All operators of municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) are responsible for development and implementation of stormwater management plans.
MS4 Program
The stormwater requirements of the federal Clean Water Act are administered under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Program. In December 2002, DEP issued a General Permit (“PAG-13”) for use by MS4s that fall under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II program, requiring the implementation of a stormwater management program for minimizing the impacts from runoff. Several extensions have occurred since the expiry of the initial 5 year permit period, the latest of which extended the permit expiration date to midnight on June 11, 2013.
After much debate and extensive delays, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released its new permit requirements in late 2011, so all MS4s are working to understand how they are affected and prepare their applications before they are due. For more information, follow MS4 in the Blog.
Under the MS4 Program, permittees are required to incorporate the following six elements (known as minimum control measures, or MCMs) into their stormwater management programs:
- Public education and outreach
- Public involvement and participation
- Illicit discharge detection and elimination
- Construction site runoff control
- Post-construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment
- Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations and maintenance
Each MCM has a series of suggested best management practices (BMPs) associated with it to guide permit holders in program development, tracking, and reporting.
Pennsylvania has close to 1,000 jurisdictions that are considered small municipal seperate stormwater systems (MS4s) and therefore require Phase II permits. To download DEP's list of MS4s, click on the following link:
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) within Urbanized Areas in Pennsylvania
Related News from our Blog
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Help is Here: PA MS4Web
After numerous conversations with DEP, municipal staff, consulting engineers, and advocates, StormwaterPA and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) have collaborated with CBI Systems Ltd. on the development of a Pennsylvania-centric tracking and management system for Pennsylvania MS4 Permitees.
Based upon CBI's MS4 Permit Manager™ and MS4Web™ software, PA MS4Web™ will help users develop their SWMP, schedule and track implementation activities, and compile their annual reports.
PA MS4Web™ Features include:
- SWMP Development and Implementation, including:
- Control Measures (for Phase I and Phase II MS4s)
- Implementation Tasks
- Measureable Goals
- Activity Scheduling
- Track Outfalls and Inspections
- Track Illicit Discharges
- Track Construction Sites and Inspections/Enforcement Actions
- Track Post Construction Sites and Inspections/Enforcement Actions
- Track Facilities and Representative Monitoring
- Track Citizen Reports
- Track Training Records
- Built-in Report generation and quantitative data calculations
- Link unlimited photos and files
- Enhanced Security Settings with Unlimited Users
- Built-in ArcGIS Map functionality interface for in the office or in the field
- Automatic generation of the Annual Report
PA MS4Web™ is currently being piloted by municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania and will soon be introduced in other parts of the state.
Interested in learning more? Contact Khiet Luong at PEC by email or phone 215-545-4570, extension 107.
