EPA moves forward with MS4 permit rules

A draft sewer system permit covering municipalities in the Merrimack, South Coastal and Interstate regions will be available for public comment later this month, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website.

Final permits for each Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4) in the region should be available later this year. Operators will be required to submit a new Notice of Intent for any permit for which they are eligible. NOIs will be due 90 days after the effective date of each final permit.

On March 31, the EPA closed out the comment period for draft regulations for MS4 permits in north coastal Massachusetts. The final Ms4 general permit for the region, which includes 84 communities, is expected to be issued this fall.

The federal Clean Water Act requires that the MS4 permit be re-evaluated every five years to ensure that it continues to protect the environment. The previous permit was issued in 2003.

Municipal storm sewer systems collect rain and snowmelt from streets and drain them to rivers and streams. The new MS4 permits would require communities to institute more advanced programs to reduce pollutants that are discharged from municipal storm drainage systems to rivers, lakes and bays.

The MMA and municipal officials have raised concerns about the cost of the new regulations at a time when municipal budgets are being cut drastically.

The proposed permit also includes “best management practices,” such as removing illegal sewage connections to storm drains, street sweeping, public education, and steps to expand the filtration of storm water rather than diverting it into sewer systems.

In written testimony, the MMA urged the EPA “to amend [its] approach to incorporate goals that are more realistically attainable within the financial constraints of the current economic climate, or wait until adequate federal funding is available to ensure that these requirements do not translate into a harmful unfunded mandate on cities, towns and taxpayers.”

The new draft Small MS4 General Permits released to date include the same six minimum control measures as the 2003 MS4 General Permit, plus provisions to protect water quality.

The draft permits include the following requirements:

• Enhanced illicit discharge detection and elimination to identify, isolate and remove sanitary and other wastes from storm water systems

• Water quality monitoring of storm water discharges

• Encouragement of low-impact development and green infrastructure techniques

• Implementation of approved total maximum daily load waste load allocations

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/region1/npdes/stormwater/updated-info-sms4gp.html.