The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater regulations were published in 1990.
Phase I of these regulations require large urban jurisdictions to control pollution in stormwater to the maximum extent practicable (MEP). For
permitting purposes,municipalities with populations of greater than 250,000 are considered “large” and those with populations of between 100,000
and 250,000 as “medium.” Municipalities with less than 100,000 are handled separately under Phase II NPDES stormwater rules discussed here (
click here to
learn more about Phase II
). After receiving applications from Phase I municipalities in 1991 and 1992, MDE began issuing NPDES municipal stormwater
permits in 1993. These permits are updated every five years. The following provides information on the most current activities on the Phase I permits.
Consent Decree
The Maryland Department of the Environment and the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection have reached tentative agreement on a consent decree to be filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court resolving issues with the county’s performance pursuant to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit issued February 15, 2010. The five-year permit expired in 2015.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Anne Arundel County. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the County to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Anne Arundel County’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Baltimore City, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Baltimore City. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the City to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Baltimore City’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Baltimore County, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Baltimore County. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the County to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Baltimore County’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Carroll County, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Carroll County. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the County to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Carroll County’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Charles County, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Charles County. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the County to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Charles County’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Frederick County, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Frederick County. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the County to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Frederick County’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Harford County, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Harford County. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the County to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Harford County’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Howard County, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Howard County. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the County to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Howard County’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to Prince George's County, Maryland. This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by Prince George's County. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require the County to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from Prince George's County’s storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has reissued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit to the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). This permit covers stormwater discharges from the storm drain system owned or operated by SHA. Permit requirements include implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs for addressing runoff from new and redevelopment projects, restoring urban areas where there is currently little or no stormwater management, and working toward meeting stormwater waste load allocations for local water resources and Chesapeake Bay. Also included in the permit are conditions that require SHA to possess the necessary legal authority to control stormwater discharges, map its storm drain system, monitor urban runoff, and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drain system. It is MDE's final determination that this permit complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES regulations to control stormwater pollutant discharges from SHA's storm drain system to the maximum extent practicable.
This permit and the Basis for Final Determination may be viewed here:
You can view background information on each jurisdiction by clicking on the
municipality's name in the chart below. Initial permits, current permits, and links to the agency responsible for administering each local permit are also
accessible by clicking on the respective links below.
Summary of Local Requirements
NPDES municipal stormwater permits require the jurisdictions to develop comprehensive programs to reduce storm drain system pollution to the MEP.
Typical NPDES stormwater permit conditions require jurisdictions to:
-
Legal Authority: provide certification from appropriate legal counsel that adequate authority exists to control discharges from
the
municipal storm drain system
-
Source Identification: map storm drain pipes and best management practices (BMPs), land use, impervious cover, and watershed
restoration projects in geographical information system (GIS) format
-
Management Programs: implement erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, illicit connection detection and
elimination,
and public education and outreach programs
-
Watershed Assessment: evaluate all urban watersheds thoroughly regarding water quality and develop goals and action plans for
restoration,
-
Restoration Projects: restore 20% of uncontrolled impervious surfaces based on watershed assessments during
each
five-year permit cycle
-
Assessment of Control: document work toward meeting watershed restoration goals, including total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)*,
using
chemical, biological, and physical monitoring
-
Program Funding: provide an annual fiscal analysis of the capital, operation, and maintenance expenditures necessary to comply
with
permit conditions
More information on TMDLs may be found on MDE's webpage here:
Introduction to TMDLs
Guidance for Maryland's NPDES Stormwater Permits
NPDES municipal separate storm sewer system permits in Maryland require the restoration of a certain percent of a jurisdiction's impervious surface area (e.g., 20%) that has little or no stormwater management. How to calculate impervious surface requirements and treatment credits has generated numerous questions. This document standardizes procedures for reporting of traditional, new, and alternative best management practices (BMPs) and the impervious area each controls. The guidance may be found here:
Contact Info
Questions about NPDES municipal permits may be directed to the Sediment, Stormwater, and Dam Safety Program at 410-537-3543 or emailed to Mr.
Raymond Bahr at Raymond.Bahr@maryland.gov.
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