Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit Compliance Assistance

When it rains, stormwater can become polluted as it flows over impervious surfaces such as buildings and parking lots. Permits are often required for stormwater discharges in developed areas because of their potential to cause downstream flooding and adversely impact waterways. For example, in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, many federal agencies have properties covered by stormwater permits—typically municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits, which may also include other pollution reduction requirements that require long-term planning and financial commitments. Properties with coverage under stormwater permits often need help managing their stormwater runoff and meeting the inspection, reporting, and outreach requirements of their permits.

Since 2010, ERG has helped federal agencies establish robust stormwater programs that comply with the requirements of their site-specific MS4 permits. ERG creates tracking mechanisms, develops standard operating procedures, assesses potential pollutant sources, creates maps, performs inspections, authors annual reports, and develops outreach and training products. We have created and presented numerous training courses that help federal staff better understand the MS4 permit requirements, stormwater regulations, and policies applicable to their properties and agency. We work with each client to assess potential hurdles and prioritize activities in an often-challenging financial climate with many competing site management priorities. For example, ERG performs GIS-based analysis of green infrastructure opportunities to assess the most cost-effective strategies to meet required pollutant reductions, often stemming from the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load.