Montana Public Education for MS4 Program

StormwaterONE’s online course for Public Education, Outreach and Involvement for MS4s is designed to cover some of the key components necessary for a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to adhere to the first two of the six (6) Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) that an operator of an MS4 is required to include in its Stormwater Management Program (SWMP).  These control measures are required to meet the conditions of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.  

This course will cover the requirements, BMPs and Measurable Goals to be developed and implemented for the first Minimum Control Measure which is Public Education and Outreach and the second Minimum Control Measure which is Public Participation and Involvement.

An informed and knowledgeable community is crucial to the success of a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) since it helps to ensure the following:

• Greater support for the program as the public gains a greater understanding of the reasons why it is necessary and important. Public support is particularly beneficial when operators of MS4s attempt to institute new funding initiatives for the program or seek volunteers to help implement the program; and
• Greater compliance with the program as the public becomes aware of the personal responsibilities expected of them and others in the community.  This includes the individual actions they can take to protect or improve the quality of area waters.

As authorized by the Clean Water Act (CWA), the NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States.  The NPDES program has Phase I and Phase II rulings and control measures.  This course also provides a history of the NPDES program as well as an introduction to the MS4 Program for Phase I and Phase II entities.

Guidelines for developing and implementing these control measures are covered in addition to the reasons why public education and outreach as well as public participation and involvement are required.  Educational materials, strategies, forming partnerships, reaching diverse audiences and communities are discussed.  Implementation challenges are reviewed including alternative advertising methods and targeting population sectors.

Detailed BMPs and specific and quantifiable Measurable Goal examples for each of these BMPs are provided that can be directly used in a Phase I and Phase II Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP).

This course also provides MS4 recordkeeping and annual reporting guidelines as well as a sample Annual Report and additional resources.

The audience for this course includes stormwater personnel responsible for public education, public outreach and public participation and involvement that is regulated by a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Phase I and Phase II entity to meet the conditions of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

The first and second of six (6) Minimum Control Measures (MCM) in the MS4 Phase II of the NPDES permit are highlighted as follows:

1. Public Education and Outreach
2. Public Participation and Involvement
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
4. Construction Site Runoff Control
5. Post-Construction Runoff Control
6. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

At the completion of this course, the student will be provided the resources necessary to explain and administratively establish the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) for Minimum Control Measure #1: Public Education and Outreach and Minimum Control Measure #2: Public Participation and Involvement.

The student will be able to:

--  Define fundamental public education, outreach and involvement terms, definitions, and key elements that a Phase II regulated small MS4 is required to include in its Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) to meet the conditions of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. 

--  Educate MS4 Phase II communities on the pollution potential of common activities and increase awareness of direct links between land activities, rainfall runoff, storm drains and their local water resources.

--  Identify and select BMPs with examples provided for the first Minimum Control Measure which is Public Education and Outreach and the second Minimum Control Measure which is Public Participation and Involvement.

--  Create appropriate measurable goals with specific examples provided for the SWMP and the Annual Report that are required to be submitted to the NPDES permitting authority.

 

2.0 PDHs

Resume' Enhancer (Available on the Credential Validation Page)