OM&R Questions for consideration

What could happen if adequate OM&R resources can not be found?

Can we continue to find ad-hoc solutions to OM&R problems, especially in light of number of systems in place and increasing age?

For each category OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE and REPLACEMENT:

• How can the need for difficult-to-find resources be lowered?

• How can the sponsor (watershed group) take on more responsibilities?

• How can difficult-to-find resources be increased?

SPONSORS*

• What resources can the sponsor reasonably be expected to provide?   

• What resources are out-of-reach for the sponsor to provide?

• With adequate training, what kind of increase in sponsor’s resource generation could be expected?

• What additional support mechanisms would sponsors need to operate at the higher level?

• How should a sponsor’s commitment be defined?

• How should all partners’ commitments be defined?

• What happens to a treatment system when a sponsor can no longer honor its OM&R commitment?

* Sponsor refers to the entity taking responsibility for OM&R for the treatment system, most likely a watershed group.

FUNDING

• What existing traditional funding sources might fund OM&R activities?

• What existing non-traditional funding (or resource) sources may be drawn upon?

• If more funding became available, is there a way to manage it get the most out of it?

• Is the grant system the best delivery mechanism?

• Could the insurance model apply?

• How about in-kind donations?

• What form might a state legislative solution take?

• How about OM&R funding for active or semi-active systems?

• How can corporate sponsorships be utilized?

COSTS

• What can be done to minimize OM&R costs for future systems?

• Are the cost estimates made by the OM&R Workgroup still reasonable?  Should these estimates be revisited now that several years have passed?

• How can new knowledge / methods / techniques be incorporated to lower costs?

SUPPORT

• Can O&M costs be lowered by providing centralized services?

• What kinds of centralized services would be useful and cost-effective?

NEXT STEPS

• What are the next steps in advancing a resolution to this problem?