Stormwater Permit Coverage

Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit

For the small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), a General Permit (3-9014) was issued by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to the Town of Essex in July 2018. The Town submitted a Notification of Intent and Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) in January 2019, showing how the Town intended to apply for coverage under the permit and actions the Town planned to take in order to meet the permit requirements for a five-year period. The Town has submitted a new Notification of Intent and re-submitted the 2019 SWMP in April 2020 in order to comply with a permit amendment that covers requirements under the Municipal Roads General Permit. More information regarding the permit requirements can be found at Vermont Water Quality. The stormwater permit will be re-issued in 2023. The Town will be required to submit an updated NOI and SWMP.

Under this permit, the Town must develop programs to comply with the following six minimum control measures:

Public Education and Outreach
Public Participation and Involvement
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Runoff
Post-Construction Runoff Control
Municipal Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

Additional Information

The Town’s SWMP details the specific actions the Town will take in order to meet compliance with the six minimum measures and other requirements under the MS4 permit. A copy of the Town’s NOI and SWMP are located on the Stormwater website. A hard copy of the permit application with supporting documentation is on file at the Public Works Offices located at 5 Jericho Road. Contact can be made via telephone at 802-878-1344 or email Annie Costandi for more detailed information.

Non-Impaired Waterways Permit (3-9010)

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VANR) issued this permit on 6 August 2002 for discharges of stormwater runoff to waters of the State that are not principally impaired by collected stormwater runoff, which discharges have been previously authorized by the Secretary of the VANR pursuant to a stormwater discharge permit or a temporary pollution permit. The Town has incorporated all the permits located in the non-impaired waterways under the MS4 permit. A list of those permits can be found in the Stormwater Management Plan.

Expired Stormwater Permits in the Impaired Waterways

The previously issued MS4 permit (2012) required the Town to develop a plan for old,expired stormwater permits in Indian Brook and Sunderland Brook. Due to both watersheds being impaired, the permits could not be renewed legally. The Town developed a mechanism to incorporate the permits under the MS4 permit by amending the Stormwater Ordinance. The amendment allowed permit holders to sign agreements with the Town for shared responsibility of the stormwater system if the systems were constructed in accordance with their original permit. A copy of the amendment can be found on the Stormwater Ordinance page.

Stormwater General Permit (3-9050) - "Three-Acre Permit"

The permit was issued on September 1, 2020 and went into effect on December 1, 2020. The permit identifies parcels with three acres or more impervious surface that will be required to meet phosphorus reduction targets for the Lake. These properties will be required to demonstrate whether their stormwater systems are meeting compliance with certain standards. If the systems are not meeting compliance, the permit holders will be required to either upgrade their stormwater system, pay an impact fee, complete an offset project, or a combination of those options. ANR notified affected parcels directly. The Town will be a co-permittee with 2 parcles that will be subjected to this General Permit. More information regarding the permit can be found here.

Multi-Sector General Permit (3-9003)

This permit does not affect operations at the Town Highway Garage. The closed Town landfill has been issued a No-Exposure Certification (number 4453-9003) under this permit program.