[Massplanners] Stormwater Bylaws - Impervious Surfaces

[Jeff Lacy]

Solar panels were treated like pavement at first. Of course they don’t behave like that type of impervious surface. About a half dozen or so years ago DEP developed a more realistic way to access raised panels effects on runoff that accounts for water running under them. Check with DEP.

Jeff Lacy
Rural Planning Associates
(413) 253-0705

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 13, 2021, at 1:09 PM, Heidi Ricci <hricci at massaudubon.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Mass DEP recognizes that the arrays are impervious surfaces and large ground mounted projects are subject to the stormwater management standards.
>  
> https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-wetlands-program-policy-17-1-photovoltaic-system-solar-array-review
>  
> https://www.aswm.org/pdf_lib/member_webinar/wetlands_protection_act_and_section_401_permitting_process_mass_dep_100415.pdf
>  
> Local wetland or stormwater bylaws can have broader definitions and stricter standards than the state regs.
>  
> Heidi
>  
> E. Heidi Ricci 
> Director of Policy and Advocacy
> Mass Audubon 
> 208 South Great Road 
> Lincoln, MA  01773 
> c 781-622-8911
> o 781-259-2172 
> hricci at massaudubon.org
> Pronouns: she/her(s)
>  
> Visit www.massaudubon.org to learn more about our conservation, education, and advocacy work.
>  
> <image001.png>
>  
>  
>  
> From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Michael Antonellis
> Sent: Friday, August 13, 2021 12:57 PM
> To: massplanners at masscptc.org
> Subject: [Massplanners] Stormwater Bylaws - Impervious Surfaces
>  
> Hello All,
>  
> My question is specific to ground mounted solar panels.
>  
> Do your communities define impervious surfaces beyond just a general definition? For example does your zoning bylaw/ordinance or stormwater management bylaw/ordinance include specific types of surfaces or structures as "impervious"? 
>  
> I came across a description of solar panels as "disjointed impervious" and that description was stated as being defined by the NPDES program, however I can't locate any reference to that on the EPA website for the program. Any insight would be helpful. 
>  
> Apologies if this question has come up before, I'll be sure to dig through the archives as well.
>  
> best,
>  
> --
> --
> Michael Antonellis
> Planning and Land Use Consultant
> MEAPlanning at gmail.com
> MA Planning, LLC
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> MassPlanners mailing list
> MassPlanners at masscptc.org
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