Assessment of Municipal Compliance of Central Massachusetts Municipalities with the 2013 MS4 Draft Permit and Development of a Compliance Tool

Stormwater runoff poses a threat to the environment. This project’s goal was to assist four Massachusetts municipalities with compliance with the 2013 New Hampshire (NH) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) draft permit, which regulates municipal stormwater discharges. In collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition (CMRSWC), we assessed: the subject towns’ compliance with the 2003 MS4 permit; steps they must take to meet the 2013 NH MS4 draft permit requirements; and created a checklist and fact sheet to increase municipalities’ understanding of and ability to comply with the 2013 NH MS4 draft permit. Although we focused on four towns, we hope our work benefits all 30 CMRSWC municipalities