Meghan Hodges
Pollutant removal credits are a way to quantify the ability of restored or constructed buffers to reduce pollution. The Credit for Going Green Project was designed to help New Hampshire communities meet water quality standards through the use of buffers. The project generated science-based recommendations to calculate the pollutant removal rate of restored or constructed buffers on shorelines with different soils and slopes. Communities can use this information to receive pollutant removal credits under permits issued by the NPDES Stormwater Permit Program.
Pollutant Removal Credits
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A tool to help communities meet water quality standards through the use of buffers. |
| Purpose | To quantify the ability of restored or constructed buffers to reduce pollution and for communities to receive credit for their use under regulatory permits. |
| Application | Vegetated land along the edges of waterways, also known as buffers, help protect water quality. |
| Target Audience | Conservation commissions, planning boards, consultants, municipal staff |
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What You'll Learn
Vegetated land along waterways
Stormwater runoff occurs when rainwater flows over impervious surfaces such as roads and parking lots, picking up pollutants and carrying them into local waterways. Buffers help mitigate this issue by using vegetation and soil media to slow down the flow of water and filter out pollutants before they reach these water bodies. Proper maintenance of buffers is crucial to ensure continued pollutant removal efficiency and prevent costly repairs.
The creation of vegetated land along waterways involves careful site selection and thoughtful design. It requires the incorporation of native vegetation adapted to both wet and dry conditions, such as grasses, sedges, rushes, flowering perennials, and shrubs. The inlet and outlet structures are also essential for effective buffer performance. Inlets are designed to spread inflow across the buffer, while outlets safely convey overflow during heavy storms or flooding events.
In the context of pollutant removal credits, the Credit for Going Green Project in New Hampshire aimed to address this issue. The project engaged a panel of experts to develop science-based recommendations for calculating the pollutant removal rate of restored or constructed buffers along shorelines. This tool enables communities to receive pollutant removal credits under permits issued by the NPDES Stormwater Permit Program, recognizing their efforts in improving water quality.
Overall, vegetated land along waterways plays a vital role in protecting water quality and mitigating the negative impacts of stormwater runoff. The implementation of buffers, combined with proper maintenance and design considerations, contributes to effective stormwater management and helps to reduce the pollution of local waterways.
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Quantifying pollution reduction
Carbon credits are a mechanism for one party to compensate another for reducing, avoiding, or removing carbon. There are three types of carbon credits: carbon reduction, carbon removal, and carbon avoidance. Carbon reduction credits are earned when a company reduces emissions beyond what is required by permits and rules. These are known as Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs). ERCs are issued and traded in units of tons per year, and there is no minimum or maximum limit on the amount of reductions eligible for ERC certificates.
Carbon removal credits involve projects that extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequester it for extended periods. This can be achieved through nature-based solutions like reforestation or engineered methods such as direct air capture and storage. Carbon avoidance credits pertain to actions that prevent potential carbon-emitting activities from occurring, such as implementing renewable energy projects to replace fossil fuel-based energy sources.
The quality of a carbon credit is defined by its adherence to rigorous conditions. One of the most important indicators of quality is a project's baseline, which is the level of greenhouse gasses in a business. Baselines must be accurately set and data-driven, and the resulting emissions impacts must be correctly calculated against those baselines. Without accurate baselines, the climate impact cannot be determined.
Carbon credits are typically denominated to represent the equivalent of one metric tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) avoided or removed. They can be certified by governments or independent certification bodies, also known as "carbon crediting programs".
In addition to carbon credits, there are also pollutant removal credits, which are earned by communities for using vegetated land along the edges of waterways to help protect water quality. These vegetated lands, also known as buffers, have not traditionally been considered alongside other water quality best management practices due to the difficulty in quantifying their ability to reduce pollution. However, an innovative tool was created to help New Hampshire communities meet water quality standards through the use of buffers and receive pollutant removal credits.
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Regulatory permits
One example of a regulatory permit is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which was initiated by the Clean Water Act in 1972. The NPDES permit program aims to protect water resources by addressing point-source water pollution. It controls the discharge of pollutants into surface waters by imposing effluent limitations to protect water quality.
Another type of regulatory permit is an emission reduction credit (ERC). ERCs are records of verified reductions in emissions that facilities can apply for and obtain when a facility is either shut down or equipment is modified to reduce emissions below what is normally required under district rules. When a facility undergoes such a change, they can submit an application for the issuance of a certificate for the quantity of emissions reduced. This certificate can then be sold or traded or used as part of a project that requires the surrender of ERCs.
In addition to regulatory permits, there are also marketable permitting programs that can be used to regulate pollution. These programs generally fall into three types: cap-and-trade programs, rate-based trading programs, and credit trading systems. Cap-and-trade programs set a limit on the total amount of activity that can take place, such as the total tons of a pollutant. Rate-based trading programs are similar but instead of capping the total amount of activity, they limit the relative amount of activity per regulated entity or unit of regulated activity. Credit trading systems set a relative goal, such as no net emissions increase, and then allow covered entities to increase emissions in other areas.
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Credit for Going Green Project
The Credit for Going Green Project is an initiative that aims to address water quality issues in New Hampshire communities. The project focuses on utilizing vegetated land, or buffers, along the edges of waterways to reduce pollution. This approach has been widely recognized as an effective way to protect water quality.
One of the key challenges in implementing this approach has been the difficulty in quantifying the impact of these buffers on pollution reduction. The Credit for Going Green Project addresses this issue by engaging a panel of experts to develop scientific recommendations for calculating the pollutant removal rate of restored or constructed buffers on shorelines with varying soils and slopes.
By providing communities with the tools to accurately measure the pollutant removal capabilities of these buffers, the project enables them to receive pollutant removal credits under permits issued by the NPDES Stormwater Permit Program. This not only recognizes the important role of buffers in improving water quality but also ensures that they are considered alongside other best management practices.
The project has resulted in the development of three reports targeted at different audiences, including technical, non-technical, and comprehensive summaries. Additionally, the project team has created the FAST Expert Panel Process, a refined methodology for addressing complex management problems, and an Outreach Toolkit that offers a range of tools to promote the work.
Overall, the Credit for Going Green Project serves as a great example of how innovative tools and scientific expertise can come together to address pressing environmental challenges and drive positive change. By empowering communities with the knowledge and recognition they need to improve water quality, the project is making a significant contribution to the protection of our natural resources.
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Science-based recommendations
The Credit for Going Green Project has generated science-based recommendations to calculate the pollutant removal rate of restored or constructed buffers established on shorelines with different soils and slopes. These recommendations are based on the understanding that vegetated land along the edges of waterways helps protect water quality.
The project's recommendations are summarised in three reports targeted at different audiences:
- Technical Memorandum: Presents pollutant removal performance curves, use cases, considerations for applications, and supporting decisions made by the panel. Intended for technical audiences such as consultants and municipal staff.
- Final Panel Report: Provides a comprehensive overview of the expert panel's process, decisions, and products, along with information about the local contexts that led to the project.
- Non-Technical Summary: A two-page overview for general audiences such as conservation commissions and planning boards.
The Credit for Going Green team has also developed the FAST Expert Panel Process, which can be applied to complex management problems, and the Credit for Going Green Outreach Toolkit, which offers tools to help project partners promote their work.
Communities can use the information and tools provided by the Credit for Going Green Project to receive pollutant removal credits under permits issued by the NPDES Stormwater Permit Program.
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Frequently asked questions
Pollutant removal credits are a way for communities to receive credit for using vegetated land along the edges of waterways, also known as buffers, to reduce water pollution.
A panel of experts generates science-based recommendations to calculate the pollutant removal rate of restored or constructed buffers. Communities can use this information to receive pollutant removal credits under permits issued by the NPDES Stormwater Permit Program.
The Credit for Going Green Project is an example of pollutant removal credits in action. The project engaged a panel of experts to help New Hampshire communities meet water quality standards through the use of buffers.
Pollutant removal credits provide a way to quantify the ability of restored or constructed buffers to reduce pollution. This helps to ensure that buffers are considered alongside other water quality best management practices.
Carbon credits are a similar concept, which are permits that allow the owner to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. These credits can be bought and sold on the carbon market.
