In Massachusetts, regulations govern how to manage stormwater pollution. This handbook describes how to follow the regulations.
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- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook and Stormwater Standards
Table of Contents
Stormwater Handbook Volume 1
The Stormwater Handbook was revised and updated in February 2008 in accordance with revisions to the Wetlands regulations, 310 CMR 10.00, and the Water Quality Regulations, 314 CMR 9.00, relating to stormwater.
Volume 1 lays out the legal and regulatory framework for the Handbook. The Massachusetts Stormwater Standards are contained in Chapter 1 of Volume 1.
Additional Resources for Stormwater Handbook Volume 1
Stormwater Handbook Volume 2
This section discusses the elements of stormwater management, particularly Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Additional Resources for Stormwater Handbook Volume 2
Stormwater Handbook Volume 3
Volume 3 describes how to prepare a Stormwater Report, which is required when submitting an application for a Wetlands Notice of Intent for a project subject to the stormwater-management provisions of the Wetlands Protection Act.
Additional Resources for Stormwater Handbook Volume 3
Stormwater Report Tools
Use these documents to prepare a Stormwater Report as part of a Wetlands Notice of Intent application. The Checklist is a preparation guide for writing the Stormwater Report. Both the Checklist and the Stormwater Report should be submitted with the Notice of Intent (WPA Form 3) when a project is subject to the stormwater-management provisions of the Wetlands Protection Act.
The TSS Removal Calculation Worksheet is part of the Stormwater Report and a completed worksheet should also be submitted with a Notice of Intent application.
Additional Resources for Stormwater Report Tools
Open DOC file, 232.5 KB,
Stormwater Report: Checklist
(English, DOC 232.5 KB)
Open PDF file, 54.56 KB,
Stormwater Report: Checklist
(English, PDF 54.56 KB)
Open XLS file, 39 KB,
TSS Removal Calculation Worksheet (MS Excel)
(English, XLS 39 KB)
Applicable Regulations
Stormwater management in Massachusetts is governed by sections of the Wetlands Regulations, 310 CMR 10.00, and the Water Quality Regulations, 314 CMR 9.00.
In February 2020, in preparation for updating the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) stormwater regulations (310 CMR 10.05(6)), MassDEP convened an advisory committee to focus on aligning the Act's Stormwater Management Standards with the requirements of the federal Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit. The committee will also look at precipitation projections for stormwater management.