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: ------- 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. ------- |