Grantee Research Project Results

2016 Progress Report: Enabling Citizens and Owners to Invest in Green Infrastructure in Philadelphia

EPA Grant Number: R835554
Title: Enabling Citizens and Owners to Invest in Green Infrastructure in Philadelphia
Investigators: Hsu, David H. , Landis, John
Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Current Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology , University of Pennsylvania
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: November 1, 2013 through October 31, 2015 (Extended to October 31, 2017)
Project Period Covered by this Report: November 1, 2015 through October 31,2016
Project Amount: $1,000,000
RFA: Performance and Effectiveness of Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management Approaches in the Urban Context: A Philadelphia Case Study (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , Water

Objective:

Our research work currently is split into four main areas in a 2x2 matrix between Philadelphia and national GSI policies, and qualitative and quantitative approaches. Numbers below indicate the paper designation, and research questions and datasets are indicated below, as well as the directly responsible members of our research team:

	Quantitative	Qualitative
Philadelphia	(1) How are property owners responding to the redistribution in stormwater fees? Based on regression analysis of applicants to existing Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) programs (in progress)	(2) What is the level of awareness and understanding of existing PWD policies? Based on planned surveys and interviews (completed)
National	(4) What are cities already doing with respect to GSI? Based on municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4) dataset from the EPA Office of Water (in progress)	(3) Why do decision-makers in other cities choose, or choose not to, pursue GSI policies? Based on interviews (completed)

Progress Summary:

1. We already have conducted regression analyses on the data in order to understand the determinants of property owners applying for PWD’s Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP) grants. AKRF is conducting a study of PWD’s current construction costs to see if we can infer the likely costs for the rest of the city. We are writing this up into two papers.

2. We have completed our (non-human subjects) survey of property owners in Philadelphia. This paper manuscript has been written and submitted to a journal and is being reviewed.

3. We have surveyed the literature on institutional decision-making, and have conducted interviews with 33 cities nationally (deemed non-human subjects by Penn IRB). This is written up as a manuscript and will be submitted shortly.

4. We currently are analyzing a dataset given to us by the EPA Office of Water from its MS4 rulemaking information collection request, which gives us a good picture of what programs already are implemented nationally for green stormwater infrastructure. We are awaiting approval from the EPA Office of Water to make the data public before writing the manuscript.

Key findings are:

1. Using regression models appropriate for the small numbers of applicants, we have found that the amount of the stormwater billing fee, the industrial property type, and the existence of previous accounts are all key determinants in the decision to apply for SMIP grants.

2. Using the theory of planned behavior, we found that the unknown costs and benefits are much more important to the decision-making of non-residential property owners than any other factors such as environmental attitudes or concern for local water pollution.

3. Based on extensive interviews about green infrastructure efforts around the country in 33 cities, we found that both the federal government and cities have pursued green infrastructure because of its regulatory flexibility (EPA) and adaptive characteristics (EPA and cities), with distinct implications for how green infrastructure programs are being implemented.

4. No findings yet.

Future Activities:

The future activites are:

Building a web-based prototype that shows how information could be used to encourage take-up of city subsidies and incentives.
Planning focus groups for the spring.
Engaging with PWD on handoff of research towards their policy goals.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 5 publications for this project

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.