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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, May 27, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Britt Festival Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 16, 2004 Burgs form cooperative effort to improve water quality By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune The cities of Central Point, Phoenix and Talent have decided to contract on a regional basis with Rogue Valley Sewer Services in order to meet federally mandated storm water management requirements. Chuck Root, manager for Rogue Valley Sewer Services, said the agency would establish ordinances and requirements aimed at improving the quality of water flowing through storm drains into creeks and rivers. "We’re all interested in improving the quality of the water in our creeks and in the ground and surface water in the area," said Root. "These cities have been working for quite some time in that direction. More recently, the federal government has come along and said that it’s also required and that each city and Jackson County apply to DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) for a storm water management permit." Root said overseeing new standards for all cities under one umbrella would save smaller cities money and ensure high standards throughout the region. The plan is also expected, pending a vote by county commissioners, to incorporate areas of Jackson County, including White City. Advertisement "In a nutshell," said Root, "these four agencies have decided that the best thing to do is cooperate and take care of this on a regional basis to minimize cost and maximize effectiveness." Setting standards for storm water runoff first came about under federal law in 1993. Phase 1 requirements were established in 1990 affecting cities of 100,000 or more. Phase 2 requirements, signed into law in December 1999, affect cities of between 10,000 and 100,000 people. As part of requirements, cities must apply for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits administered by the Environmental Protection Agency through state and regional water boards. Communities which have applied for permits must develop and implement a comprehensive storm water management program. The program must include six measures addressing public education and outreach, illicit discharge detection and elimination, and control of storm water runoff at construction sites. Central Point Public Works Director Bob Pierce said the regional solution was a win-win situation for the cities, all of which already contract for sewer services to some degree with Rogue Valley Sewer Services. "Rogue Valley Sewer has stepped up to the plate because they already have a good working relationship with DEQ and because they were kind enough to step forward and work with the different municipalities," said Pierce. "This is going to save us and everyone involved a whole lot of money by putting it all together, and will keep us from having to assemble a management plan and carry through on what we all come up with." Root said individual homeowners would see a minimal and gradual increase in their sewer bills over six months beginning sometime this year to pay for the program. For more information on the Regional Storm Water program, visit the Rogue Valley Sewer Web site, www.rvss.us . Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s