United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4203)
EPA833-F-99-010
April 1999
Fact Sheet 2.8
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
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping
Minimum Control Measure
This fact sheet is basedon 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 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal
Operations minimum control measure, one of six measures the 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 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Necessary?
The Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for municipal operations minimum control measure
is a key element of the proposed regulated small MS4 storm water management program. This
measure would require that the small MS4 owner or operator examine and subsequently alter their
own actions to help ensure a reduction in the amount and type of pollution that (1) collects on streets,
parking lots, open spaces, and storage and vehicle maintenance areas and is discharged into local
waterways; and (2) results from actions such as environmentally damaging land development and
flood management practices or poor maintenance of storm sewer systems.
While this measure is meant primarily to accomplish the goal of improving or protecting the quality of
receiving waters by altering the performance of municipal or facility operations, it also can result in a
cost savings for the small MS4 owner or operator, since proper and timely maintenance of storm
sewer systems can help avoid repair costs from damage caused by age and neglect.
What Is EPA Proposing?
R:
ecognizing the benefits of pollution prevention practices, the proposed rule would require an
iwner or operator of a regulated small MS4 to:
Develop and implement an operation and maintenance program with the ultimate goal of
preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from municipal operations into the storm sewer
system;
Include employee training on how to incorporate pollution prevention/good housekeeping
techniques into municipal operations such as maintenance of parks and open spaces, fleets,
buildings, and storm water systems, as well as land development planning. To minimize
duplication of effort and conserve resources, the MS4 owner or operator could use training
materials that are available from EPA, their State or Tribe, or relevant organizations;
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.
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Fact Sheet 2.8 - Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Minimum Control Measure
Page 2
What Are Some Guidelines for Developing and
Implementing This Measure?
The intent of this control measure is to ensure that existing
municipal or facility operations are performed in the most
appropriate way as to minimize contamination of storm water
discharges.
EPA encourages the small MS4 owner/operator to consider the
following components when developing their program for this
measure:
Maintenance activities, maintenance schedules, and
long-term inspection procedures for structural and non-
structural controls to reduce floatables and other
pollutants discharged from the separate storm sewers;
Controls for reducing or eliminating the discharge of
pollutants from areas such as roads and parking lots,
maintenance and storage yards (including salt/sand
storage and snow disposal areas), and waste transfer
stations. These controls should include programs that
promote recycling (to reduce litter), minimize pesticide
use, and ensure the proper disposal of animal waste;
Procedures for the proper disposal of waste removed
from the separate storm sewer systems and the areas
listed in the bullet above, including dredge spoil,
accumulated sediments, floatables, and other debris; and
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 Pollution prevention plan (the new BMPs and
revised procedures) completed; employee
training materials gathered or developed;
procedures in place for catch basin cleaning
after each storm and regular street sweeping
2 years Training for appropriate employees completed;
recycling program fully implemented
3 years Some pollution prevention BMPs incorporated
into master plan; a certain percentage reduction
in pesticide and sand/salt use; maintenance
schedule for BMPs established
4 years A certain percentage reduction in floatables
discharged; a certain compliance rate with
maintenance schedules for BMPs; controls in
place for all municipal/facility areas of concern
• Ways to ensure that new flood management projects
assess the impacts on water quality and examine
existing projects for incorporation of additional water
quality protection devices or practices. EPA encourages
coordination with flood control managers for the purpose
of identifying and addressing environmental impacts
from such projects.
The effective performance of this control measure hinges on the
proper maintenance of the BMPs used, particularly for the first
two bullets above. For example, structural controls, such as
grates on outfalls to capture floatables necessitate that the outfalls
be cleaned out regularly, while non-structural controls, such as
training materials and recycling programs, need to be updated
periodically.
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. EP A 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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