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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">January 13, 2025</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Matt Nestor
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />City of Columbia Utilities
<br />573.874.7307
<br />Matthew.Nestor@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City of Columbia Utilities seeks comments on Stormwater Management Plan</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The City of Columbia Stormwater Utility invites residents to read and comment on a draft of the updated City of Columbia/Boone County/University of Missouri joint Stormwater Management Plan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The plan describes the programs, practices and goals for addressing the water-quality impacts of stormwater runoff over the next five years to comply with its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which is delegated authority by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interested parties are encouraged to visit </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://ehs.missouri.edu/swmp/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ehs.missouri.edu/swmp/</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to review the draft Stormwater Management Plan. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The City of Columbia, Boone County and the University of Missouri have scheduled a public meeting to discuss the draft for 5:30 - 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 in Conference Room 1A/1B at City Hall, 701 East Broadway.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Comments also will be accepted at </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9oAwiVh4z85Lo8K"><span style="font-weight: 400;">missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9oAwiVh4z85Lo8K</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> through Feb. 28.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Under the federal Clean Water Act, MS4 permits are issued to cities, counties and other public entities across the nation that operate a stormwater drainage system that collects and manages stormwater runoff and discharges it to streams, lakes and other water bodies. The joint MS4 permit was first issued in 2003 and has implemented a variety of programs and initiatives to address stormwater quality since that time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This Stormwater Management Plan update satisfies a primary requirement of the MS4 permit. The plan describes the approach for reducing pollutants in stormwater runoff through the following measures:</span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Public education and outreach on stormwater impacts</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Public involvement and participation</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Illicit discharge detection and elimination</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Construction site stormwater runoff controls</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Post-construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations</span></li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many of the programs included are well-established and do not represent major changes from the previous five years. In some program areas, new goals have been included based on identified needs and priorities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Residents can read about the plan at </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://ehs.missouri.edu/env/swmp"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ehs.missouri.edu/env/swmp</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interested parties can leave comments at </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9oAwiVh4z85Lo8K"><span style="font-weight: 400;">missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9oAwiVh4z85Lo8K</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For more information on the City of Columbia's programs, visit </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="http://como.gov/utilities/columbias-stormwater-utility"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CoMo.gov/utilities/columbias-stormwater-utility</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p></div>
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<div class="attachments">This release has the following attachments:<br /><br /><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=3281">2024 Stormwater Management Plan</a></div>
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