The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has passed a set of regulations to improve water quality by reducing non-point source pollution carried in urban stormwater. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II regulations apply not only to local political subdivisions of the state, but also hospitals, prisons, military bases, and educational organizations within classified urban boundaries.
The Phase II permit for Cuyahoga County became effective on December 27, 2002. The Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners adopted its Stormwater Management Plan on March 5, 2003. The County's permit is specific to Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds (164 Eastland Road, Berea, OH 44017) and the Cuyahoga County Sanitary Engineering Division Facility (6100 West Canal Road, Valley View, OH 44125). The USEPA calls for permit applications to include a plan that addresses the six minimum pollution control measures listed below:
- Public education and outreach: Develop educational programs to inform the public about the impacts of stormwater discharges on local water bodies.
- Public involvement: Create opportunities for public participation in stormwater program development and implementation. Examples could include citizen representatives on stormwater boards, holding public hearings, and creating volunteer opportunities.
- Illicit discharge detection and elimination: Design methods to examine stormwater systems for illicit connections and discharges. USEPA will require maps of stormwater sewer systems, ordinances prohibiting illicit discharges, a detection plan, and an educational component to inform the public of the hazards associated with illicit discharges.
- Construction site runoff control: Develop programs to improve and manage runoff from construction sites of 1 acre or greater.
- Post-construction storm water management in new development and redevelopment: Design strategies to improve and manage runoff from new developments. Specifically, permitees will create mechanisms to implement structural and vegetative Best Management Practices (BMPs), develop ordinances addressing post-construction runoff, address the maintenance of installed BMPs, and account for water quality in post-construction runoff.
- Pollution prevention and good housekeeping of municipal operations: Permit holders will develop and implement a program, including training, with the goal of preventing or reducing stormwater.
Cuyahoga County Storm Water Information
Storm Water Management Program Annual Report
Storm Water Compliance Plan Phase II
Cuyahoga County Engineer's Office Storm Water Program
The links below point to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Northeast Ohio Area-wide Coordinating Agency websites. These websites contain fact sheets, stormwater outreach materials, and forms pertaining to the Stormwater Phase II program.
EPA Storm Water Phase II
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a year-long series of monthly events, each focusing on a different aspect of the Act. April 2003 has been designated as Stormwater Month. The EPA has also provided extensive storm water outreach materials and reference documents.
Northeast Ohio Area-wide Coordinating Agency
The NOACA Governing Board adopted the NOACA Model Approach to the development of Phase II Storm Water Management Plans on January 10, 2003. The NOACA Regional Storm Water Task Force drafted the Model Plan which can be viewed at the NOACA Regional Storm Water Update.
Ohio EPA Storm Water Program
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Storm Water Program