Periodically, Frederick County’s Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources (OSER) requests residents to provide input on various plans, assessments, or reports.

Documents for Review:

Frederick County Government is covered under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit No. 11-DP-3321, MD0068357 (Permit) and is classified as a medium jurisdiction by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) due to population. The Maryland Senate Bill 863, "Watershed Protection and Restoration Programs – Revisions” was passed in 2015 and added a requirement to the Annotated Code of Maryland ENV §4-202.1 for all medium and large NPDES MS4 permit holders to prepare a biennial Financial Assurance Plan (FAP). This FAP (Attachment 1) is to demonstrate the financial wherewithal for meeting impervious surface area restoration requirements in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits. This submission meets Frederick County Government’s legislative obligation to submit an FAP. The FAP will be issued for a 30-day public review. The County Council, as the “local governing body,” is required to hold a public hearing and vote on approval of the FAP. A certification (Attachment 4) is to be signed by the County Executive after Council Approval.

The Permit’s effective date was December 30, 2014, expired December 29, 2019, and is administratively extended. The permit’s Impervious Surface Restoration Plan (ISRP) required the restoration of 20% of the County’s untreated urban impervious area within the MS4, an estimated 1,981.03 acres, to the Maximum Extent Practicable. The County met 100% of the goal of its ISRP, having spent $57,308,050 on compliance with the permit requirements. The County will have met the legislative requirements of the FAP through this financial commitment, publication of the attached documents, public hearing and vote by the County Council, and Certification by the County Executive. We welcome the public’s input into this process and encourage your comments.

Financial Assurance Plan (FAP)