Regulatory Acronyms
BMP
Best Management Practices
CC
Construction Controls (temporary BMPs on site developments of 1 acre or more OR within 500 feet of “waters of the state” and discharging storm water in Michigan this is also Part 91 of PA451 of 1994 Soil Erosion & Sediment Control BMPs)
COC
Certificate of Coverage is the document issued by EGLE which provides the framework and reporting deadlines for an NPDES Permit
CSO
Combined Sewer Overflow a combined sewer is a system which collects and transfers stormwater and wastewater in the same pipe system. These systems are prone to overflows which can discharge untreated wastewater into surface water unless properly designed to handle excess stormwater runoff.
DPS
Department of Public Services
DPW
Department of Public Works
EGLE
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy - a term used to describe an act to restructure the original environmental protection efforts of MDEQ, while also developing new ways to resolve problems surrounding Michigan’s drinking water, protect the Great Lakes, and combat impacts of climate change.
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency (Federal Agency overseeing NPDES program and other federal initiatives for the environment’s protection)
GIS
Geographic Information System a database management system which links maps and data for a more comprehensive and interactive management of spatial data.
GPS
Global Positioning System
H&H
Hydrologic & Hydraulic usually a spreadsheet model used by engineers to determine storm water flows from areas to a point source and then size pipes to convey the flows.
IDEP
Illicit Discharge Elimination Plan (one of the six minimum measures for stormwater, designed to eliminate illicit discharges/connections to storm systems)
MS4
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
MDEQ
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality now referred to as EGLE (see above)
MDNR
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
NPDES
National Polluant Discharge Elimination System
NOI
Notice of Intent
OSDS
On Site Disposal System (Septic Tank and drain field) aka On-site treatment systems
PCC
Post Construction Controls (known for decades as a stormwater management plan in communities / counties, it is a plan for permanent BMPs for site development)
PEP
Public Education Plan (one of the six minimum measures for stormwater)
PPP
Public Participation/involvement Plan (one of the six minimum measures for stormwater)
POTW
Publicly Owned Treatment Works is a term used in the United States for a sewage treatment plant that is owned, and usually operated, by a government agency. In the U.S., POTWs are typically owned by local government agencies, and are usually designed to treat domestic sewage and not industrial wastewater.
PP/GH
Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping – a plan/procedures developed for staff of a NPDES permittee working outside such as a DPW, DPS person or groundskeepers, one of the six minimum measures.
SAW
Stormwater Asset Management & Wastewater
SESC
Soil Erosion and Sediment Control
SOP
Standard Operating Procedures these are methods and actions for municipal maintenance, grounds-keeping and administrative staff to assure tasks are done in a manner to prevent pollution
SSO
Sanitary Sewer Overflow
SWMP
Storm Water Management Plan acronym by the Feds/State which refers to the six minimum measures to comply with stormwater regulations/permit
SWPPP
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (actions/BMPs that industrial sites do for compliance with their NPDES Industrial stormwater permit)
WMP
Watershed Management Plan
WWTP
Wastewater Treatment Plant