Notice of Preliminary Designation of Certain Stormwater Discharges in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Notice of Availability of Draft Permit Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System of the Clean Water Act

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BOTH OF THESE PROPOSED ACTIONS IS CLOSED AS OF 11:59 PM MARCH 17, 2025.

The original public comment period ran from October 31, 2024 to January 29, 2025. In response to stakeholder requests, the public comment period end date was extended by 45 days from January 29, 2025 to March 17, 2025.

Public comment submissions can be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-R01-OW-2024-0492/comments

During the comment period, EPA hosted an informational public meeting on January 7, 2025 and a public hearing on January 22, 2025.

The public meeting presentation was recorded and slides and recording are available:

• Presentation Slides (pdf) (3.48 MB)
• Recording

Relevant preliminary designation and draft permit documents include:

• Preliminary Determination (pdf) (7.03 MB)
• Draft Permit (pdf) (577.34 KB)
• Appendix A - Definitions, Abbreviations, and Acronyms (pdf) (146 KB)
• Appendix B - Standard Permit Conditions Applicable to All Authorized Discharges (pdf) (172.62 KB)
• Appendix C - Endangered Species Act (pdf) (555.68 KB)
• Appendix D - National Historic Preservation Act Eligibility Guidance (pdf) (209.38 KB)
• Appendix E - Determining Impervious Cover Acreage (pdf) (205.35 KB)
• Appendix F - Phosphorus Reduction Credits for Selected Non-Structural and Structural Stormwater Control Measures ("SCMs") (pdf) (1.84 MB)
• Appendix G - Notices of Intent ("NOI"), Change ("CNOI"), and Termination ("NOT") (pdf) (214.21 KB)
• Appendix H - Massachusetts Tax Assessor’s Use Code for CII Land Uses (pdf) (232.44 KB)
• Appendix I - Operations and Maintenance Requirements (pdf) (175.86 KB)
• Appendix J - Methodology for Determining Site-Specific Pollutant Calculation (pdf) (303.23 KB)
• Appendix K - Reporting Requirements for Annual Reports (pdf) (99.67 KB)
• Fact Sheet (pdf) (828.22 KB)

Other relevant information:

• Residual Designation in the Charles River Watershed, Mystic River Watershed and Neponset River Watersheds website
• Federal Register
• Federal eRulemaking Docket
• Public Comments
• Administrative Record Preliminary Designation
• Administrative Record Draft Permit
• EPA's December 2024 Informational Postcard mailed to Potential Permittees (pdf) (90.16 KB)
• January 7th 2025 - Public Meeting Presentation Slides (pdf) (3.48 MB)
• January 7th 2025 Public Meeting Recording

For questions contact:
Laura Schifman
US Environmental Protection Agency – Region 1
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (WIP06-1)
Boston, MA 02109
Telephone: (617) 918-1015
Email: R1.RDA@epa.gov