GASTON_COMPLETE FILE - HISTORICAL_20050728

-STORMWATER DIVISION CODING SHEET
Municipalities NOT MS4
PERMIT NO.
NCS0000_—Tilt
DOC TYPE
❑ COMPLETE FILE - HISTORICAL
MOST RECENT
DATE-
❑ ���
YYYYMMDD

(� \ IJ Ark
9QG
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr„ Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
`O��
�
Alan W. Klimek, P, E. Director
J
Division of Water Quality
0
Coleen 11. Sullins, Deputy Director
Division of Water Quality
July 28, 2005
David R. Freeman
Gaston County, Natural Resources Engineer
1303 Cheryville Highway
Dallas, North Carolina 28034
Re: County Phase 11 Stormwater Permit Applications
Dear Mr. Freeman:
This letter is to inform your agency how the Phase II stormwater regulations apply to a
County and to inform you of the status of the County Phase II Stormwater Permit Applications.
The Division of Water Quality received a number of comments during public comment
period for the Phase 11 Draft Permit posted in December, 2004. Based on those comments, and
several subsequent meetings, it is apparent that a number of counties are not clear as to how to apply
the Phase II regulations to their activities and operations. With that in mind, .DWQ is re-evaluating
the applications submitted to determine if the applications submitted address specific issues that came
out during the comment period and subsequent meetings that Counties may have overlooked in their
original application.
1. Several counties may have excluded County owned and operated municipal separate storm
sewer systems (MS4) within the incorporated areas within Urbanized Area (UA). Several
counties may only have included the MS4 in the unincorporated areas of the county within
the UA.
2. Several counties may only have included the MS4 that have direct discharges. Direct and
indirect stormwater discharges from County owned and operated MS4 may be subject to
Phase 11. Sheet flow and or stormwater that either dissipates or infiltrates and/or evaporates
without being directly or indirectly discharged to receiving waters are not subject to Phase 11.
3. Several counties may have excluded the MS4 where the County relies in whole or in part on
another entity for implementation of their SWMP.
4. Several counties may have excluded non-standard MS4s. Non-standard MS4's include, but
are not limited to, County airports, public schools and universities, prisons, hospitals, and
County owned or operated industrial activities. In some instances the County may own or
operate non-standard MS4s or desire co -permit with the non-standard MS4 that are not
owned or operated by the County.
one
NP Ct
Nato,
Wetlands and Stormwater Branch 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699.1617 Phone [phone]
Internet: h2o.emstate.ne.us 512 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh, NC 27604 FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer — 50% Recycled110% Posi Consumer Paper

5. Several counties may have excluded Coun owned and operated MS4 within the UA that
discharge to a_permitted MS4 (i.e., NCDOT and a municipality owned or operated MS4).
Multiple buildings with an MS4 that connects to another permitted Phase I or Phase II MS4 may
be subject to Phase II, depending on the activities, potential exposure, the degree of regulation at
the site, the system of conveyance and/or the stormwater runoff impact.
Stormwater runoff can have a number of impacts. As development and imperviousness increase
in an area, the natural capacity of the soil and vegetation to infiltrate and take up rainfall decreases, and
more rainfall becomes stormwater runoff. This can produce negative impacts by causing erosion of land
areas and stream banks and causing or increasing flooding. As North Carolina grows, development
increases. When more houses, roads and businesses are constructed, water has nowhere to go and can
cause serious drainage, pollutant, and sanitation problems. In addition to the increased volume,
stormwater carries pollutants to surface waters from activities that may include parking lots where county
vehicles are parked for extended periods. County vehicles may even be fueled or serviced in county
owned parking lots. Recycling facilities, if improperly maintained may carry pollutants to surface waters..
County facilities may host a variety of activities or events throughout the year, ranging from dog shows
and concerts to providing relief to hurricane victims. The general public often use county owned property
to exercise their pets or enjoy a get together with family and friends. All of these activities have a
potential impact on stormwater runoff. Unfortunately not everyone is currently aware that the decisions .
they make can have an impact on Stormwater pollution. Some people assume that stormwater runoff that
enters a storm sewer system is being routed to some type of treatment process before entering our surface
waters. Inmost cases there is no pre-treatment of stormwater. Storm sewer systems are often designed
simply to capture the stormwater and convey it to the nearest surface water.
Finally, under Section 8 of Session Law 2004-163, even if the site is not within the UA, a petition
may be submitted to request that an owner or operator of a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4)
or a person who discharges stormwater be required to obtain a Phase II National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit for stormwater management. The County should implement water
quality protection programs and/or measures adequate to address stormwater impacts on sensitive
receiving waters and to insure compliance with a TMDL implementation.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the attached draft document, "County
Implementation of the Phase II Stormwater Program." don't hesitate to contact me at [phone],
ext. 545. I hope to discuss the draft document at the Stormwater Implementation Group Meeting, on
August 17, 2005.
Sincerely,
Mike Randall
Environmental Engineer
cc:Z DWQ-Regional- Office