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[[file:Check it out.png|150px|thumb|alt=image|<font size=3> [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_staff_contact_information_and_staff_assignments <b><center>MPCA MS4 staff contact information can be found at this link]</center></b></font size>]] | [[file:Check it out.png|150px|thumb|alt=image|<font size=3> [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_staff_contact_information_and_staff_assignments <b><center>MPCA MS4 staff contact information can be found at this link]</center></b></font size>]] | ||
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Aaron_test_MS4_page#Background_Information Background Information] | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Aaron_test_MS4_page#Background_Information Background Information] | ||
*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Aaron_test_MS4_page#2020_MS4_General_Permit 2020 MS4 General Permit] | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Aaron_test_MS4_page#2020_MS4_General_Permit 2020 MS4 General Permit] | ||
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The municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) stormwater program is designed to reduce the amount of <span title="any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water"> '''sediment'''</span> and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems. Public entities that own or operate an MS4 play a key role in preventing or reducing the negative impacts stormwater <span title="the portion of rainfall or snowmelt not immediately absorbed into the soil that drains or flows off the land and becomes surface flow"> '''runoff'''</span> has on our valuable water resources. | The municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) stormwater program is designed to reduce the amount of <span title="any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water"> '''sediment'''</span> and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems. Public entities that own or operate an MS4 play a key role in preventing or reducing the negative impacts stormwater <span title="the portion of rainfall or snowmelt not immediately absorbed into the soil that drains or flows off the land and becomes surface flow"> '''runoff'''</span> has on our valuable water resources. | ||
The municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) stormwater program is designed to reduce the amount of sediment and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems. Public entities that own or operate an MS4 play a key role in preventing or reducing the negative impacts stormwater runoff has on our valuable water resources.
Proper stormwater runoff management in urbanized areas is especially important for restoring and protecting surface waters. Urbanized areas are more likely to have activities that contribute pollutants to stormwater runoff, like applying anti/deicing mixtures to roads; fueling vehicles; grease, oil, and other spills; landscaping; and using pesticides and fertilizers. Urbanized areas have a large amount of impervious surfaces, or surfaces that rain and snowmelt cannot pass through, such as streets, driveways, rooftops, parking lots and sidewalks. Stormwater runoff from these surfaces travels faster and in higher amounts, damaging rivers, streams, and wetlands; destroying aquatic habitats; increasing the amount of pollutants that enter surface waters; and limiting groundwater recharge and the MS4 program is to help mitigate the impact.
Regulated MS4 permittees are required to develop a stormwater pollution prevention program (SWPPP) to reduce the pollutants entering the municipality's storm sewer system. When applying for the MS4 permit, permittees identified measurable goals they intended their SWPPP to reach. Based on these goals, permittees should evaluate the effectiveness of their program and make any necessary changes.
When seeking to manage a Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4), an effective Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) has six different components known as Minimum Control Measures (MCMs).
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are EPA approved amounts of pollutant loading that can occur and have a water body meet water quality standards. Follow this link to learn more about them along with guidance and resources.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to evaluate MS4 permittees for compliance with the MS4 General Permit. The MPCA does this through compliance audits. To find out more information about the audit process see the pages below: