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The success of the Phase II regulatory program depends on voluntary
cooperation and compliance from homeowners, local interest groups,
municipal governments officials and you. Opportunities to make a
difference in local water quality are everywhere. Simple actions
such as picking up after your dog, participating in organized stream
clean ups, or simply attending a municipal board meeting to learn
more about local efforts in your community will make a difference.
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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (the Department)
has expanded its permitting program to include a new federally mandated
program to control stormwater runoff and protect waterways. According
to the federal law commonly known as Stormwater Phase II, permits will
be required for stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
Systems (MS4s) in urbanized areas and for construction activities disturbing
one or more acres. To implement the law, the Department has developed
two general permits, one for MS4s in urbanized areas and one for construction
activities. The permits are part of the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (SPDES). Operators of regulated MS4s and operators of construction
activities are required to obtain permits.
This program has environmental benefits. New
York State has made significant progress toward improving the
overall quality of the State's water resources by controlling
major point sources of water pollution. Despite this progress,
nonpoint sources of water pollution such as contaminated stormwater
runoff, continue to pose significant water quality threats
Statewide. Controlling these non-point sources of pollution
will require an approach to resource management that is dramatically
different from those taken in the past. The new stormwater
control program represents a major shift toward just such a
new approach that builds on New York State's successful past
efforts.
Water from rain or melting snow runs off land,
carrying litter, soil, bacteria and other pollutants into our
bays, rivers and lakes. This pollution source is a significant
contributor to beach and shellfish bed closures, spoiled fishing
and swimming, excessive weed growth, and destruction of aquatic
habitat. Large amounts of stormwater rushing off paved surfaces
can flood yards, streets and basements.
The new stormwater program will help correct
these problems, protecting and restoring our valuable environmental
resources.
Source: A SUMMARY OF MS4 PHASE II PERMIT
REQUIREMENTS
February 2003, Revised August 2003, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Download the permits:
 (Adobe
PDF files)
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