[Adopted 7-19-2017 by Ord. No. 17-15]
Increased and contaminated stormwater runoff is a major cause
of impairment of water quality and flow in lakes, ponds, streams,
rivers, wetlands and groundwater; contamination of drinking water
supplies; alteration or destruction of aquatic and wildlife habitat;
and flooding. Regulation of illicit connections and discharges to
the municipal storm drain system is necessary for the protection of
the Town's water bodies and groundwater, and to safeguard the public
health, safety, welfare and the environment. The objectives of this
article are to:
(1)
Prevent (or reduce to the maximum extent practicable) pollutants
entering the Town's municipally owned separate storm sewer system;
(2)
Prohibit illicit connections and unauthorized discharges to the MS4;
(3)
Require the removal of all such illicit connections and discharges;
(4)
Comply with state law and federal statutes and regulations relating
to stormwater discharges; and
(5)
Set forth the legal authority and procedures to carry out all inspection,
monitoring and enforcement activities necessary to ensure compliance
with this article.
This article is promulgated pursuant to the Rhode Island Department
of Environmental Management's ("DEM") General Permit Rhode Island
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Discharge from Small
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems and from Industrial Activity
at Eligible Facilities Operated by Regulated Small MS4s and in accordance
with the provisions of R.I.G.L. § 45-6-1.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Discharges not comprised of stormwater are allowed under
the MS4 general permit but are limited to the following, provided
these are not significant contributors of pollutants to the MS4: discharges
which result from the washdown of vehicles at retail dealers selling
new and used automobiles where no detergents are used and individual
residential car washing; external building washdown where no detergents
are used; the use of water to control dust; firefighting activities;
fire hydrant flushings; natural springs; uncontaminated groundwater;
dechlorinated pool discharges; air-conditioning condensate; lawn watering;
potable water sources, including waterline flushings; irrigation drainage;
pavement washwaters where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials
have not occurred (unless all spilled materials have been removed)
and where detergents are not used; discharges from foundation or footing
drains where flows are not contaminated with process materials such
as solvents, or contaminated by contact with soils where spills or
leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have occurred; uncontaminated
utility vault dewatering; dechlorinated waterline testing water; hydrostatic
test water that does not contain any treatment chemicals and is not
contaminated with process chemicals.
Employees or designees of the Director of Public Works of
the Town of Cumberland.
Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general
good housekeeping practices, pollution prevention and educational
practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices
to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly
to stormwater, receiving waters, or stormwater conveyance systems.
BMPs also include treatment practices, operating procedures, and practices
to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water disposal,
or drainage from raw materials storage.
The federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251
et seq.), and any subsequent amendments thereto.
Activities subject to RIPDES construction permits. As of
March 2003, RIPDES Stormwater Phase II permits are required for construction
projects resulting in land disturbance of one acre or more. Such activities
include but are not limited to clearing and grubbing, grading, excavating,
and demolition.
Any person who causes, allows, permits, or is otherwise responsible
for a discharge, including, without limitation, any operator of a
construction site or industrial facility.
Any material, including any substance, waste, or combination
thereof, which, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical,
chemical, or infectious characteristics, may cause, or significantly
contribute to, a substantial present or potential hazard to human
health, safety, property, or the environment when improperly treated,
stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
Either of the following:
Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface,
which allows an illegal discharge to enter the storm drain system,
including but not limited to any conveyances which allow any nonstormwater
discharge, including sewage, process wastewater, and wash water to
enter the storm drain system and any connections to the storm drain
system from indoor drains and sinks, regardless of whether said drain
or connection had been previously allowed, permitted, or approved
by an authorized enforcement agency; or
Any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial
land use to the storm drain system which has not been documented in
plans, maps, or equivalent records and approved by an authorized enforcement
agency.
Any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is
not composed entirely of stormwater except discharges pursuant to
a RIPDES permit (other than the RIPDES permit for discharges from
the municipal separate storm sewer) and discharges resulting from
firefighting activities.
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with
drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters,
ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains):
Owned or operated by a city or town or the state district association,
or other public body (created by or pursuant to state law) having
jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, stormwater,
or other wastes, including special districts under state law such
as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage district,
or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal
organization, or a designated and approved management agency under
Section 208 of the CWA that discharges to waters of the state;
Designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;
Which is not a combined sewer; and
Which is not part of a "publicly owned treatment works (POTW)"
as defined in the Department of Environmental Management Office of
Water Resources Regulations for the Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System.
Any discharge that is not composed entirely of stormwater.
The party or parties that either individually or taken together
have the day-to-day operational control over the facility activities
and the ability to make modifications to such activities.
The party or parties that either individually or taken together
has legal title to any premise.
Any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm,
corporation or other entity recognized by law and acting as either
the owner or as the owner's agent.
Anything which causes or contributes to pollution. Pollutants
may include, but are not limited to: paints, varnishes, and solvents;
oil and other automotive fluids; nonhazardous liquid and solid wastes
and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded
or abandoned objects, ordinances, and accumulations, so that same
may cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides, herbicides,
and fertilizers; hazardous substances and wastes; sewage, fecal coliform
and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes; wastes
and residues that result from constructing a building or structure;
and noxious or offensive matter of any kind.
Any surface flow, runoff, and drainage consisting entirely
of water from any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from
such precipitation.
A discharge of stormwater not authorized by a RIPDES permit,
or an allowable stormwater discharge found to be a significant contributor
of pollutants to the MS4.
A natural or man-made surface drainage channel or body of
water (including a lake or pond) through which a water flow occurs,
either continuously or intermittently.
Surface waters and groundwaters within the boundaries of
the State of Rhode Island and subject to its jurisdiction.
(a)
Prohibition of unauthorized discharges.
(1)
No person shall discharge or caused to be discharged into the
municipal separate storm sewer system or watercourses any pollutant
or nonstormwater discharge unless such a nonstormwater discharge is
outlined in Part I.B.3 of the MS4 general permit. The allowable nonstormwater
discharges (described below) are permitted if deemed not to be a significant
contributor of pollutants to the municipal separate storm sewer system.
(2)
Allowable nonstormwater discharges:
a.
Discharges which result from the washdown of vehicles at retail
dealers selling new and used automobiles where no detergents are used
and individual residential car washing;
b.
External building washdown where no detergents are used;
c.
The use of water to control dust;
d.
Firefighting activities;
e.
Fire hydrant flushings;
f.
Natural springs;
g.
Uncontaminated groundwater; dechlorinated pool discharges;
h.
Air-conditioning condensate;
i.
Lawn watering; potable water sources, including waterline flushings;
j.
Irrigation drainage;
k.
Pavement washwaters where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous
materials have not occurred (unless all spilled materials have been
removed) and where detergents are not used;
l.
Discharges from foundation or footing drains where flows are
not contaminated with process materials such as solvents, or contaminated
by contact with soils where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous
materials have occurred;
m.
Uncontaminated utility vault dewatering; dechlorinated waterline
testing water;
n.
Hydrostatic test water that does not contain any treatment chemicals
and is not contaminated with process chemicals.
(b)
Prohibition of illicit connections.
(1)
The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of
illicit connections to the municipal separate storm sewer system is
prohibited. This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation,
illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection
was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at
the time of connection.
(2)
A person is considered to be in violation of this article if
the person connects a line conveying sewage to the MS4, or allows
such a connection to continue and must provide corrective action.
(a)
Suspension due to illicit discharges in emergency situations. The
Director of Public Works may, without prior notice, suspend MS4 discharge
access to a person when such suspension is necessary to stop an actual
or threatened nonstormwater discharge which presents or may present
imminent and substantial danger to the environment, or to the health
or welfare of persons, or to the MS4 or waters of the state. If the
violator fails to comply with a suspension order issued in an emergency,
the authorized enforcement agency may take such steps as deemed necessary
to prevent or minimize damage to the MS4 or waters of the state, or
to minimize danger to persons.
(b)
Suspension due to the detection of illicit discharge. Any person
discharging to the MS4 in violation of this article may have his or
her MS4 access terminated if such termination would abate or reduce
an illicit discharge. The authorized enforcement agency will notify
a violator of the proposed termination of its MS4 access. The violator
may petition the authorized enforcement agency for reconsideration
and a hearing. A person commits an offense if the person reinstates
MS4 access to premises terminated pursuant to this section, without
the prior approval of the authorized enforcement agency.
(c)
Entry to perform duties under this article. To the extent permitted
by state law, or if authorized by the owner or other party in control
of the property, the authorized enforcement agency, its agents, officers,
and employees may enter upon privately owned property for the purpose
of performing their duties under this article and may make or cause
to be made such examinations, surveys or sampling as the authorized
enforcement agency deems reasonably necessary.
Any person subject to an industrial or construction activity
RIPDES stormwater discharge permit shall comply with all provisions
of such permit. Proof of compliance with said permit may be required
in a form acceptable to the authorized enforcement agency prior to
the allowing of discharges to the MS4.
The authorized enforcement agency shall be permitted, upon the
presentation of credentials and other documents as may be required
by law, to:
(1)
Enter the discharger's premise(s) where a regulated activity is conducted,
or where records must be kept as required under the conditions of
this permit;
(2)
Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must
be kept as required under the conditions of the permit;
(3)
Inspect at reasonable times any equipment, practices, or operations
regulated or required under this permit; and
(4)
Sample or monitor any substances or parameters at any location, at
reasonable times, for the purposes of assuring permit compliance or
as otherwise authorized by the CWA or Rhode Island law.
In an attempt to prevent, control, and reduce stormwater pollutants,
any person engaged in activities or operations, or owning facilities
or property which will or may result in pollutants entering stormwater,
the storm sewer system or waters of the state shall implement best
management practices to the extent they are technologically achievable
to prevent and reduce such pollutants. The owner or operator of a
commercial or industrial establishment shall provide reasonable protection
from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes
into the municipal storm drain system or watercourses. Facilities
to prevent accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes
shall be provided and maintained at the owner or operator's expense.
Every person owning property through which a watercourse passes,
or such person's lessee, shall keep and maintain that part of the
watercourse within the property reasonably free of trash, debris,
excessive vegetation, and other obstacles that would pollute, contaminate,
or significantly retard the flow of water through the watercourse.
In addition, the owner or lessee shall maintain existing privately
owned structures within or adjacent to a watercourse, so that such
structures will not become a hazard to the use, function, or physical
integrity of the watercourse. The owner or lessee shall not remove
healthy bank vegetation beyond that actually necessary for maintenance,
nor remove said vegetation in such a manner as to increase the vulnerability
of the watercourse to erosion. The property owner or lessee shall
be responsible for maintaining and stabilizing that portion of the
watercourse that is within his or her property lines in order to protect
against erosion and degradation of the watercourse originating or
contributed from his or her property. Nothing in this section shall
preclude any owner/lessee from compliance with relevant provisions
of the Rhode Island Freshwater Wetlands Act, R.I.G.L. § 2-1-18
et seq., or other applicable laws or regulations.
Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any person
responsible for a facility or operation, or responsible for emergency
response for a facility or operation, has information of any known
or suspected release of materials which are resulting or may result
in unauthorized discharges or pollutants discharging into stormwater,
the storm drain system, or waters of the state from said facility,
said person shall take all necessary steps to ensure the discovery,
containment, and cleanup of such release. In the event of such a release
of a hazardous material, said person shall immediately notify emergency
response officials of the occurrence via emergency dispatch services
(911). In the event of a release of nonhazardous materials, said person
shall notify the authorized enforcement agency no later than the next
business day. Notifications in person or by phone shall be confirmed
by written notice addressed and mailed to the authorized enforcement
agency within five business days of the phone notice. If the discharge
of prohibited materials emanates from a commercial or industrial establishment,
the owner or operator of such establishment shall also retain an on-site
written record of the discharge and the actions taken to prevent its
recurrence. Such records shall be retained for at least three years.
Nothing in this section shall preclude any owner/lessee from compliance
with relevant provisions of the Rhode Island Clean Water Act, R.I.G.L. § 46-12-1
et seq., or other applicable laws or regulations.
(a)
Notice of violation. Whenever the authorized enforcement agency finds
that any person has violated a prohibition or failed to meet a requirement
of this article, the authorized enforcement agency may order compliance
by written notice of violation to the responsible person. Such notice
may require without limitation:
(1)
The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
(2)
The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
(3)
That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall cease
and desist;
(4)
The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination
hazards and the restoration of any affected property; and
(5)
Payment of a fine to cover administrative and remediation costs;
and
(6)
The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs.
(b)
If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property
is required, the notice shall set forth a deadline within which such
remediation or restoration must be completed. Said notice shall further
advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within
the established deadline, the work will be done by a designated governmental
agency or a contractor, and the expense thereof shall be charged to
the violator.
Any person receiving a notice of violation may appeal the determination of the authorized enforcement agency. The notice of appeal must be filed with the Municipal Court of the Town of Cumberland within 14 days from the date of the receipt of the notice of violation. The notice of appeal shall be in writing and contain a detailed basis upon which the appeal was taken. Jurisdiction of said court is conferred by § 11-15(a) of the Town of Cumberland Code of Ordinances.
In lieu of enforcement proceedings, penalties, and remedies
authorized by this article, the authorized enforcement agency may
enter into a negotiated settlement to resolve the appeal of the notice
of violation. Such settlement may impose upon a violator alternative
compensatory actions, such as storm drain stenciling, attendance at
compliance workshops, creek cleanup, etc.
If no timely appeal of a notice of violation has been taken
and the violation has not been corrected pursuant to the requirements
set forth in the notice of violation or, in the event of an appeal,
within 30 days of the decision of the municipal authority upholding
the decision of the authorized enforcement agency, then representatives
of the authorized enforcement agency shall undertake all necessary
actions, including requesting injunctive relief through the Municipal
Court or Superior Court, to enter upon the subject private property
and take any and all measures necessary to abate the violation and/or
restore the property.
The authorized enforcement agency is authorized to issue the
following administrative orders at any time it deems such action appropriate
to secure timely and effective compliance with this article or a discharge
permit or order issued pursuant to this article, whether or not any
previous notifications of violation have been provided to the user:
(1)
Cease-and-desist order. The authorized enforcement agency may issue
an order to cease and desist a violation or an action or inaction
which threatens a violation and to direct the user to comply forthwith
or to take such appropriate remedial or preventive action as may be
needed to properly address the violation or threatened violation,
including halting operations and terminating the discharge.
(2)
Compliance order. The authorized enforcement agency may issue an
order requiring a user to provide, within a specified period of time,
such treatment, pretreatment or discharge control facilities or related
appurtenances as are necessary to correct a violation or to prevent
a threatened violation. A compliance order may also direct that a
user provide improved operation and maintenance of existing discharge
facilities, conduct additional self-monitoring or submit appropriate
reports or management plans.
(3)
Show-cause order. The authorized enforcement agency may issue an
order to show cause why a proposed enforcement action should not be
taken. Notice shall be served on the user specifying the time and
place for a meeting, the proposed enforcement action and the reasons
for such action, and a request that the user show cause why the proposed
enforcement action should not be taken. Whether or not a duly notified
user appears as noticed, additional enforcement action may be initiated.
(4)
Consent order. The authorized enforcement agency may enter into consent
orders, assurances of voluntary compliance, or other similar documents
establishing an agreement with a user. Such orders shall include specific
actions to be taken by the user and specific time frames to correct
a violation or to remove the threat of a violation.
Within 30 days after abatement of the violation, by or under
the direction of the authorized enforcement agency, the owner of the
property will be notified by the enforcement agency or municipality
of the cost of abatement, including administrative costs. If the amount
due is not paid within a timely manner as determined by the enforcement
agency or municipality, the charges shall become a special assessment
against the property and shall constitute a lien on the property for
the amount of the assessment. Any person violating any of the provisions
of this section shall become liable to the Town by reason of such
violation. The liability shall be paid in not more than 12 equal payments.
Interest at the rate of 12% per annum shall be assessed on the balance
beginning on the 60th day following discovery of the violation.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision
or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this article. If
a person has violated or continues to violate the provisions of this
article, the authorized enforcement agency may petition for a temporary,
preliminary or permanent injunction restraining the person from activities
which would create further violations or compelling the person to
perform abatement or remediation of the violation.
In addition to the enforcement processes and penalties provided,
any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of
the provisions of this article is a threat to public health, safety,
and welfare, and is declared and deemed a nuisance, and may be summarily
abated or restored at the violator's expense, and/or a civil action
to abate, enjoin, or otherwise compel the cessation of such nuisance
may be taken.
Any person that has violated or continues to violate this article
shall be liable to criminal prosecution to the fullest extent of the
law, and shall be subject to a criminal penalty of $500 per violation
per day and/or imprisonment for a period of time not to exceed 30
days. The authorized enforcement agency may recover all attorneys'
fees, court costs and other expenses associated with enforcement of
this article, including sampling and monitoring expenses.
The remedies listed in this article are not exclusive of any
other remedies available under any applicable federal, state or local
law and it is within the discretion of the authorized enforcement
agency to seek cumulative remedies.
