I never knew what a NPDES permit was until the four commissioners voted to artificially turf two fields in a flood-prone area on Cedar Blvd. For those unaware of this permit, it stands for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. According to The NPDES Permit System website, the Federal Clean Water Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams law requires wastewater dischargers to have a permit establishing pollution limits, and specifying monitoring and reporting requirements. A Post Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) Report, which deals with erosion and sedimentation, must also be filed with the Allegheny County Conservation District when submitting a NPDES application. Thinking about the new swimming pool, I emailed Steve Feller and asked him about the NPDES permit and PCSM Report for that project. Through a Right To Know, here is his response. "There is no PCSM report for the Swim Center as the disturbed area was less than an acre."
The Mt. Lebanon Pool disturbed area totals more than 1.5 acres. See section E in the link? That section connects the pool to the fields on Cedar.
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| Looking down to the field |
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| The Shadow Knows |
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- Began installation of storm water piping at the bottom of the slope
But wait. There's more.
From the Mt. Lebanon website, Mt. Lebanon installed a new gas line which went all the way to Cedar Blvd. The disturbed area for the gas line was not included in the 1.5+ acres calculation.
During Citizen Comments, I asked for a report concerning the meeting between Gateway and the DEP. There is no report, I was told. Of course there is no report, Kristen. You're not going to get one. The stormwater pipe connecting the pool to the fields was on the DEP's agenda to discuss with Gateway! Dan will never admit that he screwed up. This area was clearly marked on the bid documents that I bought.
The DEP has already told you that you are not adequately filtering the toxic run-off. It isn't safe enough for our streams. I can't imagine what it is doing to our children.
Insert handy comment template asking for resignations here.
 | CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) |
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Today top women soccer players sued FIFA for gender discrimination over changing playing fields to artificial turf. @elainequijano explains
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Elaine,
ReplyDeleteDo we know if a NPDES permit was issued for the swimming pool renovation?
Nick M.
It looks like the storm water from the pool now empties into the storm water system for Wildcat Field. The minimum required size of such a storm water pipe from the pool is 15 inch diameter. Was this new and extra storm water flow included in the NPDES permit application and PCSM Plan calculations for the turf project?
ReplyDeleteNick, there was no NPDES permit issued because Steve Feller was advised that it was not necessary. I'm guessing he got that info from Gateway, the engineering firm that donated to the turf project, at the same time billed Mt. Lebanon for the turf project. The engineering firm that approved the removal of the stormwater detention tanks and rain garden from the high school project. And the same engineering firm that said the fields sit higher than Cedar and never flood. The same engineering firm that said that construction would begin on August 1...Sept. 1...Oct. 1...
ReplyDeleteInsert handy comment template here.
Elaine
Where does the water from the pool, when they empty it, drain in to?
ReplyDeleteWhat about the high school pool? Where does that water drain in to?
Nick M.
This is what’s confusing Elaine.
ReplyDeleteSection 301a of the Clean Water Act states:
“Except as in compliance with this section and sections 302, 306, 307, 318, 402, and 404 of this Act, the discharge of any pollutant by any person shall be unlawful. [33 USC 1311]
In lay terms, the above section of the CWA requires that point source discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States have an NPDES permit. There are a few exceptions, with the major exception being agricultural runoff [see 40 CFR 122.2 "point source"; 40 CFR 122.3(e) and (f); and 40 CFR 122.26(a)(1)(v)]”
If you research “point source”, it states:
“For purposes of the Clean Water Act, "Point Source" means any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill, leachate collection system, vessel or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture or agriculture storm water runoff.”
I see no place where it states that you are exempt from a NPDES permit if a disturbed area is of any size, let alone less than 1 acre as Steve Feller states. It states “any” above.
I could be wrong but someone really screwed up on this one, probably Gateway like you are stating. This parallels what one commissioner was telling me on the phone this morning regarding Mt. Lebanon and Gateway.
Nick M.
The Sports Advisory Board is scheduled to meet tonight at 8:00 in Meeting Room C. There is no agenda posted, but this would make a great topic for discussion, Nick.
ReplyDeleteThe last SAB meeting was canceled. No word yet on the status of tonight's meeting.
Elaine
Insert handy comment template here. HAHAHAHAHAHA
ReplyDeleteThe Post Construction Stormwater Plan should be the show stopper if all else fails. CSC
ReplyDeleteI guess there is nothing to talk about if there isn't turf.
ReplyDeleteThis is an important notice from LeboALERT.
The Mt. Lebanon Sports Advisory Board meeting scheduled for October 2, 2014 is
canceled. For the complete meeting schedule please view our website.
Elaine
So much for open and transparent government.
ReplyDeleteSomething happens that is inconvenient to talk about and the very vocal SAB clams up and runs away.
Babies!
Poking a bear is never a good idea.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a threat, 6:15.
ReplyDeleteIf this is the second SAB meeting in a row that was cancelled because they have absolutely nothing of importance to talk about that would be of interest to Mt. Lebanon and its residents, even if it's to follow-up on previous issues, I would think that the SAB in Mt. Lebanon is really not needed.
ReplyDeleteNick M.
Seems like a nerve was touched.
ReplyDeleteWhose the bear 6:15?
ReplyDeletehttp://water.epa.gov/polwaste/npdes/NPDES-Regional-Contacts.cfm
ReplyDeleteWho to contact with concerns
Fire Steve Feller!
ReplyDeleteOK so no permit is to be found. What can be done about it? I've learned that permits are for "Some" people and not for others. Same with the rules. My neighbor was allowed to build on MY property without a permit or even a drawing or survey. They were allowed to build right up to my fence which is 8 inches into my property. But having friends in the right offices allowed it. So it's my house that is hit with eggs, dog waste, rocks and such. I'm on window #8 being replaced. After November election I'm sure the State will sign off on turf and construction will start.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't the time a project is off track be the time to have a committee meeting? Wasn't this the group that so successfully fast tracked the project in the first place? Maybe they can work some of their magic and get the project back on track?
ReplyDelete6:26 AM, those are logical questions. I'm sure they are still meeting, but are going underground and breaking Sunshine Law.
ReplyDeleteElaine
12:28 AM, Feller is the puppet. Who is the puppet master? Gateway? The commissioners? The recreation director? Who's to blame over the bidding irregularities which resulted in a lawsuit? How about the peeling paint? The climbing wall rusting out? The faulty filtration system? No permits?
ReplyDeleteAnd they want to hire people with guns to kill the deer here? God help us.
Elaine
6:26, a normal group or organization would take that approach by having open meetings, soliciting fresh ideas and such.
ReplyDeleteBut this isn't a group that is open to input, sharing information or operating by the rules.
Just look at the public information meeting in which the dissemination of information was controlled from the beginning.
Now not-so-subtle threats are being employed.
7:09 : it does not sound like you fell for the charade when Brumfield and friends invented the SAB, the SAB wants nothing to do with public input, participation or process
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase another commission, who shall not be named, we have the votes and we will have it our way
Exactly.
ReplyDeleteEspecially as you point out that a commissioner told us they don't need to listen to advisory boards, professionals or constituents.
If the commissioners can dismiss advice from boards they appointed members to with a wave of their hands, why have them?
Now we get warnings, not to poke their favorite board.
What is going to happen? Will we find taxpayers on the bottom of the pool in cement shoes? Citations delivered in the mail?
This is how we administer democracy in the bubble?
6:15 PM was coy about the warning. Is the bear:
ReplyDeleteChip, I mean He Who Shall Not Be Named?
Franklin?
Brumfield?
Linfante?
The SAB?
Gateway?
The taxpayers?
The DEP?
Elaine
It can't be the DEP, Elaine. A second DEP official resigned this morning. They have their own problems...
ReplyDeleteOh heavens no it couldn't be any in that list, Elaine.
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't think of posting things anonymously.
wink, wink
No news, no permits, no construction, no sab meeting, looks normal for ... scoundrels
ReplyDeleteBears need clean water, too. Fish come from clean streams. Please stop kidding yourselves. You can't defend pollution. Dirty water = dirty people.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that artificial turf has run into a host of road blocks, it is probably going to run into higher cost and it seems there might not be majority of residents in favor of it.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't this be exactly the tme that the SAB should be promoting open meetings and asking for new ideas and suggestions?
The opposite of what they're doing.
Didn't all the current commissioners run campaigns promising more transparency and more collaboration with their constituents?
Why there has to be this constant battle on every issue baffles me, seems we intelligent people should be able to arrive at a compromise that satisfies everyone.
You can't do that if one group is going to take their ball and go home.
One would think substantial improvements to the natural grass at WC/M could be made while the issues get sorted out with artificial turf.
ReplyDeleteOne would think that would spur priority meetings with the SAB since they were in such a rush to get the turf in.
WIll the person who asked me not to publish the comment, please email me at EGillen476@aol.com?
ReplyDeleteYour entire message did not come through. I think I can help you.
Elaine
5:03, the argument against making substantial improvements to the natural grass at M/WC would be that those fields aren't being used that much right now. I've driven by those fields mid-day the past few weekends with beautiful weather and no one is there using them. So I wonder how much use they will get from now till the snow starts flying?
ReplyDeleteThis goes along with my previous statement with the SAB and cancelled meetings. At the very least, the SAB could be having meetings putting together a revised timetable/schedule to use these fields until such time groundbreaking begins, but they aren't.
When you put two and two together here, and look at the 2015 field use schedule and how much those grass fields are being used now, one really begins to wonder if we really need turfed fields at all.
Nick M.
I would agree with you Nick M for the most part.
ReplyDeleteI've always wonder when fields are empty on weekends and evening why the proclamation that there aren't game slots.
As for the grass, we could be grooming it and taking steps to get the field ready for next season.
Elaine, the alleged lack of game slots is bunk, a hoax ! The fields are in actual use less than 5% of 24/7/365 hours. Hours scheduled does not mean they are actually used, even in perfect weather.
ReplyDeleteThere is more than adequate time available for field "rest". The athletic supporters argument is based on the fact that all the field sports groups want to use the fields during the same few hours per day during sports seasons for which there is some overlap. The kids cannot play or practice without adult coaches and helicopter parental presence with snacks, which means only late afternoons/early evening field usage, except for weekends for which there is seldom use of all 3 Cedar Blvd. fields at any given time. They are inflexible, uncompromising whiners.
They have added field sports and lowered the starting ages to 6 year old's with full uniforms, equipment, coaches, sponsors and they demand taxpayers pay for additional fields but are the only recreational sports category who do not pay Lebo a fee for the use of the fields, like golf, hockey, skating, tennis, platform tennis, swimming pay a fee for use of their rec facilities. And by the way, the turf fee arrangement is a joke.
12:03 AM soccer is now field scheduled for preschoolers. By age 6 some have been playing for 2 years!
ReplyDelete12:03
ReplyDeleteWhat sports are you talking about? All equipment is purchased by the athlete including sign up fees for shirts and hats.
10:03 PM, I took 12:03 AM's comment to mean that everyone pays while the athletes get stuck with paying fees and buying equipment. I guess that is how baseball, soccer, lacrosse, etc. can afford to pay up to $50,000 each for the turf project. turf checks
ReplyDeleteI hear that the baseball meeting was canceled for tonight. They probably don't know what is going to happen to the fifty grand they gave to Mt. Lebanon and can't get back.
Elaine
The P in DEP is questionable. P stands for Protection. Does the DEP actually protect our environment or just levy massive 4.5 million dollar fines after the air, water, and land are contaminated? If Gateway hasn't done 4.5 million dollars in damage as a result of their sneaky, illegal behavior, then the DEP will just turn a blind eye.
ReplyDelete10:35 AM check to see how many times the DEP fines state and local governments v. private sector firms and individuals for infractions.
ReplyDelete