5.5. SR 02-24-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MEMORANDUM Item # 5.5. TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor and City Council Rebecca Haug, Environmental Technician February 19, 2003 NPDES Phase II The City of Elk River is required to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit by March 10, 2003. This permit will require the City to develop and implement programs and practices to control impacted storm water runoff. Many of the programs and practices are currently being done, however some of them will require some tweaking. This program will also require annual reporting. The City is investigating some computer software to help implement this program and make the annual reporting easier. Since construction activities that disturb one or more acres of land must apply for and obtain a NPDES permit, the City might consider charging to recover some of the costs that will be incurred by this program. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 0VIPCA) has set up a proposed fee schedule. This program is part of an amended Clean Water Act, which required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop regulations for storm water discharges. The EPA's storm water regulations and Minnesota's storm water program are designed to protect the quality of surface waters by preventing or reducing soil erosion and other pollutants from leaving construction sites both during and after construction. Since November 1990 when the MPCA was delegated authority by the EPA to administer the NPDES program, applicants in the Phase I program received NPDES authorization by applying to the MPCA. Phase I required that construction activities that disturb five or more acres of land apply for and obtain a NPDES and large municipalities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) were required to obtain a NPDES permit.