HomeMy WebLinkAboutState of Hawaii, Department of Health, Clean Water Branch - Protecting State Waters The NPDES MS4 ProgramWhat is a MS4?
Discharges to State surface waters (e.g. ocean, stream, gulches, and wetlands).
MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System.
Any structure designed or used to collect or convey stormwater
(e.g drain inlets, catch basins, pipes, gutters, channels, ditches, road side swales, and culverts).
Owned by federal, state, county, or any public entity. Includes State Department of Transportation, universities, and military bases.
Why Stormwater Matters:
When it rains, stormwater picks up debris, chemicals, sediment, and other
pollutants.
Stormwater flows into MS4s, where it is discharged untreated into streams and
coastal waters.
Pollutants in streams and coastal waters affect water quality. They destroy
aquatic habitats; cloud the water; cause algal blooms; contribute bacteria and
other pathogens; and deposit debris, solvents, motor oil, pesticides, and other
hazardous substances.
Urban impervious surfaces speed up and direct the flow of stormwater into
the MS4, which prevents it from being absorbed and filtered by the ground.
MS4 Regulation (cont’d.)
Phase 1 (issued in 1990).
Required large MS4s servicing populations of 100,000 or more to obtain NPDES permit coverage for their stormwater discharges.
Two large MS4s in Hawaii –City and County of Honolulu and State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Division, Oahu District.
Phase 2 (issued in 1999)
Required small MS4s in urbanized areas as defined by the latest decennial census to obtain NPDES permit coverage.
Universe of regulated small MS4 programs will expand every 10 years based on the decennial census definition of urbanized areas.
In December 2012 the U.S. Census Bureau completed maps of the 2010 urbanized areas.
Kahului and portions of Wailuku, Maui were designated as urbanized areas.
MS4 Regulation (contd.)
Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) administers the NPDES permit program in Hawaii.
Two types of NPDES permits in Hawaii:
NPDES general permit
NPDES permit issued in the Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR).
One permit issued in the rules for a specific discharge and meant to cover many people.
All conditions and requirements are set. Anyone that can comply with all of the conditions and requirements can request coverage.
12 NPDES general permits in Hawaii.
HAR, Chapter 11-55, Appendix K is the Small MS4 NPDES general permit.
NPDES individual permit.
Customized NPDES permit issued to a discharger authorizing the discharge of specific pollutants to specific locations.
Covers point source discharges that cannot be covered under an NPDES general permit.
Hawaii’s MS4 NPDES Permittees
City and County of Honolulu (Police Stations; Fire Stations; Bus Facilities; Baseyards; Refuse Transfer Stations, Collection Yards, and Convenience Centers; Landfills; and WWTPs).
Dept. of Transportation (highways, Honolulu Harbor, Kalaeloa Harbor, Honolulu International Airport, Kahului Airport).
Dept. of the Navy (JBPHH, PHNSY).
Hawaii Army National Guard.
Hawaii Community Development Authority (Kewalo Basin, KakaakoCommunity Development District).
U.S. Air Force (Kaena Point Station).
U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii.
Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (Villages of Kapolei).
Dept. of Education (Oahu Schools).
Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (Harbors).
Dept. of Agriculture.
University of Hawaii (ManoaCampus, Leeward CC, Windward CC, Honolulu CC, Kapiolani CC, Maui College, Pearl City Garden Center, John Burns School of Medicine, West Oahu Campus).
County of Maui (Kahului/Wailuku).
Dept. of Health (State Hospital).
MS4 Minimum Program Elements
Also known as Minimum Control Measures
Pollution
Prevention/Good
Housekeeping
Public Outreach/
Education
Public
Involvement/
Participation
Post Construction
Runoff Control
Storm Water
Management
Plan
Construction Site
Runoff Control
Illicit Discharge
Elimination (IDDE)
Potential Changes to Hawaii’s Small
MS4 NPDES General Permit
Current Small MS4 NPDES General Permit expires in December 2016.
DOH-CWB is currently working on revisions.
Revisions will affect all MS4s covered under this general permit.
DOH-CWB is following EPA’s lead in attempting to harmonize Phase 1 and 2 MS4 permit requirements to create a seamless MS4 permit program.
Proposed small MS4 general permit will continue to be structured around the six minimum measures of the Phase 2 regulations, but will contain more detailed requirements similar to the CCH and DOT-HWYS MS4 permits.
The goal is to enhance clarity and enforceability of small MS4 permits.
DOH-CWB Contact Information
Department of Health
Clean Water Branch
919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 301
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Telephone: (808) 586-4309
Email: cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov
Website: http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/
Public document viewer:
http://eha-web.doh.hawaii.gov/wpc-viewer/