MS4 Compliant Site-Specific Plan Development

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Shakopee, MN, 2022

Background
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) manages two facilities permitted under a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit enforced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency: (1) their Public Works facility and (2) a Golf Maintenance facility at The Meadows at Mystic Lake. SMSC is responsible for ensuring stormwater compliance at these sites to protect area waters from potential runoff. They needed site-specific plans to ensure they were using best practices for environmental protection and compliance.

Strengths & Solutions
Young Environmental worked with the SMSC to develop the plans and provide training and support to guide implementation in day-to-day activities. We began by detailing site activities and creating an inventory of potential pollutants, ranging from fuels to fertilizers. We then wrote spill response plans and specific mediation for each site in the event of a spill. Our team developed good housekeeping recommendations for site operations and management to help prevent any spills or unwanted runoff from each of the sites. By detailing each best management practice (BMP) in place, the SMSC staff will better understand the maintenance and responsibility needs to take good care of each site. We proposed additional BMPs that could be considered to make the sites even more effective. The site-specific plan details reporting needs and how to conduct regular inspections.

Project Impact
Once the site-specific plans were written, we provided staff training to explain what stormwater is, how it moves across the sites, the importance of BMPs and management activities, and what to do in case of an emergency event. The plans and training will help SMSC ensure that their properties are not only compliant with stormwater ordinances but exhibit the most comprehensive environmental stewardship possible.

Stormwater Management, MS4 Permit Compliance, Site Inspection and Planning, Training