Cost Analysis for Implementing MS4 Permit in Towns of Central Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air and water, the safe management of toxics and hazards, the recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, the timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources (http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/about/).

The goal of our project is to assess the total cost of implementing the MS4 stormwater permit requirements for four individual central Massachusetts municipalities as compared to the cost of implementing the requirements as part of the Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition (CMRSWC), comprised of 30 central Massachusetts municipalities.

We are working with four central Massachusetts municipalities and conducting a cost analysis of the implementation of the MS4 permits. We will break down the six minimum control measures of the MS4 permit and look at the cost of implementing each one with great detail. We will be researching databases, conducting interviews, and doing field work to get a full understanding of all costs associated with MS4 permit compliance.

Student Researchers