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Smyrna staff seek approval to file NPDES annual report; council hears concerns about detention-basin inspections and costs
Summary
Town staff presented the NPDES annual report and explained permit‑required inspection requirements for privately owned detention basins; staff said professional inspections typically cost $150–$600 while corrective work such as sediment removal can be much higher.
Town staff presented the town’s NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) annual report and discussed required inspection regimes for privately owned stormwater detention basins.
Staff explained the report documents the town’s work on the six minimum control measures required under the town’s MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit: public education/outreach, public participation, construction site runoff controls, post-construction runoff management, illicit discharge detection and elimination, and good housekeeping for municipal operations. The Stormwater Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended the annual report for submission to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).
Inspection requirements and costs: Council members asked whether recent erosion or sediment issues are listed in the NPDES report. Town staff said active construction sites and known erosion instances are listed. Staff explained that per the permit and town stormwater ordinance, private stormwater detention facilities must receive routine inspections and that every fifth-year inspection must be performed by the permittee or by a qualified professional; staff cited the permit reference given in the packet (printed as section "4.2 0.5 0.7" in workshop remarks). Staff provided a range of typical inspection fees ($150–$600) for a professional inspection and noted that additional corrective work (for example, sediment removal or repairing outfall structures) would be paid by property owners. Council discussed specific citizen reports and a sample contractor quote for sediment removal; a quoted cleanup in one case exceeded $4,000.
HOA responsibility: Staff confirmed that if the detention facility is within an HOA or a private development, the HOA or the property owner is responsible for inspections and any corrective work. The town inspects construction and public systems; private facilities on private property remain the developers’/owners’ responsibility.
Why it matters: the inspection and maintenance regime is a TDEC permit requirement and is intended to prevent siltation and protect local waterways. Council members asked staff to provide the five‑year inspection checklist to council so members could answer citizen inquiries about what inspectors will be checking.
Next steps and approval: staff asked the council to approve the annual report so it can be submitted to TDEC. At the workshop, no formal vote was recorded; staff said they would proceed to place the annual report on the council agenda for consideration.
