York County WIP – IWRP and CBPRPs

A key strategy, supported by PA DEP, that is worthy of specific mention is the preparation of a County or Regional Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction Plan (CBPRP). All MS4 municipalities will be required to submit a CBPRP to PA DEP within one (1) year of receiving their MS4 Permit. Through an intergovernmental cooperative effort, a single Plan could be prepared at a lesser cost than multiple individual Plans. This cost savings could then be directed to implementing the BMPs. Additionally, this effort would enable participating municipalities to contribute to potentially larger structural BMP projects that would result in greater strides toward meeting the County targets. Likewise, they would receive credit for contributing to such projects, regardless of whether they were located in their MS4 urbanized area. The premise is that successful implementation of large projects identified in a County or Regional CBPRP could result in the reduction of more pollutants that an abundance of smaller projects listed in individual municipal CBPRPs.

Another notable strategy is using the York County Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP) Flowchart Tool. This web-enabled tool (www.paiwrp.com) integrates many of the solutions identified by this WIP into an overall process, addressing water related issues in a holistic manner. The development of a methodology by which municipalities could incorporate the Flowchart Tool into regulations, policies and/or procedures, would facilitate implementation of the County’s WIP, largely by addressing its identified solutions.

York County WIP – Strategies

The solutions identified in Section IV of this Plan are effective at reducing pollutants only if implemented. The focus of this Section is to establish viable strategies by which identified solutions will be implemented throughout York County. These strategies relate solely to the solutions recommended in this Plan.

Additionally, it is important to reiterate that these strategies are intended to not only clean up York County waters and assist the County with meeting its Draft Planning Targets, but also to aid Pennsylvania in meeting its target allocations. Through implementation of the strategies noted in this Plan, strides can also be made in helping the County to not be subjected to potential US EPA backstops in the future. 

This Plan is a start for municipal action. It did some up front thinking to identify priority areas and priority tools that make sense. A countywide or regional approach to implementation may realize an increased chance of success. 

It is apparent that local governments will need to use coordination, cooperation and communication to carry out many of the strategies recommended in this Plan. This includes, but is not limited to, engaging citizens, environmental organizations, non-profit groups, and public/private foundations. Often times, these groups will gladly volunteer to support local initiatives that restore and protect local waters when they understand the threats to those waters. Additionally, financial resources and technical assistance will likely be needed.

Rather than just listing strategies, a table is being used to set forth the strategies to implement the solutions. The table (See pages 24 and 25) sets forth not only implementation strategies for each of the four (4) solutions, but also notes the recommended time frame for implementation, the lead and/or partner agencies responsible for implementation of the strategy, and tasks that the Coalition for Clean Waters could carry out to assist with implementation. This format is often referred to as a “crosswalk.”

The “Lead Agency” refers to the entity that would take primary responsibility for implementing the strategy, while “Partner(s)” refers to entities that would assist the Lead Agency with implementing the strategy. The time frames for implementation are described as follows:

• Ongoing - Tasks that are initiated as the opportunity arises and should continue. 
•  Immediate - Tasks that should be undertaken as soon as possible following completion of the Plan. 
•  Short-Term - Tasks that should be implemented within years one (1) through four (4) following completion of the Plan. This reflects implementation by US EPAs 2017 milestone, which has a target of meeting 60% of the pollutant reductions. 
•  Long-Term - Tasks that will be implemented in year five (5) or longer following completion of the Plan.