2508 N�•�
ORDINANCE NO. L� Q
AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES FOR NON-
STORM WATER DISCHARGES TO THE STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR
THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS,the City of West Memphis is in need of adopting regulations and penalties
for non-storm water discharges to the storm drainage system;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. PURPOSEANTENT.
The purpose of this ordinance is to provide for the health, safety, and general welfare of
the citizens of West Memphis, Arkansas, through the regulation of non-storm water discharges
to the storm drainage system to the maximum extent practicable as required by federal and state
law. This ordinance establishes methods for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the
municipal separate storm sewer system(MS4) in order to comply with requirements of the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process. The objectives of
this ordinance are:
(1) To regulate the contribution of 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 ordinance
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this ordinance, the following shall mean:
Authorized Enforcement Agency: employees or designees of the director of the
municipal agency designated to enforce this ordinance.
Best Management Practices (BMPs): schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices,
general good house keeping practices, pollution prevention and educational practices,
maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the
discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to stormwater, receiving waters, or
stormwater conveyance systems. BMPs also include treatment practices, operating
procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water
disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage.
Clean Water Act: The federal Water Pollution Control Act(33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.),
and any subsequent amendments thereto.
Construction Activity: Activities subject to NPDES Construction Permits. Currently
these include construction projects resulting in land disturbance of 5 acres or more.
Beginning in March 2003, NPDES Storm Water Phase H permits will be required for
construction projects resulting in land disturbance of 1 acre or more. Such activities
include but are not limited to clearing and grubbing, grading, excavating, and demolition.
Hazardous Materials: 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.
Illegal Discharge: Any direct or indirect non-storm water discharge to the storm drain
system, except as exempted in Section X of this ordinance.
Illicit Connections: An illicit connection is defined as either of the following:
Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which allows an
illegal discharge to enter the storm drain system including but not limited to any
conveyances which allow any non-storm water discharge including sewage,
process wastewater, and wash water to enter the storm drain system and any
connections to the storm drain system from indoor drains and sinks, regardless of
whether said drain or connection had been previously allowed, permitted, or
approved by an authorized enforcement agency; or
Any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial land use to
the storm drain system which has not been documented in plans, maps, or
equivalent records and approved by an authorized enforcement agency.
Industrial Activity: Activities subject to NPDES Industrial Permits as defined in 40
CFR, Section 122.26 (b)(14).
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Discharge
Permit: A permit issued by EPA (or by a State under authority delegated pursuant to 33
USC § 1342(b)) that authorizes the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States,
whether the permit is applicable on an individual, group, or general area-wide basis.
Non-Storm Water Discharge: Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not
composed entirely of storm water.
Person: Any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm, corporation or other
entity recognized by law and acting as either the owner or as the owner's agent.
Pollutant: Anything which causes or contributes to pollution. Pollutants may include,
but are not limited to: paints, varnishes, and solvents; oil and other automotive fluids;
non-hazardous liquid and solid wastes and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or
other discarded or abandoned objects, ordinances, and accumulations, so that same may
cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers;
hazardous substances and wastes; sewage, fecal coliform and pathogens; dissolved and
particulate metals; animal wastes; wastes and residues that result from constructing a
building or structure; and noxious or offensive matter of any kind.
Premises: Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land whether improved or
unimproved including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
Storm Drainage System: Publicly-owned facilities by which storm water 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:
Storm Water: Any surface flow, runoff, and drainage consisting entirely of water from
any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from such precipitation.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: 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.
Wastewater: Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated storm water,
discharged from a facility.
SECTION 3.APPLICABILITY.
This ordinance shall apply to all water entering the storm drain system generated on any
developed and undeveloped lands unless explicitly exempted by an authorized enforcement
agency.
SECTION 4. RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION.
The City Engineer shall administer, implement, and enforce the provisions of this
ordinance. Any powers granted or duties imposed upon the authorized enforcement agency may
be delegated in writing by the Director of the authorized enforcement agency to persons or
entities acting in the beneficial interest of or in the employ of the agency.
SECTION 5. SEVERABILITY.
The provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable. If any provision,
clause, sentence, or paragraph of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person,
establishment, or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other
provisions or application of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY.
The standards set forth herein and promulgated pursuant to this ordinance are minimum
standards; therefore this ordinance does not intend nor imply that compliance by any person will
ensure that there will be no contamination, pollution, nor unauthorized discharge of pollutants.
SECTION 7. DISCHARGE PROHIBITIONS.
Prohibition of Illegal Discharges.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm drain
system or watercourses any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters
containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water
quality standards, other than storm water.
The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge to the storm drain
system is prohibited except as described as follows:
(a) The following discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions established
by this ordinance: water line flushing or other potable water sources, landscape
irrigation or lawn watering, diverted stream flows, rising ground water, ground
water infiltration to storm drains, uncontaminated pumped ground water,
foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering
systems), crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation, springs, non-
commercial washing of vehicles, natural riparian habitat or wet-land flows,
swimming pools (if dechlorinated - typically less than one PPM chlorine), fire
fighting activities, and any other water source not containing Pollutants.
(b) Discharges specified in writing by the authorized enforcement agency as
being necessary to protect public health and safety.
(c) Dye testing is an allowable discharge, but requires a verbal notification to the
authorized enforcement agency prior to the time of the test.
(d) The prohibition shall not apply to any non-storm water discharge permitted
under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger
and administered under the authority of the Federal Environmental Protection
Agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements
of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations, and
provided that written approval has been granted for any discharge to the storm
drain system.
Prohibition of Illicit Connections.
(a) The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the
storm drain system is prohibited.
(b) This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the
past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices
applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.
(c) A person is considered to be in violation of this ordinance if the person connects a
line conveying sewage to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue.
SECTION 8. SUSPENSION OF MS4 ACCESS.
Suspension due to Illicit Discharges in Emergency Situations
The City of West Memphis, Arkansas, may, without prior notice, suspend MS4 discharge
access to a person when such suspension is necessary to stop an actual or threatened discharge
which presents or may present imminent and substantial danger to the environment, or to the
health or welfare of persons, or to the MS4 or Waters of the United States. 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
United States, or to minimize danger to persons.
Suspension due to the Detection of Illicit Discharge.
Any person discharging to the MS4 in violation of this ordinance may have their 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.
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.
SECTION 9. INDUSTRIAL OR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY DISCHARGES
Any person subject to an industrial or construction activity NPDES storm water
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 City of West Memphis, Arkansas, prior to the
allowing of discharges to the MS4.
SECTION 10. MONITORING OF DISCHARGES.
A. Applicability.
This section applies to all facilities that have storm water discharges associated
with industrial activity, including construction activity.
B. Access to Facilities.
(a) The City of West Memphis, Arkansas, shall be permitted to enter and inspect
facilities subject to regulation under this ordinance as often as may be necessary
to determine compliance with this ordinance. If a discharger has security
measures in force which require proper identification and clearance before entry
into its premises, the discharger shall make the necessary arrangements to allow
access to representatives of the authorized enforcement agency.
(b) Facility operators shall allow the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, ready
access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling,
examination and copying of records that must be kept under the conditions of an
NPDES permit to discharge storm water, and the performance of any additional
duties as defined by state and federal law.
(c)The City of West Memphis, Arkansas, shall have the right to set up on any
permitted facility such devices as are necessary in the opinion of the authorized
enforcement agency to conduct monitoring and/or sampling of the facility's storm
water discharge.
(d) The City of West Memphis, Arkansas, has the right to require the discharger
to install monitoring equipment as necessary. The facility's sampling and
monitoring equipment shall be maintained at all times in a safe and proper
operating condition by the discharger at its own expense. All devices used to
measure stormwater flow and quality shall be calibrated to ensure their accuracy.
(e) Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access to the facility
to be inspected and/or sampled shall be promptly removed by the operator at the
written or oral request of the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, and shall not be
replaced. The costs of clearing such access shall be borne by the operator.
(f) Unreasonable delays in allowing the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, access
to a permitted facility is a violation of a storm water discharge permit and of this
ordinance. A person who is the operator of a facility with a NPDES permit to
discharge storm water associated with industrial activity commits an offense if the
person denies the authorized enforcement agency reasonable access to the
permitted facility for the purpose of conducting any activity authorized or
required by this ordinance.
(g) If the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, has been refused access to any part of
the premises from which stormwater is discharged, and he/she is able to
demonstrate probable cause to believe that there may be a violation of this
ordinance, 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
ordinance or any order issued hereunder, or to protect the overall public health,
safety, and welfare of the community, then the authorized enforcement agency
may seek issuance of a search warrant from any court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 11. REQUIREMENT TO PREVENT, CONTROL AND REDUCE STORM
WATER POLLUTANTS BY THE USE OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
The City of West Memphis, Arkansas, will adopt requirements identifying Best
Management Practices for any activity, operation, or facility which may cause or contribute to
pollution or contamination of storm water, the storm drain system, or waters of the U.S. The
owner or operator of a commercial or industrial establishment shall provide, at their 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 these structural and
non-structural BMPs. Further, any person responsible for a property or premise, which is, or may
be, the source of an illicit discharge, may be required to implement, at said person's expense,
additional structural and non-structural BMPs to prevent the further discharge of pollutants to the
municipal separate storm sewer system. Compliance with all terms and conditions of a valid
NPDES permit authorizing the discharge of storm water 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 NPDES permit.
SECTION 12. WATERCOURSE PROTECTION.
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, 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.
SECTION 13. NOTIFICATION OF SPILLS.
Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any person responsible for a
facility or operation, or responsible for emergency response for a facility or operation has
information of any known or suspected release of materials which are resulting or may result in
illegal discharges or pollutants discharging into storm water, the storm drain system, or water of
the U.S. said person shall take all necessary steps to ensure the discovery, containment, and
cleanup of such release. In the event of such a release of hazardous materials said person shall
immediately notify emergency response agencies of the occurrence via emergency dispatch
services. In the event of a release of non-hazardous materials, said person shall notify the
authorized enforcement agency in person or by phone or facsimile no later than the next business
day. Notifications in person or by phone shall be confirmed by written notice addressed and
mailed to the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, within three business days of the phone 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.
SECTION 14. ENFORCEMENT.
A. Notice of Violation.
Whenever the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, finds that a person has violated a
prohibition or failed to meet a requirement of this Ordinance, the authorized enforcement
agency may order compliance by written notice of violation to the responsible person.
Such notice may require without limitation:
(a) The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
(b) The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
(c) That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall cease and desist;
(d) The abatement or remediation of storm water pollution or contamination
hazards and the restoration of any affected property; and
(e) Payment of a fine to cover administrative and femediation costs; and
(f) The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs.
If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property is required, the notice
shall set forth a deadline within which such remediation or restoration must be completed. Said
notice shall further advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within the
established deadline, the work will be done by a designated governmental agency or a contractor
and the expense thereof shall be charged to the violator.
SECTION 15. APPEAL OF NOTICE OF VIOLATION.
Any person receiving a Notice of Violation may appeal the determination of the
authorized enforcement agency. The notice of appeal must be received within 30 days from the
date of the Notice of Violation. Hearing on the appeal before the appropriate authority or his/her
designee shall take place within 15 days from the date of receipt of the notice of appeal. The
decision of the municipal authority or their designee shall be final.
SECTION 16. ENFORCEMENT MEASURES AFTER APPEAL.
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 30 days of the decision of the municipal
authority upholding the decision of the authorized enforcement agency, then representatives of
the authorized enforcement agency 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. 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.
SECTION 17. COST OF ABATEMENT OF THE VIOLATION.
Within thirty(30) days after abatement of the violation, the owner of the property will be
notified of the cost of abatement, including administrative costs. The property owner may file a
written protest objecting to the amount of the assessment within 30 days. If the amount due is
not paid within a timely manner as determined by the decision of the municipal authority or by
the expiration of the time in which to file an 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. Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall become liable to the
city by reason of such violation. The liability shall be paid in not more than 12 equal payments.
Interest at the legally allowable amount shall be assessed on the balance beginning on the l' day
following discovery of the violation.
SECTION 18.INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of
the requirements of this Ordinance. If a person has violated or continues to violate the
provisions of this ordinance, the authorized enforcement agency may petition for a preliminary
or permanent injunction restraining the person from activities which would create further
violations or compelling the person to perform abatement or remediation of the violation.
SECTION 19. COMPENSATORY ACTION.
In lieu of enforcement proceedings, penalties, and remedies authorized by this
Ordinance, the authorized enforcement agency may impose upon a violator alternative
compensatory actions, such as storm drain stenciling, attendance at compliance workshops, ditch
cleanup, etc.
SECTION 20. VIOLATIONS DEEMED A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
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 Ordinance is a threat to public
health, safety, and welfare, and is declared and deemed a nuisance, and may be summarily
abated or restored at the violator's expense, and/or a civil action to abate, enjoin, or otherwise
compel the cessation of such nuisance may be taken.
SECTION 21. CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
Any person that has violated or continues to violate this ordinance shall be liable to
criminal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, and shall be subject to a criminal penalty of
three hundred dollars ($300.00) per violation per day and/or imprisonment for a period of time
not to exceed one hundred fifty(150) days. The authorized enforcement agency may recover all
attorney's fees court costs and other expenses associated with enforcement of this ordinance,
including sampling and monitoring expenses.
SECTION 22. REMEDIES NOT EXCLUSIVE.
The remedies listed in this ordinance are not exclusive of any other remedies available
under any applicable federal, state or local law and it is within the discretion of the authorized
enforcement agency to seek cumulative remedies.
SECTION 23. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE.
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty(30)days after its final passage and
adoption. All prior ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby
repealed. /
PASSED AND ADOPTED this&0 day of J046 ' 2019.
AA66 ;0A11- 4e04--�
MARCO M. McCLENDON, Mayor
ATTEST:
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JO CE RAY, City Clerk
SPONSORED BY:
RECEIVED
City Clerk's Office
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