The Draft Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems General Permit is available for public comment until January 11, 2020 on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) public notices webpage.
The MS4 General Permit will provide coverage for approximately 249 entities, including cities, townships, counties, watershed districts, colleges and universities, correctional facilities, the department of transportation, and a hospital, that own or operate a small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) in Minnesota. Additional entities that own or operate a small MS4 may be designated in the future by the MPCA under Minn. R. 7090. The General Permit provides a mechanism to regulate discharges of stormwater from small MS4s.
Like the previous permit, the General Permit will require permittees to develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) to reduce the discharge of pollutants from their storm sewer system. To obtain coverage under the proposed permit, all current regulated small MS4s are required to submit a complete application in accordance with the schedule identified in the permit. Any additional designated small MS4s will be required to submit an application by the date specified in the MPCA Commissioner’s designation determination.
The MPCA has created multiple informational documents to supplement the draft permit. In addition, resources have been created and compiled to assist interested parties in meeting new permit requirements. These items can be accessed by clicking here.