BOSTON (WWLP) - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking the public's input regarding municipal stormwater management permitting. The EPA is updating the general permit from 2016 that requires Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) to create a program that will control the disch arge of pollutants from stormwater to rivers, ponds, lakes, wetlands, and other bodies of water, following the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. EPA climate grant freeze impacts Springfield funding that includes combatting asthma Stormwater can hold many toxic pollutants filtered unnaturally through soil and plants as it comes through municipal runoff water systems made up of storm drains, pipes, and ditches. These pollutants can impact water quality with the growth of harmful algae and bacteria, as well as the accumulation of trash, oil, grease, and metals that can make waters unsafe for recreational use and aquatic life. Updates to the permit include new requirements expanding public engagement, developing street design standards that feature nature-based solutions, developing an integrated system to track MS4 assets and maintenance, implementing plans developed under the 2016 permit to install controls to treat stormwater runoff on permittee-owned property, and upgrading catch basins to better control solids in stormwater runoff. The EPA will hold a virtual hearing for the Draft Permit on May 7 at 7:00 p.m. Written comments from the public on the Draft Permit will be accepted until May 21. The registration for the virtual public hearing, as well as the draft permit and associated documents, can be found at epa.gov. Local News Headlines EPA to hold hearing on water pollution control permits Construction begins at Pontoosuc Lake Park Portion of Cold Hill Road in Granby closed due to crash Pittsfield man sentenced to prison for multiple counts of sexual assault of a child WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less