All projects located or proposed to be located in the Town of Old Orchard Beach with a disturbed area greater than or equal to one acre are subject to MS4 requirements
Brief Regulatory Background:
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) issued a general permit for the discharge of stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to waters of the state. The permit authorizes the direct discharge of stormwater from or associated with a regulated small MS4 to an MS4 or waters of the State other than groundwater. The permit renews every five years. As of February 2019, regulated MS4s in Maine are working under an administratively continued permit, issued in 2013. The anticipated effective date of the next permit is July 1, 2020, which would expire in 2025.
What is the Town’s MS4?
An MS4 is a municipal separate storm sewer system. A conveyance or system of conveyances, including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels, or storm drains owned or operated by the Town.
What are some of the permit requirements?
The permit requires the Town comply with six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs):
- MCM 1: Public Education and Outreach on Stormwater Impacts
- MCM 2: Public Involvement and Participation
- MCM 3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- MCM 4: Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
- MCM5: Post-Construction Storwmater Management in New Development and Redevelopment
- MCM 6: Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
MCMs 4 & 5 are handled by the Planning Department as they pertain to construction projects.
MCMs 3 & 6 are handled by Public Works.
MCMs 1 &2 are handled through a contract with Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD).
Applications that are brought before the Planning Board are carefully reviewed for compliance with Town, State and Federal standards. Specific to stormwater, review will include:
- Review of proposed stormwater management techniques and controls, including proposed low impact development and/or options for incorporating LID techniques;
- Review of proposed Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans;
- Review of Long Term Operation and Maintenance Requirements in accordance with Chapter 71;
- The Planning Board and the Town’s third-party engineer will review the Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plan for the project. A sample of this plan is included below.
- Confirmation of submission and approval of state and federal permit requirements.
A Maintenance Agreement shall be signed and submitted prior to the start of construction for each project. This ensures any Best Management Practices (BMPs) installed at a project will be maintained throughout the life of the project.
Additionally, each year, an Annual Certification shall be submitted for each of the functioning BMPs on the site. Developers will receive a reminder letter in March and the certifications are due by June 30th. It is important that at project close-out, the Developer provide the Town with a contact for the functioning Homeowners Association that will take over this responsibility.
| Attachment | Size |
| Urbanized Area Map | 777.77 KB |
| Annual Certification | 89.03 KB |
| Maintenance Agreement | 80.9 KB |
| Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plan Guidance Document | 541 KB |