SECTION 155:40-1-5. Blue Thumb Program

  Oklahoma Statutes, §27A-1-3-101, Subsection F assigns to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) multiple jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility. Several of these delegations deal with nonpoint source pollution (NPS). The purpose of this chapter is to convey programmatic policies of the OCC Water Quality Division's NPS Education and Outreach Program formally referred to as the Blue Thumb Program.

(1)   The OCC is the technical lead for the state's NPS Management Program. This program is non regulatory and based on voluntary participation of landowners in cost share programs to implement land management practices to abate NPS pollution. Water quality and environmental education is an integral component of OCC programs and a critical driver of the state's NPS Management Program. To this end, the OCC developed the Blue Thumb program.

(2)   Blue Thumb is the water pollution education program of the OCC's Water Quality Division. The primary goal of this program is to educate Oklahoma citizens about NPS pollution, pollution prevention, and stream health.

(3)   Blue Thumb program staff work directly with citizens in school, civic, work, and private contexts. The program is designed to recruit, educate, train, and equip volunteer groups across the state to monitor streams of local interest. The program works primarily through local conservation districts, municipalities, schools, and civic organizations.

(4)   The Blue Thumb program coordinates with and provides support for other environmental and resource education programs.

(5)   Foundational BT Program maintenance and promotion activities include volunteer monitor training sessions, data management, analysis and presentation, maintenance and distribution of water quality monitoring kits and supplies, quality assurance sessions, provision of educational materials for loan, and distribution of curb-marking supplies.

(6)   Blue Thumb personnel work with local sponsors and volunteers to plan watershed education events in areas with strong local interest and/or where volunteer data indicate a need. These events feature information booths, volunteer activities, conservation opportunities and assistance available through local agencies, and data interpretation sessions.

(7)   The Blue Thumb program provides support to cities to help meet the requirements of their Phase II stormwater permits and to help improve stormwater quality through education of its citizens. These education programs involve curbmarking, water quality training, and other education events.

(8)   The Blue Thumb program conducts a groundwater education and well water screening program to promote interest and expand the educational platform. Staff conduct these activities through local conservation districts. Groundwater samples submitted by citizens during screening events are analyzed for alkalinity, sulfate, chloride, nitrate and pH. The results are presented as an initial screen for educational purposes only and are not intended to replace certified, lab based tests for potability.

[Source: Added at 26 Ok Reg 1018, eff 5-11-09]