MS4 Permit

Framingham is designated as having a Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

In an on-going effort to manage stormwater within Framingham, the City has developed a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) as required for MS4 communities.

The City is authorized to discharge stormwater through the Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for small MS4s. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the NPDES Phase II permitting program. In order to comply with the program, the City must follow six Minimum Control Measures, which are implemented through a series of Best Management Practices (BMPs):

1. Public education & outreach
2. Public involvement & participation
3. Illicit discharge detection & elimination
4. Construction site stormwater runoff control
5. Post-construction stormwater management
6. Pollution prevention & good housekeeping 

The 2016 Massachusetts Small MS4 General Permit was signed April 4, 2016 and became effective July 1, 2018. Framingham submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to EPA and MassDEP in October 2018 outlining the City’s best practices to comply with the terms of the permit.
 
Framingham submitted their Year 1 Annual Report in September 2019, Year 2 Annual Report in September 2020, and Year 3 Annual Report in September 2021 summarizing completed best practices.