| Stormwater
The Federal Clean Water Act requires that
practical measures be taken to ensure that pollutants are not discharged
into Water of the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is the
permit program that authorizes discharges into the Waters of the United
States. Under the second phase of the NPDES, small municipal separate
storm sewer systems (MS4s) must obtain a permit for discharges.
Spring Grove filed its first Notice of
Intent (NOI) to comply with the statewide general permit conditions in
2003. The regulations require that the NOI address how the community
will meet the six minimum control measures within five years of the
initial NOI. The six measures are:
- Public Education and Outreach
- Public Participation/Involvement
- Illicit discharge Detection and
elimination
- Construction Site runoff Control
- Post-Construction Runoff Control
- Pollution Prevention/Good
Housekeeping
The NPDES Phase II regulations
authorize communities to take credit for work done by Qualified Local
Programs (QLP). In McHenry County, the McHenry County Planning &
Development Department serves as the QLP. McHenry County Stormwater
management Ordinance, which was adopted by Spring Grove, is the
regulatory document for development in the County. Compliance with the
ordinance ensures that water quality is maintained both during and after
construction of new developments. The Village takes credit for SMC
activities for all minimum control measures with the exception of the
Illicit Discharge programs and housekeeping activities.
Spring Grove's village engineer serves
on SMCs ad-hoc Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC consists of
municipal, township, drainage district, consulting, and county
representatives who come together to assist each other in developing
NOIs for each community. Communities benefit by incorporating ideas
discussed at MAC meetings into their NOI. In doing so, communities
ensure that their program is consistent with adjacent communities.
For more information on NPDES Phase
II, visit the following sites:
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