What is NPDS Phase II?
On December 8, 1999, Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, was published in the Federal Register. The NPDES program, as authorized by the 1072 amendments to the Clean Water Act, controls water pollution by regulation point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Phase II of NPDES requires permit coverage for stormwater discharges fro regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and for small construction activity that results in the disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre. This Federal regulation went into affect March 10, 2003. In response to Phase II of NPDES, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management enacted Rule 13 (237 IAC 15-13) and revised Rule 5 (327 IAC 15-5). Under these new State and Federal regulations, Hancock County is required to establish a regulatory mechanism for regulating stormwater quality management. Therefore, the “Hancock County Drainage Code” was mod
