3609 Hwy 24 (Ocean) | Newport, North Carolina 28570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2002

Lauren Kolodij, NCCF
252-393-8185
laurenk@nccoast.org

Water Quality Workshop Set
for February 26-27, 2002

     Ocean, NC - The North Carolina Coastal Federation will present a workshop, "Best Management Practices for Protecting Water Quality in Coastal Communities," Feb. 26-27, at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern.
     The workshop, funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency, targets policy makers, scientists, planners, consultants, engineers, government officials, educators and citizens.
The event will feature discussions on coastal water quality trends and challenges; successful strategies used in Connecticut, South Carolina and Florida to prevent and control stormwater pollution; and the legal framework and requirements of the Phase II NPDES stormwater program. Finally, greener development practices that protect water quality, habitat and open space will be explained by one of the nation's most respected designers. 
     Featured speakers include Randall Arendt, vice president for conservation planning, for the Pennsylvania-based Natural Lands Trust, EPA officials, and scientists, experts from Florida and South Carolina, and local government representatives.
     The new Phase II rules require local governments to develop programs to reduce the discharge of storm water pollutants and satisfy water quality requirements of the 1972 Clean Water Management Act. Phase I targeted large cities and other major "end of pipe" discharge sources.
The workshop registration fee of $30 covers the cost of materials, lunch and reception. For information, contact the NC Coastal Federation at 252-393-8185, or nccf@nccoast.org.

Co-sponsors of the event include:
     East Carolina Community Development Inc.
     NC American Society of Landscape Architects
     NC American Planning Association
     NC Association of Environmental Professionals
     NC Coastal Federation
     NC Division of Coastal Management
     NC Division of Environmental Health's Shellfish Sanitation Section
     NC Division of Water Quality
     NC League of Municipalities
     UNC Sea Grant
     US Environmental Protection Agency
     Watershed Education for Communities and Local Officials (WECO)
     NC Cooperative Extension Service
     Water Resources Research Institute