White House Stormwater Board outlines MS4 compliance milestones, new erosion controls

Isaiah, a Stormwater Division presenter, told the White House Stormwater Advisory Board on June 12 that the city submitted a response plan for the new MS4 permit on Jan. 31, 2023, and is working to meet milestones set by TDEC.

"Some of you probably are already aware, TDEC has established a new MS4 permit for all small MS4...On January 31, 2023, a response plan was submitted by the city in accordance with TDEC," Isaiah said during the presentation. He listed three items in the plan: providing municipal code (noted in the meeting as "municipal code 18-thirty 1" with signatures), updating compliance measures tied to rule "0400-forty 10.04" (stormwater control measures or SMCs), and completing buffer-management documentation. Isaiah said additional TDEC milestones outlined in the permit must be completed by June 30, 2024.

Why it matters: The MS4 permit requires small municipal separate storm sewer systems to document practices, update municipal codes, and show implementation of permanent stormwater control measures. City staff framed the work as both a regulatory obligation and as a driver of local maintenance and outreach activities.

Isaiah said the stormwater control measures language is under review and that the city will revise municipal code and implement best-management practices as required. The presentation tied the MS4 obligations to ongoing public outreach, including cleanup events and a tree giveaway the department runs as part of its community engagement.

Next steps: Staff said they are revising SMC language and completing buffer and grandfathering paperwork. The board did not set a separate vote on the MS4 plan during the meeting; staff reported internal milestones and an external deadline of June 30, 2024.