Strong legislation is critical to creating a foundation for cleaning up our rivers, creeks and streams. In order to know whether polluted runoff is actually being reduced, communities need strong regulations and enforcement.
Regulations are the plans that detail how exactly our waterways will be cleaned. Effective regulations should include the following:
- Measurable goals for reducing water pollution
- Schedules and timelines for meeting water pollution reduction obligations
- Requirements for using scientifically proven methods for reducing runoff such as Environmental Site Design
- Real consequences so that regulations cannot be ignored simply as a price of doing business
“Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System “ or “MS4” permits are key to reducing polluted runoff.
Regulations that Address Existing Hard Surfaces
Federal clean water permits (called “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permits” or “MS4” permits) are key to reducing polluted runoff coming from roads, roofs and parking lots that lack methods to filter and control polluted runoff.
In Maryland, MS4 permits are issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment to our most densely populated counties and cities with the most hard surfaces. These permits specify in detail how the counties and cities must reduce their polluted runoff.
The Sierra Club has fought to make these permits stronger in Maryland. We have advocated for:
- Measurable goals to be included in the permit
- Enforceable timetables and benchmarks
- Rigorous monitoring
- Robust citizen participation
Regulations that Address Hardened Surfaces from New Development
To address the runoff generated from new development, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Stormwater Management Act of 2007 and then created regulations to implement the law.
The regulations require that all new development:
- includes practices that reduce polluted runoff
- must prevent runoff during construction, and
- use small-scale, green practices (Environmental Site Design) to treat and filter runoff.