Print |
E-mail to a friend
OPINIONS
Editorial: Developing storm-water plan no longer optional for city
Pressure is building on Huntington's city government to address issues related to storm water runoff, and local officials may not be able to stall the issue any further.
While several other cities in the state have taken steps toward meeting requirements for managing pollution in storm water runoff, Huntington has made no progress in the last several years, according to the city's new public works director, Wayne Pollard.
The city hasn't even made the required annual reports, because it apparently has had nothing to report, Pollard said.
Huntington may not get away with that much longer without paying penalties.
Huntington is one of 40 cities across the state mandated in 2003 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish a plan for reducing the quantity of pollutants -- oil and grease, pesticides and trash, for example -- that storm water picks up and carries into municipal sewer systems.
The initial six-year permit for these cities required them to address several aspects of the problem. During that period, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection decided not to fine cities for any violations so they could focus on devising and implementing their plans.
The state agency has now adopted a new five-year permit program. But this time around, DEP will conduct audits and inspect records to determine whether cities are in violation and should be subject to fines.
Huntington apparently won't be able to hide from this issue.
Three times under former Mayor David Felinton's administration, ordinances creating a storm water utility to address the issues and a storm water fee to help pay for it were submitted to the Huntington City Council. Each time, the proposals got nowhere.
This year's new City Council may not necessarily be eager to tackle the issue either. Council Chairman Jim Insco said last week that he doubts any plan calling for a new fee on residents will be welcome now, particularly in light of a recent increase in the city's user fee. But he said he assumes the administration of new Mayor Kim Wolfe will come up with a proposal, and the council will consider it when it sees one.
We also assume Wolfe's administration will devise a plan for the council's consideration, because it really has no alternative but to try to satisfy the state and federal demands. Doing so is not only good for the environment, but a way to avoid costly penalties. If the city is going to spend money on this matter, it's preferable that the funds go toward a solution.
And this time, the City Council will need to take the issue seriously.
