EPA mandates soil erosion ordinance for river areas
Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 14, 2004
Input wanted.
The Lawrence County Storm Water Management committee is drafting an ordinance that would govern how soil erosion is contained at construction sites in areas of Lawrence County along the Ohio River. The public is invited to give input once the draft ordinance is ready.
Carrie Yaniko, education coordinator for the Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation District, told the Lawrence County Commission Wednesday the ordinance is part of the county's longterm plan required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce pollutants going into the Ohio River.
"We want people to be aware this is something the EPA is making us do," Yaniko said. "It is required."
"Just so everyone is on an equal playing field and it is fair to everyone," Commissioner Jason Stephens said.
"This is no different from what we got into with the flood plain regulations," Commissioner George Patterson said in noting the storm water management plan and its soil erosion component are unfunded mandates that are passed along by the state.
The ordinance would affect Union, Rome, Fayette and Perry Townships as well as the village of South Point. The city of Ironton and village of Coal Grove are developing their own plans.
The new regulation would require contractors, land developers or property owners to prevent soil runoff from getting into creeks and streams - and ultimately into the Ohio River - during the construction process.
"We've taken ordinances from other counties and other states and some model ordinances from the E.P.A. and we've found something we like," Yaniko said.
The draft ordinance will be presented to the planning committee at its meeting Monday night.
Yaniko said after that, there will a 30-day public comment period, during which public meetings will be conducted to obtain input from people in affected areas.