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Updated Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) <br />City of Ramsey, Minnesota <br />BWSR. Update of the City's SWMP was delayed to incorporate the requirements <br />associated with the reissuance of the MS4 permit in 2013. <br />G. NPDES Requirements <br />In 1987, the US Congress amended the Clean Water Act to include storm water pollution <br />and directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate rulemaking. The <br />first round of EPA rules were implemented in 1991 when NPDES Phase I permits were <br />required for all cities exceeding 100,000 in population. Phase II was implemented in <br />2003 and targeted all cities with populations exceeding 10,000. The Minnesota Pollution <br />Control Agency (MPCA) assumed responsibility for implementing the rules and issuing <br />all Phase II permits. The City of Ramsey was required to submit a permit for its <br />Municipally Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) in March of 2003. The permit was <br />reissued in 2006 and 2013. The permit required the City of Ramsey to meet six minimum <br />storm water control measures as follows: <br />1. Public education and outreach <br />2. Public participation and involvement <br />3. Detection and elimination of illegal discharges <br />4. Control of large construction sites runoff <br />5. Post construction storm water management <br />6. Pollution prevention or housekeeping for municipal operations <br />To show that the City of Ramsey is committed to implementing its Phase II permit, it was <br />required to submit a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP), which is <br />essentially a list of promised steps the City proposes to make to meet these minimum <br />control measures. The promises are in the form of Best Management Practices (BMPs) <br />to be implemented at specified times over the life of the permit. <br />In general, the NPDES storm water discharge permit program is designed to reduce <br />adverse impacts to water quality. The primary targets of acceptable storm water <br />management plans are urban runoff and construction runoff. This is because urban runoff <br />carries pollutants from cars, lawn fertilizers, pesticide spills and other contaminants into <br />our lakes, wetlands and streams without entering wastewater treatment systems. <br />Construction runoff is often laden with sediment caused by large amounts of un - <br />vegetated soil that is loosened by excavation and grading. <br />The MPCA mandates are intended to regulate these sources of continued environmental <br />degradation. To comply with the NPDES permit requirements, the City's SWPPP was <br />drafted to establish measurable goals using the Best Management Practice (BMP) <br />approach and to be able to track performance and progress. <br />Erosion and sediment control measures must be included in the City-wide SWPPP. The <br />minimum standard is the General Permit Authorization to Discharge Storm Water <br />Associated With Construction Activity Under the National Pollutant Discharge <br />Elimination System/State Disposal System Permit Program Permit MN R040000 <br />(NPDES/SDS Permit) issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on <br />August 1, 2013, as amended. Some components of the NPDES/SDS Permit include: <br />1. If land disturbing activity is taking place on a site where the soils are currently <br />disturbed (e.g., a tilled agricultural site that is being developed), areas that will <br />Section III <br />February 20, 2015March 6, 2015 Page 11 <br />