ba/ponds.pr           97-241                                    Contact: Boyd Church, 301-217-2177



EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED
FOR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS
ON STORMWATER POND MAINTENANCE;
FIRST PUBLIC MEETING SET                            For Immediate Release: July 24, 1997


     A public education program designed for homeowners associations about how to
maintain their community ponds is being launched by the County's Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP).  Funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of 
Natural Resources, the Stormwater Facility Maintenance Program will explain the
environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits of maintaining stormwater management ponds.
     To assist homeowners associations, the DEP has published a manual describing the
types of stormwater management ponds and  the advantages and costs of maintaining them, as
well as a list of inspection and maintenance contractors. The County is offering the list as a
public serviceV does not recommend/endorse any of the contractors listed and .  Any
experienced, qualified contractor can perform the work, as long as they follow the regulatory
requirements.
     Although the DEP is required to ensure that maintenance is performed on the
approximately 3,000 stormwater management ponds in the County tri-annually, the
responsibility for maintaining the ponds falls on individual homeowners associations.  If 
                                  -more-

STORMWATER POND MAINTENANCE                                                      2-2-2-2

maintenance is not performed, the DEP is authorized to perform the work and charge the
association.
     "We hope that through the educational program, citizens will realize that there are
environmental benefits to maintaining their stormwater ponds," said Boyd Church,  DEP
Water Quality Planner.
     In addition to the manual and contractors list, a video detailing the program will be
available.  Groups may also schedule a speaker/program 
To receive a free copy of the 14-page manual and list of contractors or to schedule a program
about stormwater pond maintenance, call DEP's Office of Environmental Policy and
Compliance at 301-217-2177 or the Stormwater Facility Maintenance Hotline at 301-217-
1984.

First public meeting
     The first public meeting on the new program will be held on July 30, from 7 to 8:30
p.m., at the Benjamin Banneker Middle School (cafeteria), 14800 Perrywood Road,
Burtonsville.  The manual and the list of contractors will be available at the meeting. 
     Notices regarding maintenance requirements were sent to homeowners associations in
the Paint Branch and Little Paint Branch watersheds in May.

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