Last Updated 08/20/2026
MA- Department of Conservation & Recreation
NPDES MS4 Permit
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program addresses water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States. Created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act, the NPDES permit program is authorized to state governments by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to perform many permitting, administrative and enforcement aspects of the program.
DCR Stormwater Management Program
The DCR program to manage stormwater and improve water quality involves public education, public participation, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction and post-construction stormwater management controls and good housekeeping. Good housekeeping involves street sweeping of parkways, cleaning street drains and associated drainage systems and using control measures to protect sensitive receiving waters. The list of DCR facilities and descriptions of the program elements are described in the Stormwater Management Plan.
MA- Department of Environmental Protection
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is convening a stormwater Advisory Committee (AC) in preparation for updating the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook and the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) stormwater regulations (310 CMR 10.05(6)). MassDEP is undertaking these updates as part of its mission to protect wetland and water resources of the Commonwealth. The Advisory Committee will focus on two topics:
- Aligning the WPA Stormwater Management Standards with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit Post-Construction Stormwater Rules
MassDEP is developing measures that will more closely align the WPA stormwater management standards in wetlands areas with MS4 General Permit stormwater rules. These measures are expected to provide consistency between federal and state regulations, simplify the stormwater permitting process, and help the 260 MS4 communities meet the MS4 deadline to adopt local rules that meet EPA’s Minimum Control Measures. Alignment of the stormwater regulatory frameworks will also provide benefits that improve resilience for wetland ecosystems and for drainage and transportation infrastructures under changing climate conditions.
- Precipitation Projections for Stormwater Management
MassDEP is preparing to update the Wetlands Protection Act stormwater regulations pertaining to precipitation intensity and frequency by, at a minimum, adopting the NOAA Atlas 14-Precipitation-Frequency Atlas of the United States Volume 10 Version 3.0: Northeastern States. This will address related stormwater management issues and broader climate resilience implications by incorporating the most recent storm data. MassDEP is also considering options for incorporating precipitation projections that account for future conditions.
MassDEP will also update the Advisory Committee on additions to the MA Stormwater Handbook such as the MassDEP Wetlands Program Solar Array Policy and special considerations being developed to address constraints imposed by limited Rights of Way (ROW) on MassDOT linear highway projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DCR Stormwater Management Program in Massachusetts?
The Department of Conservation and Recreation runs a program covering public education, public participation, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction and post-construction stormwater controls, and good housekeeping practices. Good housekeeping includes street sweeping along parkways, cleaning street drains and drainage systems, and using control measures to protect sensitive receiving waters.
Why is MassDEP updating the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook and wetlands stormwater regulations?
MassDEP has convened a Stormwater Advisory Committee to align the Wetlands Protection Act’s stormwater management standards with the MS4 General Permit’s post-construction rules. The goal is to bring consistency between state and federal regulations, simplify the permitting process, and help the state’s 260 MS4 communities meet their deadline to adopt local rules that satisfy the EPA’s minimum control measures.
How will updated precipitation data affect Massachusetts stormwater regulations?
MassDEP plans to update the Wetlands Protection Act’s stormwater regulations around precipitation intensity and frequency, at minimum by adopting NOAA’s most recent Atlas 14 data for the Northeastern states. The department is also considering how to incorporate forward-looking precipitation projections that account for future conditions, not just historical storm data.
What other topics is the Massachusetts Stormwater Advisory Committee reviewing?
Beyond the core alignment and precipitation work, MassDEP is briefing the committee on additions to the Stormwater Handbook, including the Wetlands Program’s solar array policy and special provisions being developed for MassDOT linear highway projects that face constraints from limited rights of way.
How does the NPDES permit program apply to stormwater in Massachusetts?
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program, created under the 1972 Clean Water Act, regulates point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. The EPA authorizes state governments, including Massachusetts, to handle many of the program’s permitting, administrative, and enforcement functions at the state level.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
