The Department of Transportation is inviting comments on four proposed Pollution Reduction Plans required for its 2021-2026 NPDES individual MS4 Stormwater Permit.   The four plans cover the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware River, Ohio River and Lake Erie Watershed watersheds. (formal notice)

The four plans cover the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware River, Ohio River and Lake Erie Watershed watersheds.

The PRPs determine existing sediment pollutant loadings associated with stormwater runoff and propose potential best management practices to reduce the pollutant loads to meet the requirements of the MS4 Permit for each watershed.

PennDOT’s MS4 Permit stipulates that PennDOT must achieve pollutant load reductions for sediment, Total Phosphorus (TP), and Total Nitrogen (TN) from highway or highway maintenance facility stormwater runoff to nutrient and sediment impaired waters.

Each of the four watersheds must achieve pollution reduction goals--

-- Chesapeake Bay Watershed: The pollutants of concern in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are siltation and nutrients. The pollutant reduction goal is a minimum reduction of 10% for sediment, 3% for TN, and 5% for TP. The PA DEP accepts that a 10% reduction in sediment will achieve a reduction in TN by 3% and TP by 5%.

-- Delaware River Watershed: The pollutants of concern in the Delaware River Watershed are siltation and nutrients. The pollutant reduction goal is a minimum reduction of 5% for sediment and 2.5% for TP. The PA DEP accepts that a 5% reduction in sediment will achieve a reduction in TP by 2.5%.

-- Ohio River Watershed: The pollutants of concern in the Ohio River Watershed are siltation and nutrients. The pollutant reduction goal is a minimum reduction of 5% for the sediment and 2.5% for TP. The PA DEP accepts that a 5% reduction in sediment will achieve a reduction in TP by 2.5%.

-- Lake Erie Watershed: The pollutants of concern in the Lake Erie Watershed are siltation and nutrients. The pollutant reduction goal is a minimum reduction of 5% for sediment and 2.5% for TP. The PA DEP accepts that a 5% reduction in sediment will achieve a reduction in TP by 2.5%.

The Plan outlines specific steps PennDOT will take in specific locations to make the needed sediment and nutrient reductions.

Click Here for a copy of the four plans.

Read the entire September 17 PA Bulletin notice for more information and how to submit comments. 

For more information, visit PennDOT’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System MS4 webpage. 

Related Articles:

-- USGS: Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Continued To Decline In 2018-2020 - By Rachel Felver, Director Of Communications,  Chesapeake Bay Program  [PaEN]

-- USDA Announces Investments In Partnerships For Climate-Smart Commodities And Rural Projects - 19 Benefiting PA [PaEN]

-- Conservation Innovation Fund, Agriculture Industry Partners Awarded $25 Million USDA Grant To Pay Farmers For Their Stewardship To Improve Water Quality, Reduce Carbon  [PaEN]

-- Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay First-Ever 24-Hour Volunteer Tree Planting Relay In PA, MD, DC Oct. 28-29  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 16, 2022]

9/19/2022