2019 Vol.13 Issue 4 September - Laserfiche WebLink

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Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 Sales The MS-4 Report—What is it and Why Does it Matter? S Gem Lake is not alone in the mandatory reporting requirement. Across the Twin Cities metro area are dozens of MS4 entities, part of a network of thousands of similar MS4’s across the country. Just think, that’s a lot of report filing and public hearings. Gem Lake’s most recent public hearing drew exactly 0 residents from the community who came specifically to attend the public hearing. How many interested parties across the nation who look forward to these annual events is anybody’s guess. Above you will find a map of other MS-4s around the nation. A copy of the complete MS4 report is available at Heritage Hall. By Jim Lindner, Gem Lake City Council Each year, Gem Lake files its annual MS4 report with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The report is a mandatory report and requires that a public hearing be held at a city meeting, so anyone can learn of what Gem Lake did to remain in compliance with MS4 requirements. But what is an MS4 and what does it mean to be compliant? MS4 stands for “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System” shortened to the “M” and four “S’s” for a catchy acronym that is all about managing runoff from storm events. An MS4 is a government entity such as a city, county, or other governmental entity, that is charged with the responsibility of preventing the spread of pollution. MS4 falls under the direction of another acronym NPDES, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. NPDES traces its origins to the 1992 Clean Water Act that was designed to protect the nation’s water supply. When rain falls, it may come in contact with pollutants such as agricultural chemicals, leaked motor oil in a parking lot, or any number of other pollutants. Since stormwater is collected into stormwater drainage systems, this contaminated water is then directly discharged into our rivers and streams, spreading the pollution. The goal of NPDES through permits granted to MS4 agencies per the US Environmental Protection Agency’s website, was to manage stormwater runoff. “To prevent harmful pollutants from being washed or dumped into MS4s, certain operators are required to obtain NPDES permits and develop stormwater management programs (SWMPs). The SWMP describes the stormwater control practices that will be implemented consistent with permit requirements to minimize the discharge of pollutants from the sewer system.”