Town Hears Annual MS-4 Stormwater Management Report

Todd Atkinson, Project Manager for Folchetti Civil Environmental Engineers, presented the Town of Putnam Valley's Year 3 Stormwater Management Plan report at a Public Information meeting held on May 10, 2006. Atkinson's report spelled out definitions and requirements of the program and what Putnam Valley is doing to comply with the program's six minimum control measures.

The Stormwater Management program is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's effort to enforce the Federal Clean Water Act. Under Phase II of the program Putnam Valley is required to develop a Stormwater Management Plan that includes the six minimum control measures to reduce stormwater pollution and to complete an annual report outlining specific plans and actions to address each of six control measures.

The Folchetti report concluded that the Town has made steady progress in achieving the measurable goals for each of the six Minimum Measures. For those goals that have not been completely achieved in Year 3, the Town will continue working toward these goals during Year 4. The report also stated that the Town MS-4 Program is in accordance with required SPDES (State-wide Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permitting practices.

Progress reported included the Town creating a stormwater information web page with links to other stormwater library sources that is continually updated and maintained, and distributed two brochures regarding stormwater management. The Town has signed an InterMunicipal Agreement with other municipalities in Putnam County, organized Putnam County Litter Patrol, and utilized existing volunteer monitoring by Lake Committees. Putnam Valley adopted a "Water Project Ordinance" in June 2002, and completed the "Salt Project" and new wash down facility. Training for Town employees was completed following the Ordinance.

Additionaly the Town has distributed information pamphlets addressing construction site stormwater runoff control with all building permits and site construction permits; completed management practices to reduce maximum pollutant discharge; completed weekly inspection and maintenance on each construction site within the Town; and educated construction site operators.

The Town has also conducted ongoing training of employees through meetings, manuals, and public forums, and will continue with these practices through the next reporting period.

During the meeting the point was stressed that anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged into the water bodies that citizens use for swimming, fishing, and providing drinking water. MS4 stresses that polluted runoff is the nation's greatest threat to clean water. Year 4 of the program will see an increased effort to get individuals, businesses and contractors to become more aware of pollution and how to control it. Several new publications are planned to bring this message home to the public.