[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Cottage Grove as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction and fire prevention — See Ch. 130.
Erosion, sediment and water runoff control — See Ch. 163.
Fires and blasting — See Ch. 176.
Floodplain zoning — See Ch. 183.
Water and sewers — See Ch. 312.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The title of this chapter was changed
from “Stormwater Management” to “Illicit Discharge
Detection and Elimination” 5-16-2016 by Ord. No. 03-2016.
[Adopted 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 04-2008]
A.
Authority. This article is adopted under the authority granted by
ss. 283.33, Wis. Stats., and required by § NR 216.07(3)(a),
Wis. Adm. Code.
B.
Legislative findings. The Village Board of the Village of Cottage
Grove finds that discharges to the municipal separate storm sewer
system that are not composed entirely of stormwater runoff contribute
to increased nonpoint source pollution and degradation of receiving
waters. The impacts of these discharges adversely affect public health
and safety, drinking water supplies, recreation, fish and other aquatic
life, property values and other uses of lands and waters.
C.
Purpose and intent. This article establishes methods for controlling
the introduction of pollutants into the municipal separate storm sewer
system (MS4) in order to comply with requirements of the Wisconsin
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit process. The
objectives of this article are:
(1)
To regulate the contribution of nonstormwater pollutants to the municipal
separate storm sewer system (MS4) by stormwater discharges by any
user;
(2)
To prohibit illicit connections and discharges to the municipal separate
storm sewer system;
(3)
To establish legal authority to carry out all inspection, surveillance
and monitoring procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this
article.
D.
Abrogation and greater restrictions. It is not intended by this article
to repeal, abrogate, annul, impair or interfere with any existing
easements, covenants, deed restrictions, agreements, rules, regulations,
ordinances or permits previously adopted or issued pursuant to law.
However, wherever this article imposes greater restrictions, the provisions
of this article shall govern.
E.
Interpretation. In their interpretation and application, the provisions
of this article shall be held to be the minimum requirements and shall
not be deemed a limitation or repeal of any other power granted by
the Wisconsin Statutes. Where any terms or requirements of this article
may be inconsistent or conflicting, the more restrictive requirement
or interpretation shall control.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A discharge prohibited by this article that occurs by chance
and without planning or thought prior to occurrence.
A practice, technique, or measure that is an effective, practical
means of preventing or reducing the discharge of pollutants directly
or indirectly to stormwater, receiving waters, or stormwater conveyance
systems. This can include a structural or operational practice, schedule
of activities, prohibition of practices, general good housekeeping,
pollution prevention and educational practices, maintenance procedures,
and other management practices systems. A BMP may also be a practice
that controls site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water disposal,
or drainage from raw materials storage.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251
et seq.) and any subsequent amendments thereto.
Any land alterations or disturbances that may result in soil
erosion, sedimentation, or change in runoff, including but not limited
to removal of ground cover, grading, excavating, and filling of land.
The individual staffed by the Village to direct the Village's
Department of Public Works.
Any material, including any substance, waste, or combination
thereof, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical,
chemical, or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly
contribute to, a substantial present or potential hazard to human
health, safety, property, or the environment when improperly treated,
stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
Either of the following:
Any pipe, open channel, drain or conveyance, whether on the
surface or subsurface, which allows an illicit discharge to enter
the storm drain system, including but not limited to any conveyances
which allow any nonstormwater discharge including sewage, process
wastewater, and wash water to enter the storm drain system, regardless
of whether such pipe, open channel, drain or conveyance has been previously
allowed, permitted, or approved by an authorized enforcement agency;
or
Any pipe, open channel, drain or conveyance connected to the
municipal separate storm sewer system which has not been documented
in plans, maps, or equivalent records and approved by an authorized
enforcement agency.
Any direct or indirect nonstormwater discharge to the municipal separate storm sewer system, except as exempted in § 164-5A(2) of this article.
Activities subject to NPDES industrial permits as defined
in 40 CFR, Section 122.26 (b)(14).
Any facility designed or used for collecting and/or conveying
stormwater, including but not limited to any roads with drainage systems,
highways, village streets, curbs, gutters, inlets, catch basins, piped
storm drains, pumping facilities, structural stormwater controls,
ditches, swales, natural and man-made or altered drainage channels,
reservoirs, and other drainage structures, and which is:
Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed
entirely of stormwater.
Except to the extent exempted from this article, any individual,
partnership, firm, association, joint venture, public or private corporation,
trust, estate, commission, board, public or private institution, utility,
cooperative, city, county or other political subdivision of the state,
any interstate body or any other legal entity.
Anything that causes or contributes to pollution. Pollutants
may include, but are not limited to, paints, varnishes, and solvents;
petroleum hydrocarbons; automotive fluids; cooking grease; detergents
(biodegradable or otherwise); degreasers; cleaning chemicals; nonhazardous
liquid and solid wastes and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage,
litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects and accumulations,
so that same may cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides,
herbicides, and fertilizers; liquid and solid wastes; sewage, fecal
coliform and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes;
wastes and residues that result from constructing a building or structure;
concrete and cement; and noxious or offensive matter of any kind.
The contamination or other alteration of any water's physical,
chemical or biological properties by the addition of any constituent
and includes but is not limited to, a change in temperature, taste,
color, turbidity, or odor of such waters, or the discharge of any
liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive, or other substance into any such
waters as will or is likely to create a nuisance or render such waters
harmful, detrimental or injurious to the public health, safety, welfare,
or environment, or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural,
recreational, or other legitimate beneficial uses, or to livestock,
wild animals, birds, fish or other aquatic life.
Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land, whether
improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
Publicly owned facilities by which stormwater is collected
and/or conveyed, including but not limited to any roads with drainage
systems, municipal streets, gutters, curbs, inlets, piped storm drains,
pumping facilities, retention and detention basins, natural and human-made
or altered drainage channels, reservoirs, and other drainage structures.
The flow of water that results from, and which occurs during
and immediately following, a rainfall, snowmelt or icemelt event.
A document which describes the best management practices
and activities to be implemented by a person or business to identify
sources of pollution or contamination at a site and the actions to
eliminate or reduce pollutant discharges to stormwater, stormwater
conveyance systems, and/or receiving waters to the maximum extent
practicable.
The waters derived from rains falling or snowmelt or icemelt
occurring within a drainage area, flowing over the surface of the
ground and/or collected in channels, watercourses or conduits.
A structural stormwater management facility or device that
controls stormwater runoff and changes the characteristics of that
runoff, including, but not limited to, the quantity and quality, the
period of release or the velocity of flow.
Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated stormwater,
discharged from a facility.
The meaning given in s. 281.01(18), Wis. Stats.
A permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
(WDNR) under authority delegated pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1342(b)
that authorizes the discharge of pollutants to waters of the state,
whether the permit is applicable on an individual, group, or general
areawide basis.
This article applies to all substances entering the Village
MS4 generated on any developed or undeveloped lands unless otherwise
authorized or explicitly exempted by this article or the WDNR.
The standards set forth herein and promulgated pursuant to this
article are minimum standards; therefore, this article does not intend
nor imply that compliance by any person will ensure that there will
be no contamination, pollution, nor unauthorized discharge of pollutants.
A.
Prohibition of illicit discharges.
(1)
Prohibition. No person shall throw, drain, discharge, cause to be
discharged, or allow others under their control to discharge into
the municipal separate storm sewer system or watercourse any materials
other than stormwater, including but not limited to pollutants or
waters containing pollutants.
(2)
Exemptions. The following nonstormwater discharges are excluded from § 164-5A(1) of this article:
(a)
Waterline flushing or other potable water sources;
(b)
Landscape irrigation or lawn watering;
(c)
Diverted, natural riparian habitat and/or wetland flows;
(d)
Rising groundwater, groundwater infiltration to storm drains,
and/or uncontaminated pumped groundwater;
(e)
Foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater
dewatering systems) and crawl space pumps;
(f)
Air-conditioning condensation;
(g)
Springs;
(h)
Noncommercial washing of vehicles;
(i)
Dechlorinated (less than one ppm chlorine) swimming pool water;
(j)
Fire-fighting/training activities and other discharges specified
in writing by the Director of Public Works as being necessary to protect
public health and safety; and
(k)
Other water sources determined by the Director of Public Works
in writing as not containing pollutants that cause or contribute to
waterway degradation, including but not limited to a violation of
applicable water quality standards and/or degradation of the biotic
integrity of surface water bodies and their floodplains.
B.
Prohibition of illegal connections.
(1)
The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit
connections to the storm drain system is prohibited. This prohibition
expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in
the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under
law or practices application or prevailing at the time of connection.
(2)
A person is in violation of this article if the person connects a
line conveying sewage to the MS4 or allows such a connection to continue.
(3)
Any drain or conveyance that has not been documented in plans, maps
or equivalent, and which may be connected to the storm sewer system,
shall be located by the owner or occupant of that property upon receipt
of written notice of violation from the Director of Public Works requiring
that such locating be completed. Such notice will specify a reasonable
time period within which the location of the drain or conveyance is
to be completed, that the drain or conveyance be identified as storm
sewer, sanitary sewer or other, and the outfall location or point
of connection to the storm sewer system, sanitary sewer system or
other discharge point be identified. Results of these investigations
are to be documented and provided to the Director of Public Works.
A.
Suspension due to illicit discharges in emergency situations.
(1)
The Director of Public Works may, without prior notice, suspend MS4
discharge access to a person when such suspension is necessary to
stop an actual or threatened discharge that presents or may present
imminent and substantial danger to the environment, to the health
or welfare of persons, or to the MS4 or waters of the state.
(2)
If the violator fails to comply with a suspension order issued in
an emergency, the authorized enforcement agency may take such steps
as deemed necessary to prevent or minimize damage to the MS4 or waters
of the state or to minimize danger to persons.
B.
Suspension due to the detection of illicit discharge.
(1)
Any person discharging to the MS4 in violation of this article may
have its MS4 access terminated if such termination would abate or
reduce an illicit discharge. The authorized enforcement agency will
notify a violator of the proposed termination of its MS4 access. The
violator may petition the authorized enforcement agency for a reconsideration
and hearing.
(2)
A person commits an offense if the person reinstates MS4 access to
premises terminated pursuant to this section without the prior approval
of the authorized enforcement agency.
Any person subject to an industrial or construction activity
WPDES stormwater discharge permit shall comply with all provisions
of such permit. Proof of compliance with said permit may be required
in a form acceptable to the Director of Public Works prior to the
allowing of discharges to the MS4.
A.
The Director of Public Works may adopt requirements identifying best
management practices for any activity, operation, or facility that
may cause or contribute to pollution or contamination of stormwater,
the storm drain system, or waters of the United States.
B.
The owner or operator of a commercial or industrial establishment shall provide, at its own expense, reasonable protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes into the municipal storm drain system or watercourses through the use of structural and nonstructural BMPs identified by the Director of Public Works under Subsection A.
C.
Any person responsible for a property or premises which is or may be, the source of an illicit discharge may be required to implement, at said person's expense, structural and nonstructural BMPs, in additional to those required by Subsection B, to prevent the further discharge of pollutants to the municipal separate storm sewer system.
D.
Compliance with all terms and conditions of a valid WPDES permit
authorizing the discharge of stormwater associated with industrial
activity, to the extent practicable, shall be deemed compliance with
the provisions of this section. These BMPs shall be part of a stormwater
pollution prevention plan (SWPP) as necessary for compliance with
requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit.
Every person owning property through which a watercourse passes,
or such person's lessee, shall keep and maintain that part of the
watercourse within the property free of trash, debris, excessive vegetation,
and other obstacles that would pollute, contaminate, cause erosion,
or significantly retard the flow of water through the watercourse.
In addition, the owner or lessee shall maintain existing privately
owned structures within or adjacent to a watercourse, so that such
structures will not become a hazard to the use, function, or physical
integrity of the watercourse.
The Director of Public Works or his/her designee shall be permitted
to enter and inspect properties and facilities at reasonable times
and as often as necessary to determine compliance with this article.
A.
If a property or facility has security measures in force which require
proper identification and clearance before entry into its premises,
the owner or operator shall make the necessary arrangements to allow
access to representatives of the Director of Public Works.
B.
The owner or operator shall allow the Director of Public Works or
his/her designee ready access to all parts of the premises for the
purposes of inspection, sampling, photography, videotaping, examination
and copying of any records that are required under the conditions
of an WPDES permit to discharge stormwater.
C.
The Director of Public Works or his/her designee shall have the right
to set up on any property or facility such devices as are necessary
in the opinion of the Director of Public Works or his/her designee
to conduct monitoring and/or sampling of flow discharges.
D.
The Director of Public Works or his/her designee may require the
owner or operator to install monitoring equipment and perform monitoring
as necessary, and make the monitoring data available to the Director
of Public Works or his/her designee. This sampling and monitoring
equipment shall be maintained at all times in a safe and proper operating
condition by the owner or operator at his/her own expense. All devices
used to measure flow and quality shall be calibrated to ensure their
accuracy.
E.
Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access to
the property or facility to be inspected and/or sampled shall be promptly
removed by the owner or operator at the written or oral request of
the Director of Public Works or his/her designee and shall not be
replaced. The costs of clearing such access shall be borne by the
owner or operator.
F.
Unreasonable delays in allowing the Director of Public Works or his/her
designee access to a facility is a violation of this article.
G.
If the Director of Public Works or his/her designee has been refused
access to any part of the premises from which stormwater is discharged,
and the Director of Public Works or his/her designee is able to demonstrate
probable cause to believe that there may be a violation of this article
or that there is a need to inspect and/or sample as part of a routine
inspection and sampling program designed to verify compliance with
this article or any order issued hereunder, or to protect the overall
public health, safety, environment and welfare of the community, then
the Director of Public Works or his/her designee may seek issuance
of a search warrant from any court of competent jurisdiction.
A.
Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any person
responsible for a facility, activity or operation, or responsible
for emergency response for a facility, activity or operation, has
information of any known or suspected release of pollutants or nonstormwater
discharges from that facility or operation, which are resulting or
may result in illicit discharges or pollutants discharging into stormwater,
the Village's municipal separate storm sewer system, waters of the
state, or waters of the United States, said person shall take all
necessary steps to ensure the discovery, containment, and cleanup
of such release so as to minimize the effects of the discharge.
B.
Said person shall notify the authorized enforcement agency in person
or by phone, facsimile or in person no later than 24 hours of the
nature, quantity and time of occurrence of the discharge. Notifications
in-person or by phone shall be confirmed by written notice addressed
and mailed to the Director of Public Works within three business days
of the phone or in-person notice. If the discharge of prohibited materials
emanates from a commercial or industrial establishment, the owner
or operator of such establishment shall also retain an on-site written
record of the discharge and the actions taken to prevent its recurrence.
Such records shall be retained for at least three years. Said person
shall also take immediate steps to ensure no recurrence of the discharge
or spill.
C.
In the event of such a release of hazardous materials, emergency
response agencies and/or other appropriate agencies shall be immediately
notified.
D.
Failure to provide notification of a release as provided above is
a violation of this article.
A.
notice of violation. Whenever the Director of Public Works or his/her
designee finds that a violation of this article has occurred, the
Director of Public Works or his/her designee may order compliance
by a written notice of violation to the responsible person.
(1)
The notice of violation shall contain:
(a)
The name and address of the alleged violator;
(b)
The address, when available, or a description of the building,
structure or land upon which the violation is occurring or has occurred;
(c)
A statement specifying the nature of the violation;
(d)
A description of the remedial measures necessary to restore
compliance with this article, and a time schedule for the completion
of such remedial action;
(e)
A statement of the penalty or penalties that shall or may be
assessed against the person to whom the notice of violation is directed;
and
(f)
A statement that the determination of violation may be appealed
to the Public Works, Properties, and Sustainability Committee by filing
a written notice of appeal with the Director of Public Works within
five days of the service of notice of violation.
[Amended 3-7-2022 by Ord. No. 02-2022]
(2)
Such notice may require, without limitation:
(a)
The performance of monitoring, analyses, and/or reporting;
(b)
The elimination of illicit discharges and illegal connections;
(c)
That violating discharges, practices or operations shall cease
and desist;
(d)
The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination
hazards and the restoration of any affected property;
(e)
Payment to cover administrative and abatement costs; and
(f)
The implementation of pollution prevention practices.
B.
Appeal of notice of violation.
(1)
Any person receiving a notice of violation may appeal the determination
of the Director of Public Works.
(2)
The notice of appeal must be received within five days from the notice
of violation.
(3)
Hearing on the appeal before the Public Works, Properties, and Sustainability
Committee shall take place within 10 days from the receipt of the
notice of appeal.
[Amended 3-7-2022 by Ord. No. 02-2022]
(4)
The decision of the Public Works, Properties, and Sustainability
Committee shall be final.
[Amended 3-7-2022 by Ord. No. 02-2022]
C.
Enforcement/abatement measures after appeal.
(1)
If the violation has not been corrected pursuant to the requirements
set forth in the notice of violation or, in the event of an appeal,
within five days of the Public Works, Properties, and Sustainability
Committee upholding the decision of the Director of Public Works,
then representatives of the Director of Public Works shall enter upon
the subject private property and are authorized to take any and all
measures necessary to abate the violation and/or restore the property.
[Amended 3-7-2022 by Ord. No. 02-2022]
(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person, owner, agent, or person in possession
of any premises to refuse to allow the government agency or designated
contractor to enter upon the premises for the purposes set forth above.
D.
Costs of abatement of the violation.
(1)
Within 30 days after abatement of the violation, the owner of the
property will be notified of the cost of abatement, including administrative
costs.
(2)
The property owner may file a written objection to the amount of
the assessment within 15 days.
(3)
If the amount due is not paid within 30 days after receipt of the
notice or, if an appeal is taken, within 30 days after a decision
on said appeal, the charges shall become a special assessment against
the property and shall constitute a lien on the property for the amount
of the assessment.
(4)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall
become liable to the Village by reason of such violation.
A.
Civil penalties. In the event the alleged violator fails to take the remedial measures set forth in the notice of violation or otherwise fails to cure the violations described therein within 10 days, or such greater period as the local permitting authority shall deem appropriate, after the local permitting authority has taken one or more of the actions described in § 164-12, the local permitting authority may impose a penalty, not to exceed $1,000 (depending on the severity of the violation) for each day the violation remains unremedied after receipt of the notice of violation.
B.
Criminal penalties. For intentional and flagrant violations of this
article, the local permitting authority may issue a citation to the
alleged violator requiring such person to appear in Municipal Court
to answer charges for such violation.
In addition to the enforcement processes and penalties provided,
any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of
the provisions of this article is a threat to public health, safety,
welfare, and the environment and is declared and deemed a nuisance
and may be abated by injunctive or other equitable relief as provided
by law.
A.
The remedies listed in this article are not exclusive of any other
remedies available under any applicable federal, state or local law,
and the Village may seek cumulative remedies.
B.
The Village of Cottage Grove may recover in full attorney's fees,
court costs, and other expenses associated with enforcement of this
article, including sampling and monitoring expenses.
If any section, clause, provision or portion of this article
is judged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction,
the remainder of the article shall remain in force and not be affected
by such judgment.
This article shall be in force and effect from and after its
adoption and publication.
