Municipalities across Lancaster County were required to adopt ordinances before the state-mandated deadline of May 7, 2014. The new ordinances are designed to help limit stormwater runoff to the Chesapeake Bay. Mount Joy Borough adopted a Stormwater Management Ordinance, effective April 7, 2014.
Mount Joy Borough received the statewide General Permit (PAG-13 General NPDES Permit) from the Department of Environmental Protection DEP) on February 1, 2014. Coverage under this permit is from March 16, 2013 and shall expire March 15, 2018. Any permittees with any portion of a regulated small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) discharging stormwater into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed must submit required information to DEP in annual reports. The Borough is required to submit these reports to document the implementation of the Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to reduce the discharge of pollutants; and when required, progress with the development, implementation and enforcement of the approved MS4 Permit.
Under this permit, the Borough is required to implement, enforce and report such activities related to the Stormwater Management Program which is designed to reduce the discharge of pollutants, protect water quality, and to satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the federal Clean Water Act, the PA Clean Streams Law, and other regulations. MS4 Fact Sheet.
This Stormwater Management Plan includes Best Management Practices (BMPs) to comply with six minimum control measures (MCMs) in the following areas:
- Public Education and Outreach on Stormwater Impacts. Stormwater Pollution Solutions.
- Public Involvement/Participation.
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination.
- Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control.
- Post-Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) in New and Re-Development Activities.
- Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations.
The determination of whether a project is considered small or major depends on the amount of impervious surface being proposed.Impervious surface (impervious area) is defined as surfaces which prevents the infiltration of water into the ground. All structures, buildings, parking areas, driveways, roads, streets, sidewalks, decks, and any areas of concrete, asphalt, packed stone, and compacted soil shall be considered impervious surface if they prevent infiltration. That means that homeowners who undertake such projects as putting an addition onto a house or paving a driveway must also incorporate, at additional cost, ways to reduce runoff.
Such controls could include infiltration trenches with stone (to absorb water into the ground), cisterns, rain barrels and rain gardens. Click here for Infiltration Trench Details.
An Applicant proposing the cumulative installation of 1,000 square feet or less of Impervious Surface coverage after April 7, 2014, may be exempt from the design, plan submittal, and processing requirements of the stormwater management regulations. Any Applicant desiring exemption from design, plan submission, and plan processing requirements shall complete an application form supplied by the Borough. Click here for the Stormwater Exemption Application Sample. Click here for an application form supplied by the Borough.
Small projects are regulated activities that, measured on a cumulative basis from April 7, 2014, create new impervious areas of more than 1,000 sq. ft. and less than 5,000 sq. ft. or involve Earth Disturbance Activity of an area less than 5,000 sq. ft., and do not involve the alteration of stormwater facilities or watercourses. Anyone proposing a small project shall submit one copy of the Small Project Application form supplied by the Borough.
STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SITE PLANS
All regulated activities which do not qualify for an exemption or as a small project must submit a Storm Water Management Site Plan meeting the requirements of Chapter 226. The Storm Water Management Site Plan must be prepared by a person licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of the State or otherwise qualified by law to perform the work required for submission of a Storm Water Management Site Plan. Click here for the Stormwater Management Site Plan Application. Waiver SWM Plan Application.
MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY
We would like to take this time as a reminder of the importance of properly maintaining storm water management facilities, such as inlets, storm sewer pipes, and detention basins. The responsibility for maintaining these facilities fall onto a number of different parties. Storm sewer pipes and inlets within the right-of-way are maintained by either PennDOT or Mount Joy Borough, depending on ownership of the road. On private property, the responsibility for maintaining storm water facilities varies, but it is usually either a homeowner’s association or the property owner where the facility is located. In many cases, agreements were signed by developers prior to construction indicating the party responsible and the specific maintenance tasks required. Mount Joy Borough is not responsible for maintenance of storm water facilities on private property. If you have a question about responsibility for a specific location, please contact the Storm Water Enforcement Officer at 717-653-8226.