In March of 2003, the New York State Department of Conservation (NYSDEC) under the direction of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) instituted Phase II of the stormwater program for towns such as Kent which were identified as “MS4’s”.
An MS4 is "a conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains):
- Owned or operated by a state, city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body (created to or pursuant to state law) including special districts under state law such as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage district, or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the Clean Water Act that discharges into waters of the United States.
- Designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;
- Which is not a combined sewer; and
- Which is not part of a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) as defined at 40 CFR 122.2."
The Town of Kent is permitted through NYSDEC and is responsible for the maintenance of Town owned Stormwater Systems, both open and closed as well as ensuring that all development taking place within the Town complies with NYSDEC regulations.
The Town of Kent, under the conditions of the NYSDEC permit is required to meet minimum standards in the following six different management practices:
1. Public Education and Outreach
2. Public Involvement
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
5. Post-Construction Stormwater Management
6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
The Town is required to submit an annual report to NYSDEC documenting the management methods that have been used to fulfill the required NYSDEC permit conditions.
Click on the links below to view copies of the annual reports.
It is anticipated that the implementation of these management practices will result in cleaner water for drinking and recreational uses and provide substantial benefits to all water resources. As is the case with many “MS4’s” the Town of Kent is located in an area in which the stormwater pollutant phosphorous has been identified as a “pollutant of concern”. This means that the Town, in addition to implementing the above minimum measures must also attempt to reduce phosphorous runoff to our water resources. The links will provide additional information and there are brochures in Town Hall explaining the role of phosphorous as a pollutant and what we, as residents, can do to reduce phosphorous discharge.
If you have questions, the Town of Kent Stormwater Management Officer and contact person is Town Building Inspector Julie Butler. Julie is located in Town Hall at 25 Sybil's Crossing and may be reached at (845) 225-3900. |
Stormwater-Stormwater
