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{{alert|We recently updated this page and will continue to work on information about MS4 stormwater management. If you have suggestions, we welcome comments using the comment box at the bottom of most pages in the manual.|alert-info}}
  
==Stormwater Program for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)==
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[[file:Aerial city.jpg|300px|left|alt=icon for MS4 stormwater]]
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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>]]
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[[file:Check it out.png|150px|thumb|alt=image|<font size=3>[https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=9af02c9b2a994e56910cce1dbba400c4 The City of Austin, MN, has created this neat web-based story map about stormwater and MS4.]</font size>]]
  
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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.
  
===Overview===
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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.
[[File:MS4 home page image.png|300px|thumb|alt=image of MS4 home page|<font size=3>Link to MPCA [http://www.pca.state.mn.us/sbiza7c MS4 home page]</font size>]]
 
  
According to the 1996 National Water Quality Inventory, stormwater runoff is a leading source of water pollution. Stormwater runoff can harm surface waters such as rivers, lakes, and streams which in turn cause or contribute to water quality standards being exceeded.
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*[[What is a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4)?]]
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*[[Why is a municipality regulated under the MS4 permit?]]
  
Stormwater runoff can change natural hydrologic patterns, accelerate stream flows, destroy aquatic habitats, and elevate pollutant concentrations and loadings. Development substantially increases impervious surfaces thereby increasing runoff from city streets, driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks, on which pollutants from human activities settle.
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==2020 MS4 General Permit==
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*[[2020 MS4 General Permit|Link here to the 2020 MS4 General Permit]] - this is the wiki version of the permit
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-94.pdf Link here to the 2020 MS4 General Permit] - this links to a pdf of the permit
  
Common pollutants in runoff include pesticides, fertilizers, oils, metals, pathogens, salt, sediment, litter and other debris are transported via stormwater and discharged - untreated - to water resources through storm sewer systems.
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==2020 MS4 General Permit reissuance==
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Visit the [[MS4 General Permit reissuance]] page for updates on the new MS4 General Permit.
  
The Stormwater Program for MS4s is designed to reduce the amount of sediment and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems to the maximum extent practicable. Stormwater discharges associated with MS4s are regulated through the use of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. NPDES permits are legal documents. Through this permit, the owner or operator is required to develop a stormwater pollution prevention program (SWPPP) that incorporates best management practices (BMPs) applicable to their MS4. See the following fact sheet for additional information:
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==MS4 stormwater permit==
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_Annual_Report MS4 Annual Report]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Mpls_MS4Permit_Mod.pdf 2018 Minneapolis Phase I Permit]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Final_Permit-StPaul_MS4Permit.pdf 2018 St. Paul Phase 1 permit]
  
===View the 2013 [[MS4 General Permit]]===
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==Previous permits==
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=2013_MS4_General_Permit MS4 General Permit]  
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Minneapolis_2011_Phase_I_Permit_-_Minnesota_Stormwater_Manual_July_2022.pdf Minneapolis 2011 Phase I Permit]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:St_Paul_2011_Phase_I_Permit_-_Minnesota_Stormwater_Manual_July_2022.pdf St Paul 2011 Phase I Permit]
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-51.pdf 2006 permit]
  
This permit went into effect on August 1, 2013.
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==Minimum Control Measures==
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{{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}}
  
<!--===View [[MS4 SWPPP Application for Reauthorization|MS4 SWPPP Application for Reauthorization.doc]]===-->
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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)]]. Follow this link to learn more about each MCM along with resources and guidance.
  
===What is an MS4===
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==Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)==
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[[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.
  
<p>A municipal separate storm sewer system is a conveyance or system of conveyances (roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, storm drains):</p>
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==Tools and resources==
*Owned or operated by a state, city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body (created by or pursuant to State law) having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, stormwater, or other wastes, including special districts under State law such as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage districts, or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the Clean Water Act that discharges to waters of the United States;
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*[[Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) toolkit]]: A collection of resources for use by stormwater program staff. It is intended to help entities regulated under the MS4 program meet the requirements of the general permit. It offers a wide range of downloadable stormwater education information including sample fact sheets, newsletters, videos, and other resources.<br />
*Designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;
 
*Which is not a combined sewer; and
 
*Which is not part of a publicly owned treatment works.
 
  
===MS4 mapping tool===
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*[[MS4 Digital Document Library]]: Provides guidance to help local MS4 staff meet the requirements of the six [[Minimum Control Measures (MCMs)]] in the [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_General_Permit 2013 MS4 General Permit] and assist with overall stormwater management. In addition to general guidance documents and photos/graphics, the Digital Document Library has example documents that stormwater staff are using to manage their stormwater pollution prevention programs (SWPPPs). All documents in the Digital Document Library are MPCA reviewed and available for anyone to download and use.<br />
*[http://pca-gis02.pca.state.mn.us/ms4/index.html MS4 mapping tool] is an electronic map tool using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology.
 
  
===MS4 Permit SWPPP Document due dates===
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*[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 />
  
{{:MS4 Application Submittal Schedule for Existing permittees}}
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*<font size=4>'''NEW'''</font size>  [[Assessing total suspended sediment and total phosphorus removal efficiency of permittee owned/operated constructed stormwater ponds]]: guidance related to assessing the total suspended sediment (TSS) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency of MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permittee owned/operated ponds constructed and used for the collection and treatment of stormwater.
  
===MS4 Permit SWPPP Document staff assignments===
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_fact_sheets Pollution prevention guidance fact sheets]: A collection of links to a variety of Minnesota Stormwater Manual fact sheets on stormwater pollution prevention methods within MS4s.
  
{{:MS4 permit SWPPP Document staff assignments}}
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==MS4 audit guidance==
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to evaluate MS4 permittees for compliance with the [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-59k.pdf MS4 General Permit]. The MPCA does this through compliance audits. To find out more information about the audit process see the pages below:
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*[[Phase II MS4 audit process]]
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*[[Self-audit guidance for Phase II MS4s]]
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==MPCA MS4 technical assistance==
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/municipal-stormwater-ms4#guidance-and-bmps-da807a70 MPCA MS4 website]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_staff_contact_information_and_staff_assignments MPCA MS4 staff contact information]
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*[[MS4 case studies]]
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*[[MS4 webinars and videos]]
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*[[2017 MS4 Technical Assistance and Outreach Needs Survey Results]]
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==Other resources and documents==
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm1-07.pdf Stormwater and Wetlands - Planning and Evaluation Guidelines]
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-28.pdf Untreated Stormwater Runoff to Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands]
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*[[Pond, lake, and wetland inventory]]
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[[Category:Level 3 - Regulatory/Municipal (MS4)/Guidance, outreach materials, miscellaneous information]]

Latest revision as of 22:34, 1 December 2022

Information: We recently updated this page and will continue to work on information about MS4 stormwater management. If you have suggestions, we welcome comments using the comment box at the bottom of most pages in the manual.
icon for MS4 stormwater

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.

2020 MS4 General Permit

2020 MS4 General Permit reissuance

Visit the MS4 General Permit reissuance page for updates on the new MS4 General Permit.

MS4 stormwater permit

Previous permits

Minimum Control Measures

Information: 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.

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). Follow this link to learn more about each MCM along with resources and guidance.

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

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.

Tools and resources

  • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) toolkit: A collection of resources for use by stormwater program staff. It is intended to help entities regulated under the MS4 program meet the requirements of the general permit. It offers a wide range of downloadable stormwater education information including sample fact sheets, newsletters, videos, and other resources.
  • MS4 Digital Document Library: Provides guidance to help local MS4 staff meet the requirements of the six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) in the 2013 MS4 General Permit and assist with overall stormwater management. In addition to general guidance documents and photos/graphics, the Digital Document Library has example documents that stormwater staff are using to manage their stormwater pollution prevention programs (SWPPPs). All documents in the Digital Document Library are MPCA reviewed and available for anyone to download and use.
  • 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.

MS4 audit guidance

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:

MPCA MS4 technical assistance

Other resources and documents

This page was last edited on 1 December 2022, at 22:34.