Stormwater Issues - Small MS4 General Permit

In preparation for the reissuance of the General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (Small MS4 General Permit), DEEP’s Stormwater Program held a listening session on January 25 to solicit feedback on the terms and requirements of the current general permit. Many parties shared their success stories as well as their struggles to comply with certain aspects of the current permit. In response to that listening session, DEEP offered to host a technical work group to discuss the challenges of the Small MS4 General Permit in further detail.

DEEP is inviting individuals to share their professional experiences with the general permit by providing critical feedback during a series of technical workshops. These meetings are meant to bring together interested parties for brainstorming sessions to address known problems and identify potential solutions. This is not a regulatory process like a public hearing. As such, DEEP is asking participants to come with an open mind and a willingness to collaborate. Connecticut is an innovative state, and DEEP is looking for innovative solutions that help advance its mission of environmental protection with all partners at the table.

This series will consist of four meetings to be held over four weeks. The first three of these meetings will be dedicated to specific topics, while the fourth meeting will be left open to discuss other topics of concern. The topics are as follows:

• Thursday April 18th, 2024 at 9 a.m.: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE), Impaired Waters Sampling, & Legal Authority Requirements
• Thursday April 25th, 2024 at 9 a.m.: Directly Connected Impervious Area (DCIA) Requirements
• Thursday May 2nd, 2024 at 9 a.m.: Incorporation of a Tiered System
• Thursday May 9th, 2024 at 9 a.m.: Open discussion

These meetings are scheduled for two hours each and will be held in-person at DEEP Headquarters, 79 Elm Street, Hartford. We request that you plan to attend as many meetings as possible, as discussion from one meeting will likely continue into the next and we want to ensure that your interests are represented.

To make the most of the meeting time, participants are asked to arrive at the meeting knowledgeable of the current permit terms and conditions. DEEP will send participants an email prior to the meeting with some supporting information.

If you plan on attending, please RSVP to nicole.kibbe@ct.gov by March 22. Questions? Please contact Nicole.Kibbe@ct.gov | P: 860.424.3846