It is the purpose of these regulations to:
(a) Provide a means to protect, maintain, and enhance the environment of the City of Cookeville and the public health, safety and the general welfare of the citizens of the city, by controlling discharges of pollutants into the city's stormwater system and to maintain and improve the quality of the receiving waters into which the stormwater outfalls flow, including, without limitation, lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, wetlands, and groundwater of the city.
(b) Enable the City of Cookeville to comply with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit (NPDES) and applicable regulations, 40 CFR section 122.26 for stormwater discharges.
(c) Allow the City of Cookeville to exercise the powers granted in Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-221-1105, which provides that, among other powers municipalities have with respect to stormwater facilities, is the power by ordinance or resolution to:
(1) Exercise general regulation over the planning, location, construction, and operation and maintenance of stormwater facilities in the municipality, whether or not owned and operated by the municipality;
(2) Adopt any rules and regulations deemed necessary to accomplish the purposes of this statute, including the adoption of a system of fees for services and permits;
(3) Establish standards to regulate the quantity of stormwater discharged and to regulate stormwater contaminants as may be necessary to protect water quality;
(4) Review and approve plans and plats for stormwater management in proposed subdivisions or commercial developments;
(5) Issue permits for stormwater discharges, due to construction or for construction, alteration, extension, or repair of stormwater facilities;
(6) Suspend or revoke permits when it is determined that the permittee has violated any applicable ordinance, resolution, or condition of the permit; or be charged with a civil offense.
(7) Regulate and prohibit discharges into stormwater facilities of sanitary, industrial, or commercial sewage or waters that have otherwise been contaminated; and
(8) Expend funds to remediate or mitigate the detrimental effects of contaminated land or other sources of stormwater contamination, whether public or private.
The Public Works Department shall administer the provisions of these regulations.
(as added by Ord. #004-06-11, July 2004, and amended by Ord. #015-01-01, February 2015, and amended by Ord. #O24-06-18, July 2024)