Municipal Staff

Why is Stormwater Town of Indian Head
Important? Stormwater Resources
A large part of the MS4 program is keeping
The Town of Indian Head is subject to a the Town residents engaged and involved.
Maryland Department of the Environment If a resident asks about more information
(MDE) General Permit for Municipal
regarding stormwater events, public
Stormwater Discharge. This permit must be
meetings, and other public participation
renewed every five years and reports on the
progress of the permit must be submitted
opportunities, please direct them to the
every October 31st. Those reports document Town website at the bottom of this page.
the work done to meet permit requirements
The Stormwater/MS4 subpage also
for the preceding period of July 1st to June
contains an educational survey and an illicit
30th.
discharge reporting form.
You probably have been to one of our yearly
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
(MS4) Training days and other MS4 events.
Those are a part of what is required by the
MDE. This brochure will act as a brief guide
for your part of the Town MS4 program.

Town Staff like yourself are involved in all
parts of the MS4 program, but the basic
components that you will spend the most
Indian Head Town Office
time on will fall into the following
categories: 4195 Indian Head Highway
Why is Stormwater
• Public Education/Public Involvement Indian Head, MD 20640 Important?
• Illicit Discharge Prevention/Detection
—
(301) 743-5511
For Town Staff
• Good Housekeeping of Municipal
Properties and Operations —
This brochure will go over these tasks, but www.townofindianhead.org
for more information please feel free to
ask the Town Manager or ARRO Staff.
How to Keep the Public Good Housekeeping What is Illicit Discharge?
Informed and Involved One of the major tasks of the Town’s MS4 40 CFR 122.26(b)(2) defines an illicit
Permit is to make sure that Town staff and discharge as any discharge to an MS4
Two of the focuses of the Town’s MS4 operations do not contribute to the problem. that is not composed entirely of storm
permit are public education and public
water, except allowable discharges
involvement. You are often the face of the EVERYONE who works for the Town or is pursuant to an NPDES permit, including
Town to the public and can help to keep even contracted by the Town for a task those resulting from firefighting
them up to date and educated on the such as landscaping, if their tasks pose a activities.
progress that Indian Head makes. Please possible impact on local waterways, must
see the below information on some of the receive training on how to perform their The rule of thumb is, only stormwater
priority points the public should be aware tasks without causing said impact. should go into stormwater drains!
of.
For your reference, please see the below The Town of Indian Head needs the public
Public Meetings example tasks that could result in pollutant to help to find and eliminate illicit discharge.
Please direct everyone in the Town to
In order to communicate the Town’s runoff:
report illicit discharge through one of the
progress toward compliance with its following options. Call the Town Office
stormwater (MS4) permit, stormwater is • Landscaping/Lawn and Grounds Care
during normal business hours or fill out a
often discussed at public meetings. It is report on the Town website.
• Vehicle Operations and Maintenance
also where important items such as the
Chesapeake Bay Restoration Plan and Once a report of illicit discharge is made, it
• Leaf and Debris Pickup needs to be investigated immediately. If the
the annual MS4 reports are discussed.
The public is strongly encouraged to investigation confirms the presence of an
• Snow Removal/De-icing illicit discharge, please follow the below
comment on the MS4 progress and make
directives:
their thoughts known on their priorities. You most likely have already received MS4
training on these tasks, as Town standard • If it is a hazardous material spill, please
Public Involvement operating procedures regarding the call the emergency number
Events use/handling/storage of materials and IMMEDIATELY.
At a minimum of once a year, Indian Head operation/management of facilities have
• Record everything, both in writing and
hosts a public involvement event to get the been created with this in mind. take pictures. This includes
people of the Town to work alongside the remediating actions taken.
municipality to help our waterways. It If you are handling materials or performing
could be a trash pickup, a public update tasks and feel that there may be a chance • Take as many precautions as possible
during a Town meeting, or other similar of pollutant runoff, feel free to reach out. to stop the discharge from reaching the
event. It is important to get the word of Ask your Town Manager or ARRO waterways. Then clean the site to
Consulting for help and advice to keep our remove the discharge.
these events out to the public so that as
many people as possible are involved. waterways clean and our Town permit
• Contact ARRO Consulting to see if
These events should be documented, compliant.
further action is required.
including a list of names of those involved,
to include in annual reports.