JEFFERSON PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS UTILIZING GRANT AWARD
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — The Department of Environmental Affairs has received a sub-grant from the University of New Orleans Technology Foundation, Inc. to help educate construction contractors on methods to reduce storm water pollution from construction site activities. The prime-grant was awarded to UNO from the United States EPA Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program.
The purpose of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program is to restore the ecological health of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin through restoration projects and public education. Environmental Affairs will utilize the grant funds to hold a series of workshops for construction contractors and design professionals.
The 1st workshop will be held Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 8:00am, at the Mel Ott Recreation Center, 2301 Belle Chasse Highway, Gretna. The 2nd workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at 8:00am, at the Joseph S. Yenni Building, 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard in the Council Chambers on the second floor. More workshop dates will be announced at a later time.
The Jefferson Parish Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) consists of over 1,400 miles of subsurface drain pipes and over 300 miles of open canals and ditches. Storm water runoff from residential, commercial and industrial land areas can collect oil, grease, litter, hazardous waste, sediment and other pollutants which pollute surrounding waterbodies such as Lake Pontchartrain.
Environmental Affairs investigates hundreds of complaints of illegal discharges into the drainage system yearly. Approximately 20% of all complaints are regarding construction related activities.
This new program is designed to educate contractors and other building professionals on how their activities impact the parish’s water quality and what can be done to decrease pollutants from construction sites. Also discussed will be enforcement and penalties for non-compliance of illegal discharges.
For more information, please contact Sami Khalil, Storm Water Management Supervisor, at 731-4612
