(19 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
<div title="A municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) is a means of transportation, individually or in a system, (e.g. roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, storm drains, etc.) that are: | <div title="A municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) is a means of transportation, individually or in a system, (e.g. roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, storm drains, etc.) that are: | ||
− | + | 1. owned or operated by a public entity (e.g. cities, townships, counties, military bases, hospitals, prison complexes, highway departments, universities, etc.) with jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, stormwater, or other wastes. This includes special districts under State law (sewer, flood control, or drainage districts, etc.), an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the Clean Water Act | |
− | + | 2. designed or used for collecting or transporting stormwater | |
− | + | 3. not a combined sewer | |
− | ⎆ • not part of a publicly owned treatment works"> | + | <!--⎆ •--> 4. not part of a publicly owned treatment works"> |
*<u>What is a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4)?</u> | *<u>What is a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4)?</u> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 66: | Line 66: | ||
==Minimum Control Measures== | ==Minimum Control Measures== | ||
+ | <FONT COLOR="#ff0000"><div title="Minnesota uses the term Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) for MS4 stormwater, while several states and EPA may use the term Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). These terms refer to the same thing."> | ||
+ | <u><pre>IMPORTANT NOTE</pre></u> | ||
+ | </div></FONT> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
{{alert|NOTE: Minnesota uses the term Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) for MS4 stormwater, while several states and EPA may use the term Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). These terms refer to the same thing.|alert-info}} | {{alert|NOTE: Minnesota uses the term Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) for MS4 stormwater, while several states and EPA may use the term Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). These terms refer to the same thing.|alert-info}} | ||
− | When seeking to manage a Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4), an effective Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) has six different components known as | + | 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). |
+ | |||
+ | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MCM_1_Public_Education_and_Outreach Minimum Control Measures 1 - Public Education and Outreach] | ||
+ | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MCM_2_Public_Participation/Involvement Minimum Control Measures 2 - Public Participation/Involvement] | ||
+ | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MCM_3_Illicit_Discharge_Detection_and_Elimination Minimum Control Measures 3 - Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination] | ||
+ | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MCM_4_Construction_Site_Stormwater_Control Minimum Control Measures 4 - Construction Site Stormwater Control] | ||
+ | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MCM_5_Post-Construction_Stormwater_Management Minimum Control Measures 5 - Post-Construction Stormwater Management] | ||
+ | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MCM_6_Pollution_Prevention/Good_Housekeeping Minimum Control Measures 6 - Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping] | ||
==Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)== | ==Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)== | ||
Line 74: | Line 86: | ||
==Tools and resources== | ==Tools and resources== | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
*[https://mpca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8d310e604baa43699b25395834d0c69a MS4 mapping tool]: An interactive online map tool that can be used to view and explore Minnesota MS4 boundaries, defined urbanized areas, impaired waters, outstanding resource value waters, trout waters and approved TMDL study areas.<br /> | *[https://mpca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8d310e604baa43699b25395834d0c69a MS4 mapping tool]: An interactive online map tool that can be used to view and explore Minnesota MS4 boundaries, defined urbanized areas, impaired waters, outstanding resource value waters, trout waters and approved TMDL study areas.<br /> | ||
Line 88: | Line 96: | ||
*[[Phase II MS4 audit process]] | *[[Phase II MS4 audit process]] | ||
*[[Self-audit guidance for Phase II MS4s]] | *[[Self-audit guidance for Phase II MS4s]] | ||
+ | *[[General Stormwater Program Management]] - examples of how to track activities applicable to your SWPPP, enforcement response procedures | ||
==MPCA MS4 technical assistance== | ==MPCA MS4 technical assistance== | ||
Line 100: | Line 109: | ||
*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-28.pdf Untreated Stormwater Runoff to Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands] | *[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-28.pdf Untreated Stormwater Runoff to Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands] | ||
*[[Pond, lake, and wetland inventory]] | *[[Pond, lake, and wetland inventory]] | ||
+ | *[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Aaron_test_ms4_acknowledgements Acknowledgements to contributors] | ||
[[Category:Level 3 - Regulatory/Municipal (MS4)/Guidance, outreach materials, miscellaneous information]] | [[Category:Level 3 - Regulatory/Municipal (MS4)/Guidance, outreach materials, miscellaneous information]] |
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.
IMPORTANT NOTE
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: