WHEREAS, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers stormwater runoff the fourth most serious source of pollution to the nation's lakes — after agriculture, other nonpoint sources and atmospheric deposition of pollutants; and

WHEREAS, since 1992, U.S. cities with a population greater than 100,000 and separated storm and sanitary sewer systems; certain industries; and construction sites over 5 acres have had to develop and implement stormwater plans under Phase I of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater regulations; and

WHEREAS, under Phase II of the program, for which rules were published in December, 1999, operators of separated municipal storm and sanitary sewer systems serving fewer than 100,000 people must also apply for a permit by March 2003 and develop a plan to manage stormwater runoff; and

WHEREAS, stormwater runoff does not follow political boundaries; and

WHEREAS, the cost of structural solutions to stormwater runoff problems in Wisconsin could easily exceed one billion dollars, a sum that taxpayers should not be forced to pay; and

WHEREAS, studies have demonstrated that integrating stormwater management into comprehensive areawide planning, and devising nonstructural runoff control strategies can minimize the areas of a watershed covered by the impervious surfaces that exacerbate stormwater management problems; and

WHEREAS, the cost of structural solutions to stormwater runoff problems in Wisconsin could easily exceed one billion dollars, a sum that taxpayers should not be forced to pay;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of ________________ supports the creation of incentives for a regional solution to the stormwater mandate, including a provision to allow stormwater permitholders to enforce standards on all communities in the watershed that have been identified as contributing to the stormwater problem.

Adopted by the City of ____________________

_______________, 2000

(signed)_______________________________