Dutchess County Soil & Water Conservation District

 

Button Bush shrub dry hydrant for fire protection strip cropping in Dutchess County stormwater runoff display at DC Fair

    Serving Dutchess County, NY For Over 60 Years

Stormwater / MS4

 

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Telephone

(845) 677-8011 ext 3

 

Fax

(845) 677-8354

 

Address

2715 Rt 44, Suite 3

Millbrook, NY 12545

 

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Info

 

drainagegrate with sediment and trash going inStormwater is water from rain or melting snow that does not soak into the ground, but runs off.  It flows from rooftops, over paved areas, bare soil and sloped lawns, while picking up a variety of materials on the way.  As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports soil, pet waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil, debris and other potential pollutants.  The quality of runoff is affected by a variety of factors and depends on the season, local weather, geography and activities across the landscape.  Polluted runoff, also called nonpoint source pollution, degrades our lakes, streams, wetlands and Hudson River

We have been working with the farming community for a number of years to develop best management practices, such as nutrient management programs, to help them keep their runoff from entering streams and lakes, but now new Phase II stormwater regulations passed down from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) are forcing municipalities to take a hard look at stormwater management.


The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has a number of pages in its web site that help to explain Phase II and what is required, as well as provide resources to help with compliance.  We find these most informative.

·           DEC Stormwater Main Page

·           Phase II Stormwater Requirements—Also gives a list and map of MS4s

·           General Permits and Information for Construction as well as MS4s

The Federal Environmental Protection Agency also has a great deal of information.

·          Their Stormwater Main Page

A series of Fact Sheets that clearly and concisely outline Phase II and its requirements. 


Phase II?  I Didn’t Even Know There Was A Phase I !”

Phase I and II are part of the EPA’s effort to enforce the Clean Water Act.  In 1990, Phase I was instituted and used the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit system to manage municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) that serve 100,000 people or more, runoff from construction sites five acres in size or larger, and ten specific industrial operations.  Phase II is the next step, which expands the program to do two things:  require smaller construction sites to implement programs and management practices to prevent polluted stormwater runoff, as well as require smaller MS4s to be regulated and implement six minimum control measures for the management of stormwater. 

 

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Last modified: 08/18/10