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 Stormwater Phase II Background
History
In 1987, the EPA amended the Clean Water Act to require a two-phased national program to address water pollution from stormwater. Under the program, operators of municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) are required to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the drainage system.
Phase I
Phase I addressed stormwater discharges from medium and large MS4s (in cities with populations exceeding 100,000), construction sites greater than five acres, and several categories of industrial activities.
Phase II
The Phase II stormwater program was published in the Federal Register on December 8, 1999. Phase II regulations require operators of small MS4s that serve populations of fewer than 100,000 people and are located in urbanized areas to obtain a NPDES permit. Operators of construction sites that disturb one to five acres of land are also required to obtain a NPDES permit. Click here for Phase II Map for Plymouth
NOI
Under the Phase II Stormwater Program, the Town of Plymouth was required to submit a Notice of Intent to discuss its Stormwater Management Program and Best Management Practices for the stormwater system.
The Town of Plymouth submitted this NOI in July 2003. The NOI serves as the basis for the Town’s five (5) year General Stormwater Permit. The EPA approved the NOI and issued the General Permit on September 26, 2003 which is renewed every five years.
Plymouth is also required under the permit to provide annual reports on its progress on implementing its stormwater management program.
Town of Plymouth Stormwater Mitigation Projects
The Town of Plymouth has been actively addressing stormwater pollution throughout Town with a focus on Plymouth Harbor. Currently, parts of the harbor are closed to shellfishing due to high bacteria counts. These bacteria counts can come from a variety of sources including stormwater. Since the harbor is an important natural resource as well as an important historic and recreational area it makes sense to focus on the harbor. Secondly, the harbor falls under the regulations of the EPA Phase II Stormwater Program.
The Town (DPW Engineering, DPW Environmental Management and the Department of Planning) have pursued various grant projects to address stormwater pollution including the following:
Year |
Grant Program |
Project |
Award Deposits |
2002 |
Coastal Pollution Remediation |
Samoset Street Stormwater Study |
$38,700.00 |
2002 |
s. 319 NPS |
Plymouth Harbor Stormwater Remediation (Howes Lane, Lincoln Street, Stephens Field) |
$249,000.00 |
2003 |
Coastal Pollution Remediation Plus |
Main St Ext Parking Stormwater |
$51,700.00 |
2003 |
s. 319 NPS |
Billington Sea/Black Cat Road Stormwater |
$168,000.00 |
2003 |
CWA 604b |
Plymouth Bay Assessment - Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury |
$76,410.00 |
2004 |
Buzzards Bay Stormwater Grant |
Halfway Pond |
$15,000.00 |
2004 |
s. 319 NPS |
Samoset Street Implementation |
$124,780.00 |
2004 |
Coastal NPS |
Jenney Pond Assessment |
$24,000.00 |
2004 |
Coastal NPS |
Stormwater Model Bylaw |
$34,920.00 |
2006 |
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs |
Low Impact Development Stormwater Standards |
$30,000.00 |
2007 |
s. 319 NPS |
Eel River Headwaters Project |
$400,000.00 |
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Pollution Management Manual |
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Click on the activity book to download and print!!!
Stormwater Links
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