On November 21, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a new geospatial information system (GIS) mapping website to help local governments and other entities pursuing permits for municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) to obtain information for their permit applications more easily. Municipalities in urbanized areas must obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage or a waiver for stormwater discharges from their MS4s. Small MS4s are required to develop and implement DEP-specified pollution reduction plans for most discharges to streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds that have been identified as impaired by DEP.
The MS4 requirements GIS website gives municipalities an interactive map that visually integrates urbanized areas, waterways, and pollutant reduction responsibilities that municipalities may need to address. Click here to view a sample image of the interactive georeferenced map.
The website supplements the MS4 Requirements Table of the specific requirements for the MS4 application.
