Cambridge And Towns Take Heed
Becomes National LAW 7/1/17

Notice From Mass Rivers Alliance

To Massachusetts Small MS4 permittees and interested parties,

The 2016 Massachusetts Small MS4 General Permit was signed April 4, 2016 and will be published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2016. The small MS4 general permit will become effective July 1, 2017. The final permit reflects modifications to the 2014 draft small MS4 general permit released for comment on September 30, 2014 and replaces the 2003 small MS4 general permit for MS4 operators within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. EPA has considered and responded to all significant comments received on the 2014 draft permit.

The final permit, appendices, and response to comment documents are available on EPA’s website at https://www3.epa.gov/region1/npdes/stormwater/MS4_MA.html along with useful information and resources for stormwater management.

In order for a small MS4 operator to obtain authorization to discharge, it must submit a complete and accurate Notice of Intent (NOI) containing the information in Appendix E of the 2016 general permit. The NOI must be submitted on or before September 29, 2017 (90 days from the effective date of the final permit). A small MS4 operator must meet the eligibility requirements of the general permit found in Part 1.2 and Part 1.9 prior to submission of its NOI.

EPA will be holding a number of public meetings for informational purposes, including a general overview of permit requirements and available tools from EPA to aid in stormwater management planning and permit compliance. The following meetings are currently planned (please see website above for further details):

Western Massachusetts (Co-Sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission) - May 9, 2016 (Springfield, MA)

Southeastern/Cape Cod Massachusetts (Co-sponsored by the Cape Cod Commission) - May 18, 2016 (West Barnstable, MA)

Northeastern Massachusetts (Co-sponsored by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission) - May 19, 2016 (Haverhill, MA)

Central Massachusetts (Co-sponsored by the 495/MetroWest Partnership) - May 24, 2016 (Westborough, MA)

Boston Area - June 6, 2016 (EPA Region 1, Boston MA)

For any final permit inquiries, please contact:
Newton Tedder (tedder.newton@epa.gov; 617-918-1038),
Suzanne Warner (www.massriversalliance.org; 617-918-1383)
or Fred Civian (frederick.civian@state.ma.us; 617-292-5821) .

Executive Director
Massachusetts Rivers Alliance
14 Beacon Street, Suite 607 (NOTE: Our suite # has changed!)
Boston, MA 02108
www.massriversalliance.org
Tel: 857-445-0208