Government

Deerfield Township NPDES Phase II Stormwater Permit

In 1972 Congress enacted the Clean Water Act. Since then, local and state governments have worked with industries and wastewater treatment plants to reduce "source-point" pollution to improve the quality of receiving waterways. However, as these pollutants were brought under control, it became evident that other sources of pollution existed. These "nonpoint-source" pollutants were reaching our lakes, rivers, and streams from agricultural runoff, urban runoff, stream channelization, mining, land disposal, and construction site runoff. To address these sources, the United States Environmental Protection Agency initiated the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I and Phase II stormwater programs.

The NPDES Phase I required large jurisdictions to come into compliance with specific stormwater mandates. Phase II requires smaller jurisdictions, such as Deerfield Township, to come into compliance by 2008. The mandate issued by the USEPA is comprised of six Minimum Control Measures: (MCM)

mcm

Six Minimum Control Measures (MCM)

MCM 1 Public Information and Education -

Each jurisdiction is required to educate the public about stormwater quality issues including erecting signs at major tributary crossings.

MCM 2 Public Involvement and Participation -

Each jurisdiction must involve the public in stormwater projects, such as storm drain tagging and stream cleanups, and provide a way for the public to report stormwater problems.

MCM 3 Illicit Discharge Detection -

Each jurisdiction must develop, implement, and enforce a program to detect and eliminate illicit discharges, develop a storm sewer map, and develop a map of all septic systems.

MCM 4 Construction site Stormwater Runoff Control -

Each jurisdiction must develop, implement, and enforce a program to address pollutants in stormwater runoff from construction activities.

MCM 5 Post-Construction Stormwater Management -

Each jurisdiction must develop, implement, and enforce a program to address stormwater runoff from new development and redevelopment projects.

MCM 6 Pollution prevention/Good Housekeeping -

Each jurisdiction must develop and implement an operation and maintenance program, including training, to prevent or reduce pollutant runoff from municipal operations.