Phase I of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water program began in 1990 and required medium and large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) to obtain NPDES coverage. The expanded Phase II program began in March 2003 and required small MS4s in urbanized areas to obtain NPDES permits and implement minimum control measures. It is the goal of the federally mandated NPDES Phase II program to preserve, protect and improve the Nation's water resources from polluted storm water runoff. NPDES Phase II is intended to reduce adverse impacts to water quality and aquatic habitat by instituting the use of controls on the unregulated sources of storm water discharges that have the greatest likelihood of causing continued environmental degradation.

Lake County is classified as an operator of a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) covered by the Phase II regulations and the County is required to develop a stormwater management program. This program is to be comprised of best management practices (BMPs) with measurable goals for each of the following six (6) minimum control measures:

• Public education and outreach on stormwater impacts
• Public involvement and participation
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination
• Construction site stormwater runoff control
• Post construction stormwater management for new development and redevelopment
• Pollution prevention / good housekeeping for municipal operations

Each MS4 is required to submit an annual report to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) each year which includes:

• The status of compliance with the permit requirements, including an assessment of the BMPs and progress toward the measurable goals
• Results of any information collected and analyzed, including monitoring data
• A summary of the stormwater activities planned for the next reporting cycle
• A change in any identified best management practices or measurable goals
• If applicable, notice of relying on another governmental entity to satisfy some of the permit obligations

For complete information on this nationwide program go to the EPA website.