sedimentation control plans are being properly followed. Therefore, it is clear that the Town is interested and experienced in addressing stormwater quality issues.

In the first year of coverage under the SPEDES General Permit No. GP-02-02, the Town has made steady progress towards full compliance in all required areas. The Town performs several activities that benefit water quality, such as those mentioned above, that are not supported by existing Town ordinances. The Town intends to develop two new ordinances in the next year or two that will formalize the Town’s efforts for three of the required minimum measures.

A stormwater management law will be developed in order to address Measures IV and V (Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control and Post-Construction Stormwater Management,) that will require applicants to prepare a complete stormwater management plan that analyzes and mitigates the impact of additional stormwater runoff created as a result of regulated activities in terms of water quantity, water quality, soil erosion and sedimentation control, construction sequencing and post-construction management.

In addition, to address Measure III (Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination,) a law will be developed that prohibits illicit connections to the municipal stormwater system.

In order to address Measure VI (Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations,) the Town has started a comprehensive street sweeping and catch basin cleaning schedule, as well as a scheduled disposal operation of waste oil, antifreeze and toxic substances generated from its operations. The Town intends to develop a manual for the Departments of Public Works and Parks Employees that addresses automobile maintenance procedures and schedules, hazardous waste material storage and disposal, and landscape and lawn care material management.

In order to comply with Measures I and II, (Public Education and Outreach in Stormwater Impacts and Public Participation/Involvement,) the Town has prepared printed material that has been distributed in several formats. It is hoped that additional progress will be made in these areas through initiatives with other northern Westchester communities and Westchester County to work cooperatively in developing methods to achieve the common goals of public education, outreach participation and involvement. In this regard, in September 2003, the Town signed a Cooperation Letter of Intent supporting the Westchester County Planning Department’s application with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for a grant to fund these two measures.

Finally, in March 2004, the Town actively participated in drafting and implementing a proposal to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection by the Northern Westchester Watershed Committee (NWWC), to develop a model stormwater management program. This program would provide the ten Croton Watershed municipalities represented by the NWWC an opportunity to both locally and regionally address water quality issues through stormwater management and alleviate the possibility of municipalities creating overlapping and repetitive programs at the expense of taxpayer dollars.

Stormwater Management Program Annual Report

Six Minimum Measures Section

March 10, 2003 – March 9, 2004

Municipality Name - TOWN OF NEW CASTLE SPDES Number NYR20A177

Minimum Measure 1: Public Education and Outreach in Stormwater Impacts

A. Narrative Overview:

As per the approved MS4 Permit, Year 1 Objectives for this category are outlined under Section B.

B. Implementation of Best Management Practices				C. Activities Planned for Upcoming Year
Type in the management practices selected in your NOI and any additional ones that you worked on.	Any done in the past year?		If YES, describe what measurable goals that were achieved and other accomplishments. If NO, and the item was checked off on your NOI, describe why the task was not accomplished and, if still a measurable goal, list in column C.	Describe SWMP activities that are planned for the next year and changes to selected management practices/measurable goals.
	YES	NO
Techniques
Plan and conduct an ongoing public education and outreach program (required)	YES		Public Education and Outreach activities completed during the first year, included preparing a collection of printed materials that could be displayed at Town Hall and at the Local Library. A newsletter/fact sheet format was created titled “Conservation Notes”. Volume I, Issue I, covered the topic “Septic System Maintenance Tips”; and Volume I, Issue II, covered the topic “Garden Maintenance Tips”. The Conservation Notes series have been added to the content of the Town’s Solid Waste Calendar, included with the Welcome Wagon Materials for new residents, and added as a link on the Town’s web site.	Activities that are planned for the next year include preparation of additional educational materials as needed for distribution and display purposes. Outreach efforts will be expanded to include distribution of “Conservation Notes” and other printed materials to local neighborhood associations, schools and volunteer organizations. The Town’s website will be modified to include a page for the Stormwater Management Plan, with linkages to other educational information.

Minimum Measure 2: Public Involvement/Participation

A. Narrative Overview:

As per the approved MS4 Permit, Year 1 Objectives for this category are outlined under Section B.

B. Implementation of Best Management Practices				C. Activities Planned for Upcoming Year
Type in the management practices selected in your NOI and any additional ones that you worked on.	Any done in the past year?		If YES, describe what measurable goals that were achieved and other accomplishments. If NO, and the item was checked off on your NOI, describe why the task was not accomplished and, if still a measurable goal, list in column C.	Describe SWMP activities that are planned for the next year and changes to selected management practices/measurable goals.
	YES	NO
Techniques
Public notice and access to documents and information (required)	YES		A series of public meetings for the purpose of presenting the SWMP to the public and soliciting comments was held with the Town Board, the Planning Board, Conservation Board, Environmental Review Board, and Advisory Committee on Open Space.
Public presentation and comments received on SWMP and annual report (required)	YES		A series of public meetings for the purpose of presenting the SWMP to the public and soliciting comments was held with the Town Board, the Planning Board, Conservation Board, Environmental Review Board, and Advisory Committee on Open Space.	Public Town Board Meeting to be held to present and receive comments on annual report.
Public involvement/ participation program(required)	YES		The Town of New Castle’s “Joint Environmental Boards” (Conservation and Environmental Review, and Advisory Committee on Open Space) distributed storm water educational materials at the Town of New Castle’s Community Day on 09-20-03. Over 500 packets of materials distributed to residents. Stream Surveys were completed by two Eagle Scout candidates and 15 scouts for a combined total of 576 hours. Survey information documented stream condition and potential improvements to reduce impacts from nonpoint pollution sources. A wetland restoration project was started at Gedney Park by an Eagle Scout, involving restoration of approximately 1/3 of an acre of wetlands with new plantings, a boardwalk and self-guided interpretative trail materials. Total of 237 hours contributed towards this project. Wetland restoration was designed to provide important functional improvements to filtering capabilities and habitat quality of wetlands prior to discharge into stream system.	The activities planned for the second year include preparation of the first annual report for period covering 01/08/03 thru 01/07/04. In addition, Town owned properties will be reviewed for appropriate wetland restoration projects and designs prepared, that can be implemented by volunteers, and other community group participation. Outreach efforts will continue with local community events.
Contact person identified (required)	YES		Town Engineer Frank Annunziata, P.E., CPESC, has been officially designated as the Town’s staff contact for public access to information and materials pertaining to the Town’s Stormwater Management Program. Official records of all Stormwater Management Plan Information and Annual Reports will be maintained within the Town Clerk’s Office and the Building and Engineering Office, located at Town Hall.

Minimum Measure 3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

A. Narrative Overview:

In November 2002 the Town awarded a contract to Sanborn Map Company to capture various features within the Town’s 100 miles of roadways. Included in this capture of attributes is the location of all stormwater drains and waterway outfalls. During the Summer of 2003 the Sanborn Company collected this data and has plotted the information on an existing Westchester County landbase map. Outfalls along all waterways within the Town will need to be physically surveyed in order to complete the maps. Illicit discharges detected from outfall

observation will be traced to determine and eliminate sources. Our maps will be marked up and used as an ongoing tool to trace illicit discharges and develop strategies to eliminate them.

Existing ordinances that relate to illicit connections to the municipal stormwater sewage system have been reviewed. Draft legislation to

prohibit these connections will be developed in the upcoming year.

B. Implementation of Best Management Practices				C. Activities Planned for Upcoming Year
Type in the management practices selected in your NOI and any additional ones that you worked on.	Any done in the past year?		If YES, describe what measurable goals that were achieved and other accomplishments. If NO, and the item was checked off on your NOI, describe why the task was not accomplished and, if still a measurable goal, list in column C.	Describe SWMP activities that are planned for the next year and changes to selected management practices/measurable goals.
	YES	NO
Activities
Outfall mapping (required)		NO	As stated in Section A, the Town has begun mapping all drainage systems in Town including outfalls. This year we have captured the base information and plotted it.	Base maps will be supplemental to include size and type of pipes and outfall locations.
Illicit discharges prohibited (required)		NO	Existing ordinances that relate to illicit connections to the municipal stormwater sewer system have been reviewed.	Draft legislation prohibiting illicit connections to the municipal stormwater sewer system
Public, employees, businesses informed of hazards from illicit discharges (required)		NO	To commence in Year 3	Inform the public of the hazards from illicit discharges by way of the Town website, public forums, distribution of printed materials. Develop plans to inform businesses and industrial property owners of prohibition on illicit connections. Plans will be developed to train employees on detection of illicit connections and crossovers. Investigate and identify complaints of sanitary sewer overflows for elimination.
Illicit discharges identified (required)		NO	Intend in Year 3 to enforce legislation, which is to be adopted in Year 2, prohibiting illicit connections to the stormwater system.	Draft legislation prohibiting illicit connections to the stormwater system and hold public hearings and adopt amended ordinances.

Minimum Measure 4: Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control

A. Narrative Overview:

The Town of New Castle has been proactive in controlling stormwater runoff from construction sites. For many years the Town has required soil erosion and sedimentation control plans for construction-related disturbances of any size. The Planning Board and Town Engineer have required that both stormwater quality as well as stormwater quantity issues be addressed on plans that require their approval. In 1989, the Town established the staff position of Wetlands Inspector (retitled in 2001 as Environmental Coordinator) whose primary function is to inspect construction sites as often as necessary to ensure that soil erosion and sedimentation control plans are being properly followed. The Town has demonstrated the ability under its existing laws to require these controls and to enforce them when violated, however, specific ordinances that require applicants to prepare a complete stormwater management plan that analyzes and mitigates the impact of additional stormwater runoff created as a result of regulated activities in terms of water quantity, quality, soil erosion and sediment control, construction sequencing and post-construction management have not yet been developed. It is the intention of the Town to develop such a law(s) in Year 2. The law(s) shall incorporate the requirements of the NYS Stormwater Management Design Manual and the NYS Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control.

Goals for Year 1 have been achieved in that all land use regulations and controls in effect for development have been reviewed and a list of construction site operators is being developed.

Minimum Measure 4: Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control

B. Implementation of Best Management Practices				C. Activities Planned for Upcoming Year
Type in the management practices selected in your NOI and any additional ones that you worked on.	Any done in the past year?		If YES, describe what measurable goals that were achieved and other accomplishments. If NO, and the item was checked off on your NOI, describe why the task was not accomplished and, if still a measurable goal, list in column C.	Describe SWMP activities that are planned for the next year and changes to selected management practices/measurable goals.
	YES	NO
Requirements
Require erosion and sedimentation controls through an ordinance or other regulatory mechanism (required)		NO	Erosion and sedimentation controls were required on all projects, but a specific ordinance has not been established at this time. All land use regulations and controls in effect were evaluated.	Develop a local stormwater management law incorporating the requirements of the NYS Stormwater Management Design Manual and the NYS Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sedimentation Control.
Provide opportunity for public comment on construction plans (required)	YES		Existing laws allow public comment on all applications before the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. This includes subdivisions, site plans, and certain steep slopes permits and wetlands permits.
Require construction site plan review (required)	YES		Current practice requires that site plans are reviewed. The new stormwater management law(s) will establish a code requirement for this.
Require overall construction site waste management (required)		NO	Requirements will be developed as part of new stormwater management law(s)	Stormwater management law(s) to be developed.
Site inspection and enforcement (required)	YES		Site inspections are performed and enforcement actions are undertaken as necessary.
Education and training of construction site operators (required)		NO	A list of contractors is being developed.	Training is to commence in Year 3.

Minimum Measure 5: Post-Construction Stormwater Management

A. Narrative Overview:

The Town of New Castle has been proactive in post-construction stormwater management. In 1996, the Town’s Planning Board required the developers of the Kraus Subdivision on Barnes Lane to establish agreements for the private maintenance of the stormwater management facilities before approving the project. Since then, the owners of all such facilities approved by the Board for subdivisions and site plans must abide by the conditions of similar agreements that relate to their inspection, cleaning and maintenance. In the case of subdivisions, homeowners associations are usually formed and the homeowners are aware of their responsibilities prior to purchase.

Although the above procedures have been the current practice in the Town, they will be incorporated into the new stormwater management law(s) previously described under Minimum Measure 4. It is the intention of the Town to develop such law(s) in Year 2.

The Town presently oversees compliance of the private maintenance agreements by the inspections and follow-up of the Environmental Coordinator, and will continue to so.

Minimum Measure 5: Post-Construction Stormwater Management

B. Implementation of Best Management Practices				C. Activities Planned for Upcoming Year
Type in the management practices selected in your NOI and any additional ones that you worked on.	Any done in the past year?		If YES, describe what measurable goals that were achieved and other accomplishments. If NO, and the item was checked off on your NOI, describe why the task was not accomplished and, if still a measurable goal, list in column C.	Describe SWMP activities that are planned for the next year and changes to selected management practices/measurable goals.
	YES	NO
Requirements
Assess existing conditions throughout the MS4 and identify appropriate management practices to reduce pollutant discharge to the maximum extent practicable (required)	YES		Review of Town’s site development regulations to require the use of stormwater quality BMPs for regulated development projects commenced.
Regulate post-construction runoff from development through an ordinance or other regulatory mechanism (required)	YES		Current practice by Planning Board requires developers to establish agreements to maintain BMPs.	Current practice to be incorporated into new stormwater management law(s).
Develop management practice inspection and maintenance program (required)	YES		Town presently oversees compliance of private agreements for maintenance of BMPs.

Minimum Measure 6: Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

A. Narrative Overview:

To meet the requirements of Part IV.C.6 of the SPEDES General Permit, the Town of New Castle Department of Public Works has started a comprehensive and aggressive street sweeping and catch basin cleaning schedule. The Town of New Castle has approximately 100 miles of town roads and has been broken down into 17 zones of equidistant areas. These areas have been catalogued on street charts per zone and the areas assigned to our sweeper fleet of three (3) mechanical sweepers and one (1) vacuum sweeper/catch basin cleaner.

Starting at the first warming trend in March or April of the year, each sweeper along with a dump truck for material removal is given specific zone areas to sweep until the entire town is swept. This operation takes approximately four (4) weeks to complete and during the 2003 sweeping program, we had removed an estimated 2500 yards of debris of which approximately 85 percent was sand and the remaining 15 percent was organic matter.

After collection of this debris, the material is stockpiled at the Department’s Hunts Lane facility in Chappaqua for recycling into roadway projects, and also given to local contractors for fill in landscaping and construction projects.

During the sweeping operations, our catch basin cleaner is dispatched to specific zones to systematically remove debris from basins within those zones. Log sheets are kept to keep track of all zones swept and of all basins cleaned. After all zones have been swept and basins cleaned, then our sweepers are also dispatched to problematic areas for continued sweeping to remove trash accumulation as in the case of downtown Chappaqua and the Millwood business districts. These additional sweeping operations occur on a bi-weekly basis until the winter resumes again.

Prior to the first town-wide sweep, all our sweeper operators are instructed in the proper techniques in collecting roadway debris by not only sweeping the paved portion of the roadway, but also sweeping gutter areas to remove sediment before it could enter basins, stream beds or ponds. Many of the Town’s street water collection structures drain into Westchester County or New York State Department of Transportation systems. Our operators are instructed to concentrate their operations to collect as much material as possible to minimize the impact to these drainage systems that are not maintained by the Town.

Minimum Measure 6: Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

B. Implementation of Best Management Practices			C. Activities Planned for Upcoming Year
Type in the management practices selected in your NOI and any additional ones that you worked on.	Any done in the past year?	If YES, describe what measurable goals that were achieved and other accomplishments. If NO, and the item was checked off on your NOI, describe why the task was not accomplished and, if still a measurable goal, list in column C.	Describe SWMP activities that are planned for the next year and changes to selected management practices/measurable goals.
	YES