Oct 14, 2011 – Important Update on Coalition Efforts: NPDES Training and Materials

NPDES Training Moved to a Webinar!

MVCAC had originally scheduled training for visual and physical monitoring in the field in conjunction with the MVCAC Quarterly Meeting scheduled for November 2-4, 2011 in Lake Tahoe. After discussion, it was decided that to allow the training to reach more agency employees, as well as have a greater shelf life for our members’ future training needs, the training will now be held as a webinar hosted by URS. There will not be an in-person training at the Fall Quarterly meeting.

In an effort to avoid any overlap with regional meetings, the webinar is scheduled for Monday, October 24, 2011 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Please forward the name and e-mail addresses of all individuals who you would like to have access to the webinar. Once we receive the names and e-mails, URS will be contacting them with information to access the webinar. You can have as many employees as you would like to have access to the webinar.

The webinar will be hosted through AT&T Connect Meeting. Attendees will receive an e-mail with a url that is specific to the training. AT&T Connect Meeting can save an AT&T audio/video file (.vcr) that can be downloaded from its website for future playback. It should be available within a couple days after the webinar. We will also be working with AT&T Connect Meeting to convert the .vcr file to an .avi file that can be saved and played back using Windows Media Player or any other program that plays .avi files.

Please forward all names and e-mails to the MVCAC office at casmith@mvcac.org by Wednesday, October 19, 2011 so we can make sure everyone gets the sign-in information prior to Monday’s training.

Larvicide Sign-Up Sheet
URS has prepared the larvicide sign-up sheet to assist with the MVCAC NPDES monitoring program. Please use the attached form to indicate the larvicide products and environmental settings for which your district can perform physical monitoring of water quality parameters. Please note that only the active ingredient, not individual products, must be monitored. If you have any questions about the sign-up sheet, please feel free to contact URS staff members JR Flanders at 510-393-8136 or Bonnie DeBerry at 510-874-3053. Please forward your completed sign-up sheet to casmith@mvcac.org.

Manual Available
Just a reminder that the HOW-TO MANUAL FOR VISUAL AND PHYSICAL MONITORING IN THE FIELD prepared by MVCAC and URS Corporation is available for review. The How-To Manual will be used as part of the training webinar.

Updated Rules and Policies
MVCAC Board of Directors recently voted to approve a minor date change to the Association Rules and Policies Governing NPDES Permit Coalition Monitoring Program. The sole change is as follows: (2) apply for coverage under the General Permit (by filing the Notice of Intent, approving and submitting a Pesticide Application Plan, submitting other required paperwork, and paying applicable State Board fees) and be approved by the State Board for coverage under the General Permit no later than June 30, 2012. The earlier version had required an agency have their NPDES permit by November 1, 2011.