General Storm Water Permit
The Water Quality Management Division coordinates Wayne County's compliance with Certificate of Coverage (COC) MIG610040 under the General Storm Water Discharge Permit (MIG610000) (General Permit) issued by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. This section provides an overview of storm water management activities undertaken by Wayne County under the General Permit.
Background
The federal Clean Water Act was amended in 1987 to include municipal and other urban storm water discharges on the list of regulated sources of water pollution. In November 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water regulations, which requires approximately 125 Southeast Michigan municipalities, including Wayne County, to obtain storm water discharge permits. Wayne County, through its Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project (Rouge Project) assisted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) in the development and 1998 promulgation of a new watershed-based General Permit for municipal storm water discharges (General Permit). The MDEQ General Permit has been approved by EPA as an option available to local communities and other public agencies to comply with the requirements of the Phase II federal NDPES storm water regulations.
Click here for the Michigan General Permit
Click here for the Michigan General Permit Guidance
For additional information on the Phase II Regulations or to download the rule itself, click here
USEPA National Menu of Best Management Practices for Storm Water Phase II
Areas of Designation in Southeast Michigan
Wayne County Certificate of Coverage
On June 21, 2004, Wayne County was re-issued Certificate of Coverage (COC) MIG610040 under the General Storm Water Discharge Permit (MIG610000). Wayne County Departments with major responsibilities under the General Permit COC include Environment (Water Quality Management Division (WQMD)); Public Health (Environmental Health Division); and Public Services (Engineering Division, Parks Division, Roads Division). The Water Quality Management Division coordinates Wayne County General Permit activities with watershed communities, counties, agencies, subwatershed advisory groups, and other interested parties. Wayne County's coverage under the General Permit applies to its operations, facilities, and functions throughout the approximately 626 square mile county.
On January 24, 2008, Wayne County received MDEQ approval on the County's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Initiative (SWPPI). The SWPPI describes all efforts that the County is committed to perform to comply with its storm water permit and to achieve the goals and objectives of the various watershed management plans that Wayne County is a partner in implementing. A copy of the County's SWPPI can be downloaded by clicking here.
Click here to view a list of Wayne County watersheds
Wayne County is scheduled to update its SWPPI in November 2004 and at various dates in the future consistent with and in response to the development or revisions to the watershed management plans.
General Storm Water Discharge Permit Annual Reports