DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO RENEW A UPDES PERMIT- GENERAL PERMIT FOR DISCHARGES FROM SMALL MS4s
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO RENEW A UPDES PERMIT- GENERAL PERMIT FOR DISCHARGES FROM SMALL MS4s
Notice Type(s)
Notice
Event Start Date & Time
March 31, 2026 04:40 PM
Event End Date & Time
April 30, 2026 05:00 PM
Description/Agenda
March 31, 2026
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO RENEW A UPDES PERMIT
Purpose of Public Notice
The purpose of this public notice is to declare the Director of the Division of Water Quality's intention to renew a Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ('UPDES') Permit under the authority of the Utah Water Quality Act, Utah Code ยง 19-5-106(2)(g). The draft Permit and the Fact Sheet (collectively, the draft Permit documents) are available for review and comment.
Permit Information
PERMIT NAME: General Permit for Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems ('Small MS4 Permit')
UPDES PERMIT NO.: UTR090000
This renewal serves as a replacement of the previous Small MS4 Permit, originally issued on May 12, 2021, and modified on August 16, 2023, and March 11, 2025. This Permit covers new or existing discharges composed entirely of stormwater from Small MS4s, as defined by, Utah Admin. Code R317-8-1(1.6)(15), required by the State of Utah to obtain a Permit, of which there are 93 at the time of this Permit Renewal.
Background
The Federal Clean Water Act requires that stormwater discharges from certain types of facilities be authorized under stormwater discharge permits. (See 40 CFR 122.26.) The goal of the stormwater permits program is to reduce the amount of pollutants entering streams, lakes and rivers as a result of runoff from residential, commercial and industrial areas. The original 1990 regulation (Phase I) covered municipal (i.e., publicly-owned) storm sewer systems for municipalities over 100,000 population. The regulation was expanded in 1999 to include smaller municipalities. This expansion of the program to include small MS4s is referred to as Phase II. This Permit covers new or existing discharges composed entirely of stormwater from Phase II, or Small MS4 Permittees statewide.
The State of Utah was granted primacy in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1987. In Utah, stormwater discharge permits are issued by the Director. Utah's program is known as the UPDES program. The requirements of this Permit are intended to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable and meet water quality standards through the development and implementation of a Storm Water Management Program.
Public Comments
Pursuant to Utah Admin. Code R317-8-6(6.6), any interested person may submit written comments on the draft permit documents and may request a public hearing if no hearing has already been scheduled. A request for a public hearing shall be in writing and shall state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing. All comments will be considered in making the final decision and shall be answered as provided in Utah Admin. Code R317-8-6(6.12).
Commenters have an affirmative obligation to raise all reasonably ascertainable issues and submit all reasonably available arguments and factual grounds supporting their position, including all supporting material. Supporting material must be included in full and may not be incorporated by reference, unless the material is already part of the administrative record.
Public comments are invited any time prior to the deadline of the close of business on April 30, 2026. Written public comments can be submitted to: Kelsee York, Utah Division of Water Quality, PO Box 144870, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4870 or by email at: wqcomments@utah.gov.
After considering public comments, the Director of the Division of Water Quality will issue a final Permit decision. The draft Permit documents are available for public review under 'Public Participation' at
www.waterquality.utah.gov/. Additionally, If internet access is not available, a copy may be obtained by
calling the Division of Water Quality at (801) 536-4300.
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Emily Canton at 801-536-4342.