Stormwater Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement
Updated May 21, 2020 - 11:41am
In September 2019, Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority (LCWSA), South Williamsport, and Duboistown entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to develop a Stormwater Management Program and ultimately share in the costs associated with the program and achieve compliance with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System or MS4 program.
Initially, the MOU was the foundation for a cooperative and mutually beneficial working relationship between the
parties and was the first step in a complex process which includes
• finalizing details of intergovernmental cooperation agreements,
• developing combined compliance strategies,
• determining the revenue plan and establishing a fee-based structure,
• designing the compliance project or projects, and
• completing construction over the next four and half years.
At their January meetings, LCWSA, the Borough of South Williamsport, and the Borough of Duboistown approved the Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement (ICA) which formalizes the partnership and establishes the roles and responsibilities of each partner.
Since September, the partners have been working together to address compliance requirements under the MS4 permits, coordinate stormwater budgets, develop a combined Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction Plan (CBPRP), present information at public meetings, submit a Growing Greener Plus grant application for the CBPRP projects, evaluate fee structures, and begin preparation of the implementation of a Stormwater Management Program fee in mid-2020.
The MS4 permits cover traditional stormwater infrastructure, but the initial challenge is the reduction in sediment loading by 10% (and corresponding nitrogen and phosphorus) as mandated by the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The projects to comply with the pollution reduction requirements must be completed by February 2024.
The Stormwater Management Program must be sustainable and the revenue assured for the mandates of this program as well as improvements to aging stormwater infrastructure. The revenue plan involves the evaluation of a fee based structure; thus shifting the financial burden from general tax revenue to a fair and equitable fee applied to each property and based on the amount of impervious cover. The current target for the implementation of a Stormwater Management Program fee is July 1, 2020.
Due to the permit schedule, there is much work to be done moving forward and more information will continue to be shared with the public. LCWSA, South Williamsport, and Duboistown are pleased to have finalized the ICA to formalize this essential partnership to assure compliance of the MS4 program.
LCWSA Contacts: (877) 546-8005 – Christine Weigle, Executive Director or John Bickhart, Engineering Services Manager
Borough of South Williamsport: (570) 322-0158 – Steve Cappelli, Borough Manager
Borough of Duboistown: (570) 323-3646 – Ann Marie Baker, Borough Manager
