Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/01/2003

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The City must identify best management practices (BMPs) and measurable goals associated with each minimum control measure noted above. The City will be given_ five-years to develop an effective program after the permit is issued. This period of time coincides with the phased development of the Ramsey Town Center site, which must then include the provisions of the City SWPPP. The City will assure that the provisions of its Program are properly implemented within the Center as development proceeds. Construction within the City of Ramsey is also subject to the provisions of the NPDES Phase II General Storm Water Permit for Construction Activity. This provision is in addition to the construction control measure required under the MS4 permit. Revisions to the current permit will be implemented by the State in September 2003. Under the proposed State Construction permit, any construction meeting the following criteria will be expected to obtain a permit from the MPCA: · Any construction activity that results in the disturbance of'one acre or more; · Any construction activity less than one acre, but part of a "larger common plan for development or sale" that is larger than one acre (This would apply to any sub-area construction on the Ramsey Town Center site that is less than one acre' because the overall site meets the above criteria.); and · Any construction activities that MPCA determines will potentially contribute to a violation of a water quality standard or for significant contribution of pollutants to a water resource. Clearly, any construction on the Ramsey Town Center of any size will be subject to the provision of the Phase II construction permit, especially since the City's MS4 permit requires it to implement control measures addressing construction site runoff control. The SWPPP required for the general construction activity Permit must address the potential for discharge of sediment and/or other potential pollutants from the site, and must include the following elements: · Temporary erosion prevention and sediment control BMPs; · Permanent erosion prevention and sediment control BMPs; · A permanent storm water management system; and · Pollution prevention management measures. These elements must be incorporated into the final plans and specifications before applying for permit coverage. Special provisions are made within the General Permit language for discharges to Outstanding Resource Value Waters (ORVW), which includes the Mississippi River through the City of Ramsey, discharges to wetlands and discharges to scenic or recreational river segments, which include the Ramsey reach of the Mississippi River. Within these areas, additional protective BMPs are required. Since the ultimate discharge from Ramsey Town Center is the Mississippi River, these provisions will apply to the construction permits issued for the site. The Item 17 assessment of discharge found that discharge of any storm water from the Town Center downstream to the River will occur under wet conditions. The only feasible and economic alternative for surface water discharge from the site is to the River. Every effort will be made to retain and, if possible, infiltrate normal events on the Town Center 48 D- 14 -