Stormwater Management Program & EGLE MS4 Permitting (2013 to Current)

In 2013, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (now the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy - EGLE) changed their MS4 permits from General Permits to Individual NPDES Permits that reflected each community's specific conditions and watershed characteristics.

2015 NPDES Permit
In 2013, the City of East Lansing submitted its Stormwater Permit Application to MDEQ which initiated the issuance of the 2015 NPDES Permit.  A large part of that application consisted of a description as to how the City would commit to and proceed with the development, implementation, and enforcement to reduce the discharge of pollutants from its municipal separate storm sewer system to the maximum extent practicable and protect the water quality in accordance with the appropriate water quality requirements of Michigan Act 451 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.  This documentation was formally designated as the City of East Lansing’s Stormwater Management Program.  The 2015 NPDES Permit acknowledged that the Stormwater Management Program had been approved as submitted.

The City's 2015 NPDES Permit (Permit No. MI0059327) required that the City identify any nested jurisdictions included under their permit; identify and describe all MS4 outfalls or points of discharge within their jurisdiction; and implement a "Stormwater Management Program" (SWMP).

The SWMP consists of seven specific initiatives or control measures:
•    Enforcement Response Procedure (ERP)
•    Public Participation/Involvement Program (PPP)
•    Public Education Plan (PEP)
•    Illicit Discharge Elimination Program (IDEP)
•    Construction Stormwater Runoff Control Program
•    Post-Construction Stormwater Runoff Program
•    Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping Program

The City of East Lansing submitted a Progress Report (PDF) (May 2016 to January 2020) to EGLE outlining its actions in complying with its NPDES Permit and thus its Stormwater Management Program. The report discusses each of the seven control measures and how the City is addressing them.  

The City of East Lansing developed an "Implementation Plan for Complying with the NPDES Requirements." The Implementation Plan included the specific plans, programs, documents and other tools to ensure that the ten requirements of the 2015 NPDES Permit were met. 

2020 NPDES Permit
In 2017, the City of East Lansing submitted its Stormwater Permit Application to MDEQ to renew its current permit. The application included updated information on the seven specific initiatives and control measures regulated under the City’s 2015 NPDES Permit. The application also addressed  the new initiative regarding the development of a “Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan”. After discussions with MDEQ, the City prepared and submitted its “E.coli TMDL Plan” dated January 2019.

EGLE public noticed the City’s DRAFT NPDES Permit in December 2019. The FINAL 2020 NPDES PERMIT (PDF) became effective on February 1, 2020.

The City updated its original “Implementation Plan for Complying with the NPDES Requirements” to account for any changes in the new 2020 NPDES Permit and to reflect any lessons learned while enacting the original plan. The updated implementation plan contained the original 10 sections plus a new section addressing the TMDL requirements:


1.) Stormwater Management Plan Overview
2.) Nested Jurisdictions
3.) Permitted Outfalls
4.) Enforcement Response Plan
5.) Public Participation/Involvement Process
6.) Public Education Program
7.) Illicit Discharge Elimination Program
8.) Construction Stormwater Runoff Control Program
9.) Post-Construction Stormwater Runoff Program
10.) Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping Activities for Municipal Operations
11.) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

An overview and the City's plans for addressing each of the various requirements can be seen by clicking on each of the 10 sections listed above. 

More detailed plans and documentation for Items 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 can be found here: