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Become Part of the Pollution Solution

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.

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 are 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.

Review designation criteria (PDF from DEC web site; opens in a new window)
These criteria describe the basis for including additional municipal separate storm sewer systems with those automatically designated by EPA.

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 NYS SPDES Plase II 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)

Permit for MS4s in urbanized areas

This file is 139 kb and will take approximately 19 seconds to download on a 56k modem.

Permit for construction activities


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