Regulatory Comment Letters
17 March 2023
SWEMA members maintain a significant presence in Florida through sizeable investments in workforce and economic development activities. Member companies employ many stormwater engineers, consultants, and additional support staff who are dedicated to improving local water quality within their communities by working closely with design engineers, regulated communities, and the development industry. Furthermore, several member companies maintain manufacturing, maintenance and operation, and other facilities throughout the state that employ additional front-line, skilled workers. In as many words, our employees will be directly and negatively impacted by the implementation of the proposed rule. We remain ready and willing to assist the Department in establishing an equitable policy that is defensible and scientifically sound.
February 15, 2022
SWEMA prepared a letter for both the United States Senate and House asking them to fund stormwater initiatives that were included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
July 13, 2021
The Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association (SWEMA), an industry association with diverse
membership consisting of innovative stormwater solution providers, laboratories, and other professional
organizations have been closely following the TAC progress as they develop recommendations for the
review and approval of proprietary and non‐proprietary stormwater best management practices (BMPs)
for use in Florida.
May 4, 2021
Letter to Massachusettes Department of Environmental ProtectionSWEMA feels that the communities making up the Commonwealth would benefit greatly from updated guidance on the vetting and use of innovative manufactured treatment devices (MTDs) for stormwater management. Given the many urban areas across the Commonwealth, the use of MTDs is common, but a lot has changed since MADEP published the existing guidance on this subject. The available MTDs have grown more diverse, many highly effective practices have been developed, and test standards and best practices have been refined considerably. Also, the defunding of the MASTEP initiative has left a major void since the stormwater handbook specifically references this now an obsolete resource.
March 26, 2021
January 20, 2021
TCEQ Review of Manufactured Treatment Devices; Needed Clarity on Review StandardsCompanies that desire to introduce their technologies to the Texas marketplace must show their technology meets the TCEQ criteria for MTDs. The current criterion includes an antecedent dry-period requirement between monitoring events of 72-hour minimum with less than 0.1 inches of rain. Current field monitoring programs consider a six-hour antecedent appropriate for stormwater monitoring.
December 7, 2020
Letter to Los Angeles Water Quality BoardSWEMA provided comments on California Regional Water Quality Control Board - Los Angeles Region - Draft Regional Phase I MS4 Permit
September 30, 2020
Letter to Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionSWEMA encouraged Florida DEP to build a state-wide, stormwater BMP evaluation program that should include an understandable and consistent process for evaluating new BMPs and encouraging acceptance of those that meet or exceed applicable performance standards to drive innovations within stormwater management.
March 23, 2020
February 27, 2020
January 27, 2020
SWEMA Comments on Virginia legislature House Bill HB882Virginia's legislator will be voting on House Bill 882 pertaining to stormwater. SWEMA provided comments on this pending legislation.
August 9, 2019
June 10, 2019
SWEMA provides input into Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality's Guidance MemoVirginia DEQ has drafted a document Interim Use of Stormwater Manufactured Treatment Devices (MTDs) Technical Criteria, Part IIB Water Quality Design Requirements. SWEMA members provided comments on this draft covering allowance for multiple pathways for approval of MTDs, increase percent total phosphorus (TP) removal, request a transition period from the interim guidance to the proposed guidance, and hydraulic loading rates.
January 31, 2019
SWEMA Submitted Comments on Proposed Changes to NJDEP Stormwater RegulationsThe Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association (SWEMA) strongly supports stormwater management strategies and regulations that incorporate advances in stormwater science, encourage innovation, and successfully protect and restore receiving waters at an affordable cost for our communities. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) proposed changes to the New Jersey stormwater regulation will not promote these objectives. SWEMA members offered information on the proposed changes.
January 16, 2018
SWEMA's Response to City of Indianapolis Update to the Applicable Standards for the Evaluation and Acceptance of Manufactured Stormwater Treatment DevicesThe Stormwater Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (SWEMA) understands that the City of Indianapolis is currently in the process of updating the applicable standards for the evaluation and acceptance of manufactured stormwater treatment devices. Additionally, our understanding is that once updates to the applicable criteria have been completed, all of the technologies currently approved by the City must be retested in full compliance with the updated criteria.
September 27, 2017
SWEMA's Response to "Proposed Use of Structural Stormwater BMPs In Alexandria."The Stormwater Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (SWEMA) represents a diverse group of stormwater solutions providers and supporting associate and professional members. Due to the diverse perspective and expertise of its membership, SWEMA is uniquely qualified to provide a professional perspective on the “Proposed Use of Structural Stormwater BMPs in Alexandria” document that is currently being considered for implementation within the jurisdiction of Alexandria Virginia.
SWEMA believes that all Stormwater BMPs, manufactured treatment devices, and generic green infrastructure BMPs, have appropriate and suitable applications. To remove one sector of BMPs limits a designer’s ability to provide sound engineering solutions to solve complex environmental conditions. In the past, the City of Alexandria has been one of the most innovative jurisdictions in the country by promoting sand filters and various underground stormwater devices. We commend the City of Alexandria for its unique history concerning advancing stormwater management (SWM) both regionally and nationally.
September 27, 2017
SWEMA's Response to the United States EPA and the Department of the Army, Docket ID EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0203The Stormwater Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (SWEMA) strongly supports the maintenance of the Waters of the United States Rule and definition as promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army in 2015 and rejects the recodification of pre-existing rules as proposed in Docket ID EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0203.
September 8, 2017
SWEMA Responds to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) on proposed updates to the Virginia Clearinghouse Relative to MTDs.We appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) on proposed updates to the Virginia BMP Clearinghouse relative to manufactured stormwater treatment devices (MTDs). SWEMA’s membership has several concerns about the current state of the BMP Clearinghouse as it relates to manufactured solutions. We respectfully offer the following comments for consideration.
May 15, 2017
SWEMA's comments on Office of Water: Feedback on Reducing Regulatory Burden, Docket ID No. EP-HQ-OA-2017-0190. The Stormwater Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (SWEMA) strongly supports the maintenance and advancement of national stormwater regulations under the clean water programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the continued funding of the EPA.
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