United States
           Environmental Protection
           Agency	
Office of Water
4303T
EPA 821-F-11-001
March 2011
           Fact Sheet
           Stormwater Rulemaking to Strengthen National
           Stormwater Regulations
Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated a rulemaking to better
protect waterbodies from the harmful effects from Stormwater discharges.
Background on Stormwater

Stormwater discharges from developed
sites, such as subdivisions and
commercial shopping centers, can
significantly alter the hydrology of a site
and can have a negative impact on
receiving waterbodies.

Generally, as sites are developed, there
is an increase in impervious areas
where water cannot infiltrate into the
ground,  leading to increases in
Stormwater runoff volume. This
additional Stormwater volume, as well as
the introduction of pollutants such as
fertilizers, sediments and deposition of
vehicle emissions contributes to
increased Stormwater impacts. Many of
these developed areas are outside of
currently regulated areas and are
contributing to waterbody impairment.

Stormwater impacts can be reduced by
implementation of practices that retain
Stormwater on-site through infiltration,
evapotranspiration, or capture and use.
EPA is considering how to strengthen
the Stormwater regulations, including
expanding the universe of regulated
municipal separate storm sewer
       systems, regulating discharges from
       development sites, and establishing
       specific post construction requirements
       for Stormwater discharges from new
       development and redevelopment, both
       inside and outside the MS4 boundary,
       that may be contributing to waterbody
       impairments.

       Proposed Regulatory Considerations

       1. Expand the discharges subject to
         federal Stormwater regulations.
       2. Establish specific requirements to
         control Stormwater discharges from
         new development and
         redevelopment.
       3.Require some MS4s to address
         Stormwater discharges in areas of
         existing development through
         retrofitting Stormwater control
         measures.
       5. Explore specific Stormwater
         provisions for the Chesapeake Bay
         Watershed.
For further information, please write to:

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Ms. Holly Galavotti
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water (4203M)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
e-mail: galavotti.holly(S)epa.gov

Ms. Rachel Herbert
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water (4203M)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
e-mail: herbert.rachel@epa.gov

You can view or download the complete text of the Federal Register notice describing
the rulemaking considerations on the Internet at:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking.

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