Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program

Objectives

The purpose of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program is to maintain and enhance water quality in Jefferson County. The purpose is also to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare by preventing the introduction of harmful materials into the separate storm sewer system.

History

The MS4 permit program is the result of the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA), commonly referred to as the Water Quality Act of 1987. In these amendments, Congress mandated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) address non-point source pollution in stormwater runoff. In essence, EPA defined urban stormwater (previously considered a non-point source) as a point source because there was a physical location (or point) of discharge. In response to the Congressional action, EPA was required to develop a program to permit the discharge of the storm water from the MS4, from specific industrial activities that it considered to be significant sources of pollution, and from construction site runoff.

In January 1999, the first MS4 Permit for Louisville and Jefferson County expired. MSD submitted the MS4 Permit reapplication to the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) in September 1998 on behalf of nine Co-Permittees

• City of Anchorage
• City of Jeffersontown
• City of Prospect
• City of Shively
• City of St. Matthews
• City of Louisville
• Jefferson County
• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, District Five (KyTC)
• MSD

The Permit reapplication was approved by the KDOW in March 2000 and is effective from May 1, 2000 through April 30, 2004.

The KDOW issued the Permit for four years instead of the traditional five year period so that the Permit would coincide with the Kentucky Watershed Management Framework schedule. Watershed management activities for the Salt/Licking Basin Management Unit, which includes Louisville and Jefferson County, began in 1999. KPDES permits for the Salt/Licking Basin Management Unit are scheduled for reissuance in April 2004.

Program Elements

The MS4 Permit is classified into seven program elements:

• Illicit Discharge
• Construction Site Runoff Controls
• Post Construction Controls
• Good Housekeeping / Pollution Prevention
• Public Education / Outreach Programs
• Monitoring
• Reporting

The MS4 program elements are accomplished by both the co-permittees and MSD. Through interlocal agreements with the Cities of Anchorage, Jeffersontown, Prospect, Shively, St. Matthews and KyTC, MSD is responsible for the Illicit Discharge Program, Monitoring and Reporting program elements. The City of Louisville and Jefferson County have given MSD the authority to perform the Illicit Discharge, Monitoring and Reporting program elements. Each co-permittee, including MSD, is responsible for fulfilling the program elements of Construction Site Runoff Controls, Post Construction Controls, Good Housekeeping / Pollution Prevention, and Public Education / Outreach Programs.