United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4203)
EPA 833-F-99-005
April 1999
Fact Sheet 2.3
vvEPA
Storm Water Phase II
Proposed Rule
Fact Sheet Series
Overview
1.0-Storm Water Phase II
Proposed Rule Overview
Small MS4 Program
2.0 - Small MS4 Storm Water
Program Overview
2.1 - Who's Covered? Designation
and Waivers of Regulated Small
MS4s
2.2 - Urbanized Areas: Definition
and Description
Minimum Control Measures
2.3 - Public Education and
Outreach Minimum Control
Measure
2.4 - Public Participation/
Involvement Minimum Control
Measure
2.5 - Illicit Discharge Detection and
Elimination Minimum Control
Measure
2.6 - Construction Site Runoff
Control Minimum Control Measure
2.7 - Post-Construction Runoff
Control Minimum Control Measure
2.8 - Pollution Prevention/Good
Housekeeping Minimum Control
Measure
2.9 - Permitting and Reporting:
The Process and Requirements
2.10 - Federal and State-Owned
MS4s: Program Implementation
Construction Program
3.0 - Construction Program
Overview
Industrial "No Exposure"
4.0 - Conditional No Exposure
Exemption for Industrial Activity
Storm Water Phase II
Proposed Rule
Public Education and Outreach
Minimum Control Measure
This fact sheet is based on the Storm Water Phase II Proposed Rule. Therefore, the information provided herein is subject to
change upon publication of the final Phase II rule in November 1999. A revised series of fact sheets will be provided at that
time. A comprehensive list of the current fact sheets is in the text box at left.
This fact sheet profiles the proposed Public Education and Outreach minimum control measure, one
of six measures an owner or operator of a Phase II-regulated small municipal separate storm sewer
system (MS4) would be required to include in its storm water management program to meet the
conditions of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This fact sheet
outlines the Phase II Proposed Rule requirements and offers some general guidance on how to satisfy
them. It is important to keep in mind that the small MS4 owner or operator would have a great deal of
flexibility in choosing exactly how to satisfy the minimum control measure requirements.
Why Is Public Education and Outreach Necessary?
H
aving an informed and knowledgeable community is crucial to the success of a storm water
management problem since it helps to ensure the following:
• Greater support for the storm water management program as the public gains a greater
understanding of the reasons why the program is necessary and important. Public support is
particularly beneficial when owners/operators of small MS4s attempt to institute new funding
initiatives for the program or seek volunteers to help implement the program; and
• Greater compliance with the storm water management program as the public becomes aware
of the personal responsibilities expected of them and others in the community, including the
individual actions they can take to protect or improve the quality of area waters.
What Is EPA Proposing?
Under the proposed rule, to satisfy this minimum control measure, the owner or operator of a
regulated small MS4 would need to:
Q Develop and implement a public education and outreach program to distribute educational
materials to the community, or conduct equivalent outreach activities, about the detrimental
effects of storm water discharges on local waterbodies and the steps that can be taken to
reduce storm water pollution; and
Q Determine the appropriate best management practices (BMPs) and measurable goals for this
minimum control measure. Some program implementation approaches, BMPs (i.e., the
program actions/activities), and measurable goals are suggested below.
What Are Some Guidelines for Developing and Implementing This Measure?
T
I here are three main action areas that are important when implementing a successful public
education and outreach program:
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Fact Sheet 2.3 - Public Education and Outreach Minimum Control Measure
Page 2
O Forming Partnerships
Owners or operators of regulated small MS4s would be
encouraged to enter into partnerships with other governmental
entities to fulfill this minimum control measure's requirements. It
is generally more cost-effective to use an existing program, or to
develop a new regional or state-wide education program, than to
have numerous owners/operators developing their own local
programs. Owners/operators would be encouraged to also look to
non-governmental organizations (e.g., environmental, civic, and
industrial organizations) for assistance, since many already have
educational materials and perform outreach activities.
© Using Educational Materials and Strategies
Owners or operators of regulated small MS4s could use storm
water educational information provided by their State, Tribe, EPA
Region, or environmental, public interest, or trade organizations
instead of developing their own materials. Owners/operators
should strive to make their materials and activities relevant to
local situations and issues, and incorporate a variety of strategies
to ensure maximum coverage. Some examples include:
• Brochures or fact sheets for general public and specific
audiences;
• Recreational guides to educate groups such as golfers,
hikers, paddlers, climbers, fishermen, and campers;
• Alternative information sources, such as web sites,
bumper stickers, refrigerator magnets, posters for bus and
subway stops, and restaurant placemats;
• A library of educational materials for community and
school groups;
• Volunteer citizen educators to staff & public education
task force;
• Speaking engagements for community groups;
• Event participation with educational displays at home
shows and community festivals;
• Educational programs for school-age children;
• Storm drain stenciling of storm drains with messages
such as "Do Not Dump - Drains Directly to Lake;"
• Storm water hotlines for information and for citizen
reporting of polluters;
• Economic incentives to citizens and businesses
(e.g., rebates to homeowners purchasing mulching
lawnmowers or biodegradable lawn products);
• Tributary signage to increase public awareness of local
water resources; and
• Watershed and beach cleanups involving students and
community groups.
© Reaching Diverse Audiences
The public education program should use a mix of appropriate
local strategies to inform a variety of audiences and communities,
including minority and disadvantaged communities, as well as
children. Printing posters and brochures in more than one
language or posting large warning signs (e.g., cautioning against
fishing or swimming) near storm sewer outfalls would help to
reach audiences that are less likely to read standard materials.
Some materials or outreach programs should also be directed
toward specific groups of commercial, industrial, and institutional
entities likely to have significant storm water impacts. For
example, information should be provided to restaurants on the
effects of grease clogging storm drains and to auto garages on the
effects of dumping used oil into storm drains.
What Would Be Appropriate Measurable Goals?
Measurable goals, which would be required for each minimum
control measure, are meant to help gauge permit compliance
and program effectiveness. The measurable goals, as well as the
BMPs, would greatly depend on the needs and characteristics of
the owner/operator and the area served by its small MS4. The
measurable goals should be chosen using an integrated approach
that would fully address the requirements and intent of the
minimum control measure. An integrated approach for this
minimum measure could include the following measurable goals:
Target Date Activity
1 year Brochures developed (bilingual, if appropriate)
and distributed in water utility bills; a storm water
hotline in place; volunteer educators trained.
2 years A web site created; school curricula developed;
every storm drain stenciled.
3 years A certain percentage of restaurants certifying to no
longer dumping grease and other pollutants down
storm sewer drains.
4 years A certain percentage reduction in litter or animal
waste detected in discharges.
For Additional Information
Contact
ISP U.S. EPA Office of Wastewater Management
• Phone : 202 260-5816
E-mail: SW2@epa.gov
• Internet: www.epa.gov/owm/sw2.htm
Reference Documents
ISP Storm Water Phase II Proposed Rule Fact Sheet
Series.
Contact the U.S. EPA Water Resource Center at
202 260-7786 or at waterpubs@epa.gov
• Internet: www.epa.gov/owm/sw2.htm
"^ Storm Water Phase II Proposed Rule, published on
Jan. 9, 1998 in the Federal Register (63 FR 1536).
Internet: www.epa.gov/owm/sw2.htm
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