The Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission has adopted a number of goals and policies that conform to the overall purpose specified in MN Statutes Sec. 103B.201. These goals and policies have been developed to preserve and use natural water storage and retention systems and address issues related to water quantity, water quality, recreation, fish and wildlife, enhancement of public participation, information and education, public ditch system management, groundwater management, shoreland management, wetland management, and soil erosion management.
The primary goals of the Commission are to:
1. Protect, preserve, and manage surface water resources.
2. Manage public expenditures needed to study and control and/or correct flooding and water quality problems.
3. Educate and inform the public on pertinent water resource management issues and increase public participation in water management activities.
4. Establish more uniform local policies and official controls for surface water management.
Specific policies relating to these issues are found in Section III of the Commission’s Watershed Management Plan. In developing the Plan, the Commission, with input from other agencies and citizen stakeholders, identified a number of water and water quantity concerns. They are listed in Section IV of the Plan.
When addressing potential and existing issues the Commission defers to member cities the responsibility of addressing the water resource management needs, concerns, and issues when the impact of the problem and source of the impact are wholly contained within a given community.
In cases where impacts or the source of impacts transcend municipal boundaries, or the community is found to not be in compliance with the Commission’s Management Plan, the Commission shall review such problems and coordinate with the appropriate local government(s) for resolution. It will be the responsibility of the member cities to implement a project that is acceptable to the Commission.
On Tuesday, May 31, 2011, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issued public notice for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) State Disposal System (SDS) General Permit (MNR040000) for discharges of stormwater associated with small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). The MPCA proposes to reissue NPDES/SDS General Permit No. MNR040000, with modifications. The MPCA is requesting comments on the draft permit. Comments should be submitted in writing in accordance with the provisions of the public notice.
The public notice also identifies that the MPCA intends to establish a special interest e-mail list for the purpose of providing notification to interested persons of the public notice dates for Stormwater Management Programs or SWMPs (formerly called Stormwater Pollution Prevention Programs or SWPPPs). Requests to be placed on this e-mail list should be submitted in accordance with the provisions of the public notice. NOTE: All MS4 permittees will automatically receive e-mail notification of all MS4 SWMP public notice dates.
As you know, the existing small MS4 General Permit expires on May 31, 2011. Permittees who applied for reissuance of the permit may continue to operate under the terms and conditions of the expired permit (Minn. R. 7001.0160). Permittees will need to comply with new requirements in the permit when the small MS4 General Permit is reissued, which the MPCA expects to occur by January 2012.
The public notice is available on the MPCA Public Notice Web site at:
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/iryp3c9
The public notice is also published in the May 31, 2011, State Register available at:
http://www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/stateregister/35_48.pdf
The draft permit, permit fact sheet, and supporting documents for the draft permit are available on the MPCA Municipal Stormwater Web site at:
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/aj0ra7a
To notify potentially affected or interested parties of this public comment period, notification is being sent via multiple e-mail distribution lists maintained by the MPCA, as well as over 600 individual mailings sent by U.S. mail. Though MPCA staff worked to reduce duplication in the mail lists; due to the size of these mailings, we apologize in advance should you receive more than one e-mail message or mailing regarding this notice.