The purpose of U.S. environmental regulations is to ensure that all people and the environment in which they live are safe from health hazards. Environmental regulations are usually focused on the following goals: clean air, clean and safe water, safe food, preventing pollution and reducing health risks in our environment. The City of Rockville, like most governments, has the task of enforcing regulations designed to preserve environmental and human health. In addition, the City’s own activities are regulated by state and federal environmental laws. Below is a list of guidlines and ordinances that the City enforces as well as laws the City is required to follow. Environmental Guidelines
Adopted in July 1999, the Environmental Guidelines provide guidance during the development review process to address environmental concerns, ensure a comprehensive program for watershed and other natural resource protection and establish a consistent level of environmental protection through adherence to performance standards. Environmental Guidelines (pdf) Rockville's Comprehensive Master Plan
The Mayor and Council adopted a Comprehensive Master Plan for the City on November 12, 2002. The Master Plan articulates a broad vision for Rockville's future growth and directs all development activities. Chapter 5 of the Master Plan is titled "The Environment - Sensitive Areas and Critical Issues", and describes policies and recommendations for the integration of environmental protection in all public and private development and land use decisions. Rockville expects to make further revisions to the Mater Plan by the end of 2009. Comprehensive Master Plan
Chapter 5 of the Master Plan: The Environment (pdf) Water Quality Protection Ordinance
On July 16, 2007, the Mayor and Council adopted a Water Quality Protection Ordinance. The Ordinance has the following objectives: - Protecting surface and ground waters within the City
- Prolonging the useful life of the City's storm drains and sanitary sewers
- Safeguarding the City employees working in the storm drains and sanitary sewers
- Ensuring that the City remains in compliance with its Clean Water Act requirements
These objectives were met by creating a series of "prohibited discharges," items/substances like oil that cannot be put in the storm drain, and establishing a duty to report and cleanup these discharges and clarifying the City's ability to conduct inspections and enforce the ordinance. Forest and Tree Preservation Ordinance
Amended on 2008, the Forest and Tree Preservation Ordinance has the following objectives: - Encourage the preservation and enhancement of Rockville’s urban forest
- Replace tree cover in non-forest areas within the City
- Establish procedures, standards and requirements for afforestation, or the planting of open areas which are not presently covered by forest, and reforestation within the City
- Meet the requirements of the Natural Resource Article, Section 5-1601 through 5-1613 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This Article requires local municipalities to either adopt the State's Forest Conservation Law or adopt their own law. It contains many of the same requirements as our FTPO. However, our law has stiffer penalties for clearing trees and forest. Local ordinances must be at least as strict as the State law.
Green Building Ordinance
The City of Rockville is exploring ideas for a Green Building Ordinance. The Ordinance will potentially affect new or substantially renovated commercial and residential properties. It will be designed to ensure energy efficiency and create buildings that are environmentally sustainable. The process for development is under way and includes: - Phase 1: Scoping through facilitated stakeholder meetings lead by the Environment Commission
- Phase 2: Additional stakeholder and public meetings on draft ordinance details developed by Environmental Management Division Staff
- Phase 3: Presentation to Mayor & Council for review and adoption
City staff hopes to present a draft ordinance to the Mayor and Council in November 2008. Commercial and Multi-Family Recycling Requirements
Rockville has incorporated Montgomery County's existing "Smart Organization Reduce & Reuse Tons" (SORRT) and “Think Reduce and Recycle at Apartments and Condominiums” (TRRAC) programs into the City’s Code. The County programs require multi-family dwellings with seven or more units in a building and all commercial entities regardless of size to collect and recycle at least 50 percent of their solid waste by weight or volume. Larger businesses (those with 100 or more employees) and multi-family dwellings (those with 101 units or more) also will be required to prepare a recycling plan and report annually to the County.
As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. NPDES was created to control water pollution from agriculture, commercial and industrial facilities, municipalities, wastewater treatment plants and construction sites. The City of Rockville has four NPDES Permits. These permits generally last for five years. After their five year cycle, they are renewed and the public has an opportunity to comment on them. Phase II Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.
This permit took effect in April 2003, and is scheduled to expire in April 2008. At that time, the current permit will be extended until a new permit is issued. The permit requires a variety of activities in the following six areas: - Public Education on Stormwater Impacts
- Public Involvement and Participation
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
- Post-Construction Stormwater Management
- Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
(NPDES) General Permit for Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems
The other three City NPDES Permits include the following provisions: - Provide limits on the type and amount of pollutants that can be discharged
- Impose the use of management practices, including employee training and public outreach
- Contains standards, or allowable amounts, applicable to all dischargers
- Include self-monitoring, record keeping and reporting requirements
Specific details for these three permits are found below: Industrial Stormwater General Permit
The Industrial Stormwater General Permit controls discharges from the Gude Maintenance Facility. It was issued in December 2002 and Expired in November 2007. Because the Maryland Department of the Environment needs additional time to issue a new permit, the expired permit will remain in effect until the permit is reissued. Hydrostatic Testing General Permit
The Hydrostatic Testing General Permit controls: - Wastewater discharges from flushing, disinfection or hydrostatic testing of pipes and pipelines (including sewers and drinking water lines)
- Discharges from potable water systems resulting from overflows, flushing, disinfection, hydrostatic testing, cleaning or dewatering of tanks, vessels or structures used to store or convey potable water.
This permit was issued in February 2006 and expires in February 2011. Swimming Pool General Permit
The Swimming Pool General Permit governs discharges from the City Municipal Swim Center. It was issued in May 2007 and expires in May 2012
Rockville’s Drinking Water Plant is regulated by state and federal safe drinking water requirements that: - Establish drinking water quality standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
- Impose strict testing procedures and monthly reporting obligations
- Require best management practices for water plant operations
- Require the preparation of an annual Drinking Water Quality Report
The City is subject to other requirements covering items such as waste handling and clean air. For most other requirements, the City is not required to perform additional compliance activities. | 
