AUGUSTA – In order to comply with new federal rules to regulate stormwater discharges, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has issued new general stormwater permits.

The permits will apply to the discharge of stormwater from 28 municipally operated separate storm sewer systems. The permits also apply to county, state and federal entities as well as to Maine Department of Transportation and Maine Turnpike Authority within urbanized areas. “These permits help plug the leak in our rules that up to now allowed stormwater discharges without control measures,” according to DEP’s David Ladd.

The permits authorize certain stormwater discharges and require each permittee to develop, implement and enforce a stormwater program management plan implementing control measures. The plan must be completed and all minimum control measures fully implemented by June 2, 2008.

More information is available at DEP’s Web site at: http://www.mainedep.com, keyword “stormwater.”

The following is a list of regulated small municipalities: Auburn, Bangor, Berwick, Biddeford, Brewer, Cape Elizabeth Cumberland, Eliot, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Hampden, Kittery, Lewiston, Milford, Old Orchard Beach, Old Town, Orono, Portland, Sabattus, Saco, Scarborough, South Berwick, South Portland, Veazie, Westbrook, Windham and Yarmouth.