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Nonprofit offers low-cost MS4 compliance package to help Swansea meet stormwater permit requirements
Summary
A nonprofit presenter described Phase II MS4 requirements under the Clean Water Act amendments and offered a $350 one-year package with school outreach, staff training and seasonal social-media messages to help Swansea meet permit education and illicit-discharge checks; trustees and staff indicated interest in coordinating with local schools and the village's open-space plan.
A presenter from a nonprofit described municipal small separate storm sewer (MS4) permit requirements and proposed a low-cost outreach and training package aimed at helping communities meet new education and illicit-discharge responsibilities under the Clean Water Act.
The presenter said the Phase II MS4 permit includes requirements for public education, illicit-discharge detection, municipal staff training, and green infrastructure such as rain gardens. He offered a base package for $350 a year that would include one school outreach program, three community presentations, staff trainings and seasonal messages for newsletters and social media.
"My team will do 3 presentations. We're gonna do all your staff training. We're gonna give you seasonal messages for an entire year," the presenter said, describing the scope and asserting it would help a village check many permit compliance boxes.
Trustees and staff discussed linking the offer to local schools and the village's open-space master plan; staff noted existing contacts with area schools and the Heartlands Conservancy and said they would follow up. The presenter said he is already working with Belleville and other nearby communities and expects the program to help municipalities avoid audits by state regulators.
What this means: The village has a potential low-cost option to expand public-education and staff training for MS4 compliance; staff will take next steps to evaluate the proposal and coordinate stakeholders if the board wishes to pursue it.
