(A) It is the purpose of this chapter to protect, maintain and enhance water quality and the environment of the City of Goose Creek and the short-term and long-term public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Goose Creek. This chapter is also designed to minimize property damage by establishing requirements and procedures to control the potential adverse effects of increased stormwater runoff and related pollutant loads associated with both future development and existing developed land. Proper management of stormwater runoff will further the purpose of this chapter to insure a functional drainage system, reduce the effects of development on land and stream channel erosion, attain and maintain water quality standards, enhance the local environment associated with the drainage system, reduce local flooding, maintain to the maximum extent practical pre-developed runoff characteristics of the area in terms of flow rate, volume and pollutant concentration and facilitate economic development while mitigating associated pollutant, flooding, erosion and drainage impacts.
(B) It is further the purpose of this chapter to direct the development and implementation of a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) and to establish legal authority which authorizes or enables the City of Goose Creek at a minimum to:
(1) Comply with state and federal requirements related to stormwater management developed pursuant to the Clean Water Act, being 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.;
(2) Prohibit illicit discharges to the City of Goose Creek stormwater management systems and facilities and receiving waters;
(3) Control to the maximum extent practical, the discharge to the City of Goose Creek stormwater management systems and facilities and receiving waters of spills, dumping or disposal of materials other than stormwater;
(4) Address specific categories of non-stormwater discharges and similar other incidental non-stormwater discharges listed in the SWMP;
(5) Require erosion and sediment controls to protect water quality on all applicable new and re-development projects both during and after construction;
(6) Where necessary, require stormwater discharge rate and volume control during and following development, redevelopment or construction;
(7) Define and implement procedures of site plan review and site inspection of all applicable construction projects within the City of Goose Creek;
(8) Control the discharge from the City of Goose Creek stormwater management systems and facilities and receiving waters of pollutants in such quantity that water quality standards are met or to otherwise address post-construction, long-term water quality. This includes the necessary means needed to comply with state and federal regulations regarding stormwater management quantity and quality;
(9) Define procedures for addressing citizen complaints of stormwater-related issues within the City of Goose Creek;
(10) Provide for adequate long-term operation and maintenance of Best Management Practices (BMPs);
(11) Prior to any review of construction activities within the City of Goose Creek, require a letter from the office of the Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (DHEC) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management that states the proposed project is consistent with the Coastal Zone Management Plan;
(12) Carry out inspection, surveillance and monitoring procedures necessary to determine compliance and noncompliance with permit conditions, including the prohibition on illicit discharges to the City of Goose Creek storm sewer system and receiving waters;
(13) Encourage the use of non-traditional strategies to control stormwater discharges;
(14) Encourage the creation of stream buffers and preservation of natural spaces to provide areas that could be used for flood storage, stormwater treatment and control and recreation. The areas may be required in special protection areas needed to protect, maintain or enhance water quality and protect property from flooding problems;
(15) Develop, implement and enforce action plans to address pollutant load reductions required in impaired water bodies and to work towards compliance with total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) established by EPA or SCDHEC and to work towards meeting water quality standards; and
(16) Enable enforcement of all authorizations.
(C) It is still further the purpose of this chapter to establish review authority for the City of Goose Creek Department of Public Works for establishing consistency of construction projects with the City of Goose Creek SWMP.
(Ord. 07-017, passed 11-13-2007)