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Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) Program
Introduction
Discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) are regulated under the Virginia Stormwater Management Act, the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permit regulations, and the Clean Water Act as point source discharges.
MS4 regulations were developed and implemented in two phases. Implementation of the first phase began in the early 1990s and required that operators of MS4s serving populations of greater than 100,000 people (per the 1990 decennial census) apply for and obtain a permit to discharge stormwater from their outfalls. The second phase of MS4 regulations became effective March 23, 2003, and required that operators of small MS4s in "urbanized areas" (as defined by the latest decennial census) obtain a permit to discharge stormwater from their outfalls.
Stormwater discharges from Phase II (small) MS4s are regulated under the General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. The permit for the MS4 operated by the City of Fredericksburg was approved for coverage under the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) on December 9, 2002 (General Permit No. VAR040058). This Permit requires the City of Fredericksburg to develop and implement a Stormwater Management (SWM) Program designed to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP) utilizing Best Management Practices to protect water quality, and to satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act and the State Water Control Law.
As required by the Special Condition for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL contained in the MS4 General Permit, the City of Fredericksburg provides the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan. The TMDL Action Plan identifies the City’s commitment to address the discharge of pollutants from New Sources as identified in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL and to meet the MS4 permit mandated pollutant reductions from Existing Sources.
A copy of the City of Fredericksburg’s Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan may be downloaded in .pdf format:
City of Fredericksburg Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan Phase 2 (PDF) [current 2019-23 permit cycle]
City of Fredericksburg Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan (PDF) [previous 2014-19 permit cycle]
For information or questions please contact Scott Rae.