Combined Sewer Overflow Committee

1. Assess the potential of creative financing options, such as a bond initiative or stormwater fee, and develop recommendations and resources to encourage municipalities and utilities to address generational equity. 
2. Work with the Asset Management and Finance committee to articulate the long-term economic and societal benefits of major cost-effective projects, where cost-effectiveness is measured by costs relative to reduced CSOs and Combined Sewer System (CSS) backflows.
3. Support CSO municipalities and utilities in increasing visibility through education and social media campaigns. Emphasize the importance of upstream and downstream communities within the sewer system working together to address CSO flow issues.

1. Work with NJDEP to ensure that the Jersey Water Works (JWW) “Smart CSO Control Plan” goals are reflected in the last two draft CSO permits, which include reviewing and developing comments for each regional permit. 
2. Identify and engage with at least two wastewater utilities related to their work on CSOs to gain insight, and elevate utility-level best practices. 
3. Collaborate and support Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers’ efforts around continued advocacy for the accelerated release of the final Long-Term Control Plans/five-year permits and monitor permit implementation progress.
4. Encourage NJDEP to require a CSO affordability analysis with and without typical SRF funding and stormwater fees with the goal of reducing timelines and increasing environmental and public health benefits. 

1. Work with NJDEP to ensure that the Jersey Water Works (JWW) “Smart CSO Control Plan” goals are reflected in the last two draft CSO permits, which include reviewing and developing comments for each regional permit. 
2. Share information with CSO decision makers about all available funding to lower total ratepayer costs and accelerate implementations.
3. Promote community engagement opportunities within CSO communities (i.e. CSO supplemental teams), uplifting NJDEP community engagement guidance, and continuous education about the CSO process. Work closely with Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers in their efforts.
4. Research and share promising practices in CSO management, including regional authority approaches (partnership role, shared services, affordability analysis with new funding). 
5. Encourage NJDEP to require a CSO affordability analysis with and without typical SRF funding and stormwater fees with the goal of reducing timelines and increasing environmental and public health benefits.

1. Work with NJDEP to ensure that the Jersey Water Works (JWW) “Smart CSO Control Plan” goals are reflected in the next CSO permits, which include reviewing and developing comments for each regional permit. 
2. Continue collaboration with Sewage Free Streets and Rivers on promoting the public comment process, and educating and engaging community members.
3. Aid implementation of CSO permits by identifying and sharing funding opportunities for CSO permittees and communities.

1. Work with the NJDEP to ensure that the JWW “Smart CSO Control Plan” goals are reflected in the next CSO permits, which will include reviewing the permits and developing comments.
2. Educate stakeholders to ensure the CSO permits incorporate current climate change data, utilizing the Committee’s recent climate change resource and other relevant resources.
3. Create a guidance document with case studies to promote ways that local planners and officials can reduce sewage generation and capture stormwater to mitigate CSOs.

1. Work with the NJDEP to ensure that the next CSO permits reflect this committee’s Jan. 2021 recommendations for Long Term Control Plans that ensure equity and achieve maximum environmental and community benefits.
2. Meet with planning staff in three or more municipalities to recommend master plan and zoning changes that integrate CSO solutions including green infrastructure.
3. Create a campaign to educate CSO local governments and stakeholders on the benefits of implementing stormwater utilities with the goal of at least one community implementing a stormwater utility in 2021.
4. Use a survey to identify LTCP-related job opportunities and workforce training programs and share them with residents of CSO communities.
5. Facilitate stakeholder meetings to establish a plan for a collaborative regional water workforce development initiative. 

1. Host a webinar or workshop to share CSO system success stories.
2. Work with the Asset Management and Finance committee to identify ways to address affordability in Long Term Control Plans and recommend them to the DEP.
3. Develop a framework for reviewing draft Long Term Control Plans (due to the DEP on June 1) send committee comments to the DEP and assist CSO communities in reviewing the plans. 
4. Develop recommendations and resources that will encourage local hire from environmental justice communities for water workforce jobs, link local residents to stable careers through job training programs and link utilities and unions to these training programs and to find qualified workers.
5. Encourage CSO municipalities to seek funding from the NJ Infrastructure Bank in order to reduce the cost of implementation of the Long-Term Control Plans.

1. Maximize the impact of the CSO Committee’s reports Balancing Green and Gray Solutions to CSO Management and Hidden Capacity: How Proper Maintenance and Cleaning of Sewer Systems Can Have Huge Benefits! through promotion and active distribution of the documents to stakeholders including New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), CSO supplemental teams, and others.
2. Assist CSO municipalities and utilities with resource gaps by providing technical assistance, resource sharing, or other means.
3. Review the Development and Evaluation of Alternatives reports due to DEP on July 1 and develop a summary document highlighting:
   • (a) Consideration of green and gray infrastructure
   • (b) Consideration of community input
   • (c) A list of the alternatives considered in each report with descriptive information on their review
   • (d) Innovative ideas
4. Share with CSO permit holders next-tier opportunities related to CSO mitigation such as integrated planning, increased community engagement, workforce development with green infrastructure, odor control best practices, and the CSO/climate connection.

1. Produce public participation materials for the new municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) permit.
2. Develop a strategic communications plan that identifies event-oriented social media campaigns and tools for committee members to use to engage stakeholders in water infrastructure issues.
3. Provide tools and resources needed by CSO permit holders to address public participation requirements.
4. Compile and share a collection of educational curricula about water infrastructure.

Under Former Community Engagement Committee

1. Produce public participation materials for the new municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) permit.
2. Develop a strategic communications plan that identifies event-oriented social media campaigns and tools for committee members to use to engage stakeholders in water infrastructure issues.
3. Provide tools and resources needed by CSO permit holders to address public participation requirements.
4. Compile and share a collection of educational curricula about water infrastructure.