FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A draft of the City of Springfield’s updated Stormwater Management Plan is available for public review and comment through 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22. The plan describes the City’s programs, practices and goals for addressing the water quality impacts of stormwater runoff over the next five years to comply with its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources which is delegated authority by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Interested residents are encouraged to visit springfieldmo.gov/MS4 to review the draft Stormwater Management Plan and provide comments.
Under the federal Clean Water Act, MS4 permits are issued to cities, counties and other public entities across the nation who operate a stormwater drainage system that collects and manages stormwater runoff and discharges it to streams, lakes and other water bodies. The City was first issued an MS4 permit in 2002 and has implemented a variety of programs and initiatives to address stormwater quality since that time.
The Stormwater Management Plan update is part of the application process for renewal of the City’s 5-year MS4 permit. The plan describes the City’s approach for reducing pollutants in stormwater runoff through the following measures:
- Public education and outreach
- Public involvement and participation
- Illicit discharge detection and elimination
- Construction site stormwater runoff control
- Post-construction stormwater management for new development and redevelopment
- Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations
- Industrial and high-risk runoff control
- Flood control projects
- Water quality monitoring
Many of the programs included are well-established and do not represent major changes from the previous five years. In some program areas, new goals have been included based on identified needs and priorities. The plan also incorporates information and goals related to the nationally-recognized Springfield-Greene County Integrated Plan for the Environment.
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For more information, contact Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].