| |
 |
| Nonpoint Source: Urban & Community Development |
The primary nonpoint source pollutants
from urban activities include sediment, road salts, heavy metals, petroleum
hydrocarbons, nutrients, oxygen-demanding substances, pathogenic bacteria,
and viruses. The greatest source of pollutant loadings to receiving waters
is suspended sediment. Construction activities are a major source of sediment
erosion. Petroleum hydrocarbons result mostly from automobile sources.
Nutrient and bacterial pollutants include fertilizer usage, pet wastes,
leaves, grass clippings, and malfunctioning septic tanks.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified six major sources
of urban nonpoint pollution that affect surface waters:
-
Runoff
from developing areas;
-
Runoff
from construction sites;
-
Runoff
from existing development;
-
On-site
disposal systems;
-
General
sources (households, commercial, and landscaping); and
-
Roads,
highways, and bridges.
Fifteen management measures have been established to address
these urban nonpoint source pollution categories. For detailed
information
on these
management measures, please refer to the Management
Measure Summary in the Urban Chapter Factsheet and to Chapter
4: Management Measures for Urban Areas of the EPA’s
Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of
Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters.
How This Source Category Applies to Alaska
The nonpoint source pollutants generated from urban and community development
activities in the state vary according to location and community size,
however there are nonpoint source pollution issues that many Alaskan
communities have in common. For instance, most Alaskans dispose of
their solid waste in community landfills or dumps. A combination of
factors common to Alaska, including permafrost, high water tables and
heavy rainfall can impede efforts to prevent organic and chemical wastes
from leaching into surface waters and groundwater. Other common impacts
of urban/community activities in Alaska include defoliation of streambanks,
sedimentation of anadromous fish habitat, and the contamination of
local waterbodies with coliform bacteria from malfunctioning septic
systems.
Local Ordinances Relating to Urban Nonpoint Source Pollution
The local ordinances in Alaska that relate to the fifteen management
measures (17-31) that address urban nonpoint source pollution may
be accessed through the table, below. Each
ordinance is identified by municipality, ordinance title and reference
number. Many Alaskan municipalities
have codes
of ordinances which are available online. Whenever
possible, a direct link is provided to the local ordinance online.
Otherwise, the ordinance text is available in PDF (Adobe Acrobat)
format. A free copy of the application required to view and print
PDF files can be downloaded at Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
|
| |
Federal Management Measures/Pollution Controls |
|---|
| View Ordinances | 17 | Manage runoff from new development so that post-development TSS loadings after construction are reduced and post-development peak run-off rate and average volume are close to pre-development levels. |
| View Ordinances | 18 | Protect watersheds, minimize land disturbance, retain natural drainage features and vegetation, protect sensitive areas. |
| View Ordinances | 19 | Do comprehensive planning on a watershed basis. |
| View Ordinances | 20 | Sediment and erosion from construction sites less than 5 acres. |
| View Ordinances | 21 | Application, generation and mitigation of petrochemicals, pesticides, nutrients, and toxins from construction sites less than 5 acres. |
| View Ordinances | 22 | Reduction of pollution from existing development. |
| View Ordinances | 23 | Design, installation and operation of new onsite disposal systems. |
| View Ordinances | 24 | Operation and maintenance of existing onsite disposal systems. |
| View Ordinances | 25 | Disposal or recycling of household hazardous wastes and pet wastes; use of fertilizers and pesticides on lawns and gardens; pollution from gas stations and parking lots. |
| View Ordinances | 26 | Planning and siting roads and highways away from sensitive areas or areas that are susceptible to erosion; limiting land and vegetation disturbing activities during road construction. |
| View Ordinances | 27 | Siting, design and maintenance of roads, highways, and bridges. |
| View Ordinances | 28 | Controlling erosion and sediment during and after road, highway and bridge construction. |
| View Ordinances | 29 | Controlling toxic spills and hazardous waste at equipment and fuel storage sites at road, highway and bridge construction sites. |
| View Ordinances | 30 | Controlling pollutants caused by the operation and maintenance of roads, highways, and bridges. |
| View Ordinances | 31 | Retrofitting roads, highways, and bridges to collect nonpoint source pollutants. |
For more information,
contact Sally Cox, Planner,
Department of Community and Economic Development, at 907-269-4614.
NOTE: The ordinances or
sections of ordinances provided on these pages are not the official versions
and are provided for informational purposes only. While every effort has
been made to ensure accuracy of the information presented herein, if the
most current version or precise language of an ordinance is required, it
is recommended that you contact the municipality from which it came.
|
 |
|