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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />March 25, 2011 <br /> <br />CONTACT: <br />Therese Walch, Water Resource Manager, 541-682-5549 <br /> <br />From Public Information Section, 541-682-5523 or 541-954-2938 <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> <br /> <br />Comments Sought on Eugene’s Stormwater Monitoring Plan <br /> <br />Eugene is seeking public comments on its revised Stormwater Monitoring Plan. <br />Eugene has held a federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) <br />permit since 1994 for discharges from the municipal stormwater system to receiving waterways, <br />including Amazon Creek and the Willamette River. In December 2010, the City received its third <br />NPDES permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and has revised its <br />Stormwater Monitoring Plan to incorporate some additional requirements and clarify the City’s <br />monitoring program so that it is informative to the general public. <br />The City’s NPDES permit includes monitoring and reporting requirements and a set of <br />best management practices that, collectively, reduce the discharge of pollutants from the <br />municipal stormwater system to the maximum extent practicable. From a national perspective, <br />the NPDES permitting program has been a major force in the country’s efforts to protect and <br />restore the quality of rivers, lakes and coastal waters. While water quality gains have been made <br />since the program was initiated, increases in population and development activities stress <br />infrastructure and threaten the water quality improvements made nationally. At the same time, <br />water quality protection has become increasingly complex – scientifically and socially. <br />Modifications to Eugene’s Stormwater Monitoring Plan reflect this national perspective and <br />include additional monitoring sites, a longer list of water quality parameters, and greater clarity in <br />the plan itself. <br />The revised Stormwater Monitoring Plan is available on the internet at: www.eugene- <br />or.gov/pw or by calling Therese Walch, Water Resources Manager, at 541-682-5549. <br />Comments received by 5 p.m. Friday, April 22, will be summarized in the City’s <br />Stormwater Monitoring Plan submittal to DEQ. Comments received after April 22 will be taken <br />into consideration for possible future modifications to the City’s monitoring program. Written <br />comments may be sent to NPDES Permit, Eugene Public Works, 99 East Broadway, Suite 400, <br />Eugene, OR 97401. E-mail comments may be sent to therese.walch@ci.eugene.or.us. <br /># # # <br /> <br />Public Works Administration ● City of Eugene ● 101 E. Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401 <br />Phone 541-682-8421 ● Fax 541-682-6826 ● www.eugene-or.gov/pw <br />