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<br />0; Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
<br />Municipal stormwater (MS4) I Minnesota Pollution Cord Agency
<br />Municipal stormwater (MS4)
<br />Annual report for 2016 now available
<br />The MS4 Annual Report for 2016 must be completed and submitted to the MPCA by June 30, 2017. For more information, visit the MS4 Annual
<br />Report page.
<br />If you have TMDL reporting requirements, please see the Minnesota Stormwater Manual for guidance.
<br />Who to contact
<br />Having trouble finding who to contact with questions regarding your MS4? Look under the Contacts tab below for a list of MS4 Technical staff and
<br />Individual MS4 staff assignments.
<br />Overview ii Permit Guidance and BMPs ;f Links !; Contacts
<br />Overview
<br />According to the 1996 National Water Quality Inventory, stormwater runoff is a leading source of water pollution and can harm surface waters
<br />such as lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. Common pollutants in stormwater runoff include pesticides, fertilizers, oils, metals, pathogens,
<br />salt, sediment, litter and other debris. These pollutants are transported via stormwater from a variety of sources including construction
<br />projects, industries and urbanized areas.
<br />Management of stormwater runoff from urbanized areas is very important for restoring or protecting surface
<br />waters. Urbanized areas are associated with activities that contribute pollutants to stormwater runoff, such
<br />as application of anti/deicing compounds, vehicle fueling, spills, landscaping and lawn maintenance, and
<br />application of pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, urbanized areas are characterized by large amounts of
<br />impervious surfaces, such as streets, driveways, roof tops, parking lots and sidewalks. Stormwater runoff
<br />from impervious surfaces travels faster and in larger quantities, which results in damage to rivers, streams
<br />and wetlands; destruction of aquatic habitats; and elevated pollutant levels reaching surface waters.
<br />Impervious surfaces also inhibit infiltration and subsequent groundwater recharge. Local public entities that
<br />own or operate a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) in urbanized areas play a key role in
<br />preventing or reducing the negative impacts stormwater runoff may have on Minnesota's valuable water resources.
<br />What is an MS4
<br />A municipal separate storm sewer system is a conveyance or system of conveyances (roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch
<br />basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, storm drains, etc.) that is also:
<br />• owned or operated by a public entity (which can include cities, townships, counties, military bases, hospitals, prison complexes, highway
<br />departments, universities, etc.) having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, stormwater, or other wastes, including
<br />special districts under State law such as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage districts, or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or
<br />an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the Clean Water Act
<br />that discharges to waters of the United States;
<br />• designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater,
<br />• which is not a combined sewer; and
<br />• which is not part of a publicly owned treatment works.
<br />The MS4 General Permit is designed to reduce the amount of sediment and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer
<br />systems to the maximum extent practicable. Stormwater discharges associated with MS4s are subject to regulation under the National
<br />Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS). Through the MS4 General Permit, the system owner or operator
<br />https:/ www.pcastate.mn.L&Wder/municipal-stormwater-ms4 2 12
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