MS4 Permit – Meaning, History, and Annual Report Results Watershed Partners 4/13/2016 1

Overview  What does MS4 really mean?  Brief history of the Small MS4 Permit program  Look into annual report results to see how MS4s are educating and engaging the public 2

3 What Does MS4 Really Mean? Municipal – Must be government entity with jurisdiction over the discharge of stormwater to lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System”

233 Regulated Small MS4s  Counties, Cities, Townships  Watershed Districts  Transportation Departments  Public Universities/Colleges  Correctional Facilities  Hospitals 4

5 What Does MS4 Really Mean? Municipal – Must be government entity with jurisdiction over the discharge of stormwater to lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. Separate Storm Sewer – Years ago in MN, sanitary and storm sewers were combined. Waste water treatment plants were overwhelmed. Efforts to separate all sanitary and storm sewers in MN is largely complete today. System – Complex array of stormwater conveyances and treatment practices owned by municipality. “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System”

System/Conveyances 6

History  December 8, 1999 – Phase II Final Rule published  Expand requirements of EPA’s Phase I stormwater program  Further reduce impacts to water quality and meet requirements of Clean Water Act  Develop, implement, and enforce a stormwater management program 7

History  June 2002, MS4 General Permit issued  July 2002, MCEA filed appeal  May 2003, Minnesota Court of Appeals makes ruling  Opportunity for public participation  Additional measures for new or expanded discharges (address non-deg)  “Minimize” to “reduce”  June 1, 2006, MS4 General Permit reissued 8

Reducing Pollutants From Your System To Receiving Waters  EPA established that six focus areas are critical for a local programs to be effective in reducing pollutants discharged from your system. (Minimum Control Measures) 1.Educate the community 2.Involve the community 3.Find and eliminate illicit discharges 4.Oversight of construction projects to keep sediment and other pollutants from entering your system 5.Ensure construction projects install permanent practices that reduce pollutants long after the project is completed 6.Inspect and maintain your own stormwater infrastructure 9

MS4 Annual Report for 2014  Online form  Change from fillable PDF  Better data management 10

MCM 1: Public Education and Outreach  Select stormwater-related issue(s) of high priority 11

Did you select a stormwater-related issue of high priority?  150 ‘Yes’  83 ‘No’ 12

What is your stormwater-related issue(s)? 13

Common ‘Other’ Topics  Illicit discharges  Littering  Car washing 14

Illicit Discharge Recognition and Reporting  190 ‘Yes’  43 ‘No’ 15

How did you distribute educational materials or equivalent outreach? 16

Common ‘Other’ Distribution Methods  Workshop (rain garden, road salt application)   Social media  Billboards  Small scale displays (posters, booths)  Annual public meeting 17

Activities Held related to Public Education and Outreach  Outreach activities (e.g., rain garden workshop, school presentation, public works open house)  791+* activities held  Average: 3.4 activities per regulated MS4  41 regulated MS4s held at least 8+* activities  *Limited to reporting on eight activities in Annual Report 18

MCM 2: Public Participation/Involvement  Implement a program to solicit public comment on the SWPPP  Provide a minimum of one opportunity annually for the public to provide input on the adequacy of the SWPPP 19

What was the opportunity provided? 20

Public Meeting  213 public meetings held  147 combined  66 stand-alone  Average attendance: 9.4  13 at combined meetings  1.5 at stand-alone meetings  Number of regulated-MS4s with zero attendance:

Public Event  18 public events held  Open house event, home and garden show, business expo, sustainability fair, county fair  Average attendance:  Attendance ranged from 0 to

Comments on SWPPP 23

Comments on SWPPP  15 regulated MS4s received comments  Three regulated MS4s modified SWPPP as a result of the comments in

One way to increase attendance… 25

Common Remarks regarding MCM 2  Appears to be lack of interest  We make our documents available for review throughout the year on our website  People do not wait until our public meeting to voice issues 26

Questions for You  What efforts have worked for you to engage the public and solicit comments on your SWPPP?  How would you change this requirement, if at all? 27

Questions? Contact information: stormwater-ms4 28