The EPA is upset that Durham hasn’t enforced storm-water regulations and is threatening a hefty fine:
The fine would settle complaints that the city hasn’t used its full authority against property owners who violate local stormwater-control regulations, that it hasn’t inspected stormwater drainage systems as vigorously as it should, that county erosion-control inspectors failed to properly document violations, and that the city didn’t obtain discharge permits for several of its own facilities.
So, what’s the city’s response? They say the need more money:
[Deputy City Manager Ted] Voorhees and the auditors both alluded to the real problem — money.
“As with most other governmental entities, we are always working to improve our service levels within the limitations of available budgetary funding,” Voorhees said in the letter.
The city has been collecting fees for this storm-water management for years. They have blamed the feds all along for having to collect these fees. But, if the feds are to be believed, the city hasn’t done much with that money. Now, they want more.
