Proposed MS4 Permit For Washington DC - Additional Control Requirements

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a proposed permit to the District of Columbia requiring the District to continue improving its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program for controlling stormwater runoff.

The draft permit requires the District to implement stormwater controls that were not required by the old permit issued in 2004, including:

• Implementing a sustainable and enforceable approach to promoting low impact development and green infrastructure, including enhanced tree planting, green roofs, and water reuse onsite to slow down the rate of runoff from paved areas of the District.
• Complying with strict discharge limits, and new performance standards requiring 90 percent on-site retention of storm flows at non-federal facilities for new development, redevelopment and retrofit projects, to avoid pollutant runoff and stream damage.
• Increasing monitoring of total maximum daily loading (TMDL) for impaired waterways, including the Anacostia and Potomac rivers, Rock Creek and the Chesapeake Bay.
• Controlling and reducing trash through enhanced street sweeping and implementing the Anacostia River TMDL for a “Trash Free Potomac” by 2013.

The comment period for the permit will begin on April 21 and last 45 days, ending June 4. Following the close of public review, EPA will prepare a response and make any necessary modifications to the permit to address public comment. EPA expects to finalize the permit within 3 months of the close of the public review.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

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