Tedmical SumnuDy 



The Wetlands Protection Act's broad resource definition gives the Wedands Section 

 authority to consider effects of development on interconnected components of wetiand 

 systems and on floodplains, and to require installation of facilities to mitigate non-point 

 pollutant impacts. Despite its authority, however, statutorially restricted 

 buffer dimensions, and lack of engineering and enforcement capability limit 

 the Section's capacity to undertake broader initiatives in non-point source 

 control. 



Whether implementation of controls is based primarily on networidng and expansion of 

 existing state programs or on development of local regulatory and planning initiatives, 

 specific state standards need to be established to ensure consistency, 

 predictability, and accountability. At the same time, a grant-in-aid program 

 should be established to encourage development of targeted state-local 

 initiatives in critical areas. 



Estuarine Water Quality Management: 



Land Use Controls 



Because non-point source loadings are so closely linked to land 

 management, land use must be carefully controlled adjacent to resource 

 areas and throughout the Bay basin where land uses may induce groundwater 

 contamination, hydrologic modification, or discharge of non-point and point pollutants. 

 CRMC should interpret its authority in this area broadly, and should be 

 provided with sufficient resources to work with the Division of Planning 

 from the inception of the upcoming comprehensive planning process to 

 ensure that zoning practice is consistent with sound ecosystem protection 

 and hazard area management principles. 



Development review procedures should be revised to give strict 

 preferred consideration to those forms of commercial activity which clearly 

 are water dependent and which are primarily oriented to the coastal region such as 

 designated port areas, boatyards, feiry operations and marinas. Specifically stated 

 selection criteria for water-dependent uses would not only provide improved predictability 

 to applicants, but would also give support to municipalities in developing harbor 

 management plans and establishing marine or wateifix>nt zoning districts. 



Source-oriented Controls 



To address non-point source control in a consistent manner, all 

 applicable state and local regulations should be revised to, at a minimum, 

 specifically incorporate the technical requirements, recommendations and 

 language of the Stormwater and Erosion Control Committee findings. The 



docimients in preparation provide guidance regarding stormwater management and 

 erosion/sedimentation control planning for water quality protection, design and installation 

 of best management practices, and maintenance and repair of facilities. Applicable controls 

 and maintenance and repair provisions should be attached to all peimits. 



A source classification system should be used to set priorities among major non-point 

 source discharges, so that monitoring and enforcement efforts can be concentrated on 



