(8/12) Updates to the town MS4 requirements and projects were presented to the town council by Town planner Zach Gulden.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) requirements apply to a public entity that discharges water used to collect stormwater including storm drains and pipes.

In order to remain compliant with the federal and state governments, the town is required to make progress on six minimum control measures including public education and outreach, public involvement and participation, illicit discharge detection and illumination, construction site stormwater runoff control, post construction stormwater management, pollution prevention and good housekeeping.

Increased development across the watershed has made stormwater runoff the fastest growing source of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.

MS4 communities are required to commence restoration efforts for 20 percent of existing development plans that have little or no stormwater management. Restoration projects must be completed by January 1, 2025. Based on the town’s conducted baseline impervious assessment, Emmitsburg is required to restore 20.45 impervious acres. To date, Emmitsburg has planted 11 acres of trees to help satisfy permit restoration requirements. The town is estimated to still be short acres and is looking to work with MDE to find solutions to meet the deficient gap.

Gulden also presented an up-to-date restoration activity schedule detailing how the town is meeting impervious restoration mandates before the permits end. Completed projects to date include a septic connection to Wastewater treatment plants and Emmitsburg community Park outfall stabilization.

Ongoing projects include monthly street sweeping, monthly catch basin cleaning, Silo Hill stormwater pond retrofit, as well as additional partnership with the Daughters of Charity and Stream Link Education.

The new MS4 permit starts October 31, 2024, and the town "must start the process all over again," Gulden said.

Information about the town’s MS4 can be found distributed in newsletters and on the town website. Emmitsburg has received positive reviews from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for its public education program. The town will continue to strive toward projects of "low bearing fruit" Gulden said.

Commissioner Frank Davis, although a supporter in protecting the Chesapeake Bay, has been vocal in his disdain for the required MS4 permit and the costs it takes away from necessary town projects.

The town does not receive extra credit, so it behooves the town to stop projects once the necessary credit is reached, he said. Davis considers the unfunded mandates to have gotten out of hand and are "stopping us from doing things we really need to do."

Davis suggested meeting and discussing options with other municipalities at the next Maryland Municipal League (MML) meeting. "I haven’t given up on getting the traction on trying to fight this," he said.