EPA recognizes Lower Makefield Township for environmentally-friendly ordinance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Lower Makefield Township in Bucks County, Pa. as a leader in promoting environmentally-friendly development that controls storm water runoff and helps protect the environment.

The township was recognized for adopting a “low impact development” ordinance that emphasizes the importance or controlling harmful storm water runoff from development projects in the township.

“The proactive community effort of Lower Makefield Township serves as a great example of what municipalities can do to protect the environment by controlling storm water runoff,” said Donald S. Welsh, administrator for EPA’s mid Atlantic Region. “Retaining as much storm water as possible on land – rather than letting it run to storm drains – can help keep harmful flows and pollutants out of our streams and rivers.

Lower Makefield Township was recognized under the Leadership in Low Impact Development Recognition Program that was created by a cooperative agreement between EPA’s mid-Atlantic region and the Low Impact Development Center in Beltsville, Md. to highlight exceptional efforts in storm water management.

Low impact development is a storm water management strategy concerned with maintaining or restoring the natural hydrologic functions of a site to achieve natural resource protection objectives. Low impact development addresses storm water through small, cost-effective site design and landscape.

More information on low impact development can be found at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/ and more information on the recognition program can be found at www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/recognition .