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By definition, a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) is a conveyance or system of conveyances otherwise known as a municipal separate storm sewer system, including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels, or storm drains:

  1. Owned or operated by a federal, state, city, town, county, district, association, or other public body, created by or pursuant to state law, having jurisdiction or delegated authority for erosion and sediment control and stormwater management, or a designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) that discharges to surface waters;
  2. Designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;
  3. That is not a combined sewer; and
  4. That is not part of a publicly owned treatment works.

Operators of large, medium, and regulated small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems are required to obtain permit coverage in order to discharge pollutants to state waters. The large, medium and small designations are based on urbanized areas as determined by census data. JMU has been designated as a small MS4 and has obtained general permit coverage which requires the development of a program plan to cover the following minimum control measures:

  • Public education and outreach on stormwater impacts
  • Public involvement/participation
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE)
  • Construction site stormwater runoff control
  • Post-construction stormwater management in new development and development on prior developed lands
  • Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations

MS4 Plan Cover 2018

Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan

Part of JMU's stormwater programs requires us to develop an action plan showing how the university will meet the needed pollutant reductions of our general permit. 

Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan (2016)

Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan (2018)

For additional information on regulations and guidance documents, please visit the following links:

9VAC25-890 General VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)

Chesapeake Bay TMDL Special Condition Guidance Memo 15-2005

Stormwater Policy & Procedures

Following are policy and procedure documents concerning stormwater management on campus.

Daily Operational Procedures for Stormwater Control Best Practices

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Policy & Procedures

Land-Disturbing Activities Policy & Procedures

Stormwater Management Facilities Policy & Procedures

If you have questions about JMU's stormwater programs or would like to submit comments about the JMU's MS4 Program Plan or Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan, please contact the Stormwater Coordinator.

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