1. The U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit program (“Program”) administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (“IDNR”) requires that cities meeting certain demographic and environmental impact criteria obtain from the IDNR an NPDES permit for the discharge of storm water from a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (“MS4”) (“MS4 Permit”). The City of Altoona (“City”) is subject to the Program and is required to obtain, and has obtained, an MS4 Permit. The City’s MS4 Permit is on file at the office of the City Clerk and is available for public inspection during regular office hours.
2. The purpose of this chapter is to comply with the MS4 Permit requirements and establish a set of water quality and quantity policies applicable to all surface waters to provide reasonable guidance for the regulation of storm water runoff for the purpose of protecting local water resources from degradation. The regulation of storm water runoff discharges from land development and other construction activities in order to control and minimize increases in storm water runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion, stream channel erosion and non-point source pollution associated with storm water runoff, is in the public interest and will prevent threats to public health and safety.