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Public Hearing Notice: Proposed New Stormwater Regulations, 314 CMR 21.00
:: PLEASE TAKE NOTE ::
Public Notice of Extension of Comment Period
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) gives notice of its extension of the public comment period for its proposed Stormwater Management Regulations 314 CMR 21.00, and the Draft Regulated Impervious Area General Permit with accompanying Fact Sheet. MassDEP takes this action pursuant to the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, M.G.L. c.21, sec.26 through 53.
The proposed regulations and draft general permit are available on the Department’s website: http://www.mass.gov/dep. Public notice of hearings and the initial comment period on the proposed regulations and draft general permit, which was to close on February 9, 2009, was published in the Boston Herald, the New Bedford Standard Times, the Worcester Telegram, and the Springfield Republican on December 18, 2008, the Massachusetts Register of December, 26, 2008, the Central Register of December 24, 2008 and the Environmental Monitor of December 24, 2008 and January 7, 2009. The Department now extends the comment period and will accept written comments on the proposed regulations and general permit until 5:00 p.m. on March 11, 2009. Written comments shall be submitted by regular mail at the following address:
Mass Department of Environmental Protection
One Winter Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02108
attn. Glenn Haas
Written comments may also be submitted by email at DEP.Waterpermitting@state.ma.us.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) gives notice that it is proposing new stormwater regulations for inclusion in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations at 314 CMR 21.00. Entitled the "Stormwater Management Regulations," the proposed regulations would establish a statewide general permit program aimed at controlling the discharge of stormwater runoff from certain privately-owned sites containing large impervious surfaces. MassDEP takes this action pursuant to its authority under the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, M.G.L. c. 21, sections 27 and 43 and M.G.L. c. 111, section 160.
The proposed regulations would require private owners of land containing five or more acres of impervious surfaces to:
- apply for and obtain coverage under a general permit;
- implement nonstructural best management practices (BMPs) for managing stormwater;
- install low impact development (LID) techniques and structural stormwater BMPs at sites undergoing development or redevelopment; and
- submit annual compliance certifications to the Department.
Where the Department has determined that stormwater runoff is causing or contributing to violations of the Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards, the proposed regulations would allow MassDEP to impose the same requirements on certain private owners of land with less than five acres of impervious surfaces and require the owners of such land to design and implement the LID techniques and stormwater BMPs needed to address these violations. The proposed regulations would also incorporate the provisions of 314 CMR 3.00 and 314 CMR 5.00 pertaining to stormwater. The proposed regulations are available at the DEP website at http://www.mass.gov/dep/.
Pursuant to M.G.L.c. 21, sections 26 through 53 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, MassDEP has tentatively determined to issue, and has prepared, a draft Regulated Impervious Area General Stormwater Permit. The draft general permit is intended to regulate stormwater discharges from sites with large impervious surfaces. A copy of this permit and the accompanying fact sheet are also on the MassDEP website.
MassDEP will hold public hearings on the proposed regulations and draft general permit as follows:
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
2:00.- 4:00 p.m.
Plymouth Public Library
132 South Street
Plymouth, MA
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Mass DEP Northeast Regional Office
205B Lowell Street
Wilmington, MA
Thursday, January 22, 2009
2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Mass DEP Central Regional Office
627 Main Street
Worcester, MA
Friday, January 23, 2009
9:00 a.m.-11:00.a.m.
MassDEP Boston Office
One Winter Street
Boston, MA
Questions on the hearings should be directed to the Bureau of Resource Protection by calling 617-292-5599.
For special accommodations or this information in alternative format, call Donald Gomes, ADA Coordinator, 617-556-1057, TDD 1-866-539-7622 or 617-574-6868.
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