Complete report - Partners for Clean Streams

Issue 4 - Urban Runoff
Correction & Prevention
Health Department Regulations
Ongoing
Description:
Health Departments prohibit illicit connections and identify/investigate illicit
connections during site visits.
NPDES Phase I
1990
Description:
NPDES MS4 Storm Water Permit
US EPA promulgated NPDES Phase I regulations in 1990. Under these regulations all
medium and large (over 100,000 population served by separate storm sewers) MS4s
were required to obtain NPDES permit coverage for their storm water discharges.
The City of Toledo was the only municipality in the Maumee AOC required to comply
under Phase I. Toledo’s MS4 NPDES permit became effective on September 1, 1997.
After the permit became effective Toledo was required to: update and exercise legal
authority to control discharges to and from their storm sewers (within 6 mos.); prohibit
non-storm water discharges (on-going); eliminate illicit connections and advise
responsible party to contact OEPA (ongoing); inventory major MS4 outfalls (within 24
mos); establish and/or modify dry weather screening methodology to detect presence
of illicit connections (6 mos); educate City residents on storm water pollution and the
use, storage, recycling, and disposal of household hazardous materials (on-going); to
publicize the telephone number for public reporting of illicit connections and improper
disposal into the MS4 (on-going); to cooperate with other entities in education for
construction site operators (on-going); to train city personnel on identification and
reporting of illicit discharges and improper disposal activities (annually); to consider
water quality impacts of flood control projects (within 12 months); submit an outline of
plans for practicable and economically feasible retro-fits (within 36 mos.); to store deicing
materials under cover or in a diked or contained manner; to conduct annual
employee training on de-icing practices; to develop and implement pollution
prevention techniques for pesticide use (within 8 mos.)
General NPDES for Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity
Starting in 1992 construction sites that are part of a larger total common plan of
development or sale which will result in the disturbance of 5 or more acres are
required to obtain coverage under Ohio EPA’s General NPDES permit for Storm
Water Discharges Associated with Construction Activity. Projects owned/operated by
a public entity with a service population under 100,000 were excluded from this
requirement by the 1991 Transportation Act. The main focus of the General NPDES
Construction Permit is sediment and erosion controls, but it also addresses other
sources of storm water pollution associated with the active phase of construction.
Approximately 568 permitted sites throughout Lucas (328), Ottawa (26), Wood (179),
and Fulton (35) Counties are currently (October 2001) covered by this permit. Since
1994, over 2200 inspections have been performed by Ohio EPA Staff throughout the
Northwest District. Toledo’s MS4 NPDES permit required the City to adopt sediment
control criteria for sites that are 1- 5 acres (within 24 mos.), and cooperate with Ohio
Activities and Accomplishments
in the Maumee Area of Concern
144
Issue 4: Urban Runoff