NPDES II Impacts More Municipalities
2000 Census Redefines MS4 Designations
The article on page 1 describes the NPDES II regulations. They will impact all New Hampshire municipalities. (See “NPDES II and Highway Garage Complexes” in this issue.) The greatest impact is on cities and towns with “Regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems” (MS4s). An MS4 is a road drainage system owned by a government entity, such as a municipality. It includes all roads and streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, culverts, man-made channels, and storm drains.
EPA designates MS4s located in “urbanized areas” (UAs) as defined by the Bureau of the Census. The 1990 Census UAs covered all of Dover, Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Rochester, and Somersworth. They covered parts of
| Amherst | Auburn | Bedford | Durham | Goffstown | Hollis |
| Hooksett | Hudson | Litchfield | Londonderry | Madbury | Merrimack |
| New Castle | Newington | Pelham | Plaistow | Rollinsford | Rye |
| Salem | Windham |
Redefinition of MS4s
Based on the 2000 Census EPA has expanded the designated areas in many of these towns. It has designated all of Atkinson and parts of the following towns.
| Brentwood | Chester | Danville | Derry | East Kingston | Exeter |
| Greenland | Hampstead | Hampton | Hampton Falls | Kingston | Lee |
| Milford | Milton | Newton | North Hampton | Sandown | Seabrook |
The specific area definitions are in Census Bureau maps. EPA Boston, who administers NPDES II in New Hampshire, will distribute them. When available, the UNH T² Center will inform the impacted towns through the PW.Net and NHLogin email listserves. (To join PW.Net email a request to t2.center@unh.edu.)
What is Required
Municipalities with a regulated MS4 must develop a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP). The deadline for initial application is March 10, 2003. SWMP must be implemented over the following 5 years.
The SWMP must cover the six “minimum control measures” described on Page 1. The EPA describes specific requirements in a separate Fact Sheet for each measure. (EPA websites below.)
Assistance to NH Municipalities
Various agencies can help the MS4 communities. The EPA Boston office, in addition to providing area definition maps, will have several outreach events this fall.
The NH Office of State Planning can provide model ordinances, regulations, and guidance. NH Department of Environmental Services staff can help with illicit discharge detection. The NH Department of Transportation is a regulated MS4 within the designated UAs. They will coordinate their SWMPs with affected municipalities.
Many UNH T² Center workshops and newsletter articles provide information useful for NPDES II compliance actions. It is developing a Drainage Maintenance System, which will help municipalities prepare and execute NPDES II.
Private engineers and vendors can assist with engineering studies, equipment, and construction. Finally, municipal officials can assist each other. PWNet is one way to communicate with peers.
Sources:
EPA’s “NPDES Storm Water Program For Regulated Small MS4s”: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/phase2.cfm?program_id=6
EPA Fact Sheets: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swfinal.cfm?program_id=6