Municipal Roads General Permit

What’s with ALL that ROCK in the DITCH? (Handy Brochure outlines details below!)

The large proportion of roads in TRORC’s region are gravel, which involves a wide range of erosion problems that impact surface water quality. These issues include gully erosion, stream channel erosion, sedimentation, stream incision, unfiltered conveyance of runoff, and the prevention of aquatic organism passage due to undersized structures. For these reasons, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) developed the Municipal Roads General Permit which requires towns to address their road erosion problems in the form of a Road Stormwater Management Plan.  

The Municipal Roads General Permit is intended to achieve significant reductions in stormwater-related erosion from municipal roads, both paved and unpaved. Municipalities will implement a customized, multi-year plan to stabilize their road drainage system. The plan will include bringing road drainage systems up to basic maintenance standards, and additional corrective measure to reduce erosion as necessary to meet a TMDL or other water quality restoration effort. The permit is required by Act 64, the Vermont Clean Water Act, and the Lake Champlain Phase I TMDL.

For more information on the DEC Municipal Roads program and the development of the Municipal Roads General Permit, contact Jim Ryan by email or at (802) 490-6140.

• Towns will need to apply by July 31, 2018
• Towns will PHASE IN Permit Coverage from 2019-2021
• 2022 MRGP Compliance Status

Permit Documents

• Final Municipal Roads General Permit
• Response to Comments received during the public comment period.
• Municipalities shall apply for the MRGP by July 31, 2018.  The Notice of Intent (NOI) application form MRGP NOI

Road Stormwater Management Plan (RSWMP)

Municipalities shall complete a Road Stormwater Management Plan (RSWMP) by December 31, 2020.  The RSWMP consists of the municipality’s Implementation Table and results of the Road Erosion Inventory.

• SAMPLE PLAN BRAINTREE
• Inventory results from mid-2018
• Road Erosion Inventory Forms
  • Road Erosion Inventory
    • Paved Roads with Catch Basins (REI Supplement)
    • Paved and Gravel Roads with Drainage Ditches (REI Supplement)
    • MRGP methodology page and FAQs for REI app

Assistance Documents

• MRGP presentation
• Intermittent Stream Culvert Sizing Guidance
• Methodology for determining GIS-derived municipal roads hydrologic connectivity proximity analysis
• Summary Sheet
• FAQ

Permit Fee Information

MRGP fees are established by the Legislature.  The current fee schedule, 3 V.S.A § 2822, is available on the legislative website here.  The sections relevant to the MRGP can be found beginning at 3 V.S.A § 2822 (j)(2).

• $240 Administrative processing fee due with the submittal of the Road Erosion Inventory and REI Permit Amendment form, if not already submitted.  This was due December 31, 2020.
• $500-$1,800 Prorated annual operating fee (see prorated annual operating fee link for amount for your municipality). This is due before June 1, 2021 and every year thereafter. 
• Prorated MRGP Annual Operating Fees
• Municipal Road Miles and Population for MRGP fees

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Staff Contact

Rita Seto, Senior Planner

[email protected]

802-457-3188 ext. 3004