Federal regulations approved October 1999, require operators of small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) to obtain NPDES Phase II permits from DEP by March 2003. (NPDES II is an acronym for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II Stormwater Permitting Regulations.) This program affects all municipalities in "urbanized areas" of the state. Therefore, these identified municipalities will be subject to the NPDES Phase II requirements mandated by the Federal Clean Water Act as administered by DEP. For more information on NPDES II requirements, contact the DEP Regional Office.