The primary mission of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) is to provide a safe, efficient, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sound intermodal transportation system for the user. This mission involves planning, designing, constructing and maintaining large-scale transportation facilities (e.g., freeways, highways, interchanges, bridges, and tunnels). The AHTD also has the responsibility of accomplishing its mission in ways that comply with public policy and applicable regulations, including complying with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program of the Clean Water Act. Under the federal regulations, portions of the AHTD's properties, facilities, and activities come under the jurisdiction of NPDES regulations for three primary reasons:The AHTD's highways and highway-related properties, facilities and activities are served by extensive storm drain systems that are often connected to, and are considered to be, municipal separate storm sewer systems, and are required to be permitted under the federal Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) storm water regulations. Storm water discharges within the city limits of Little Rock, from the City of Little Rock and AHTD MS4s, are covered by ADEQ Permit Number ARS000002.
NPDES Phase I and II regulations require permitting action for construction that results in soil disturbance of areas equal to or greater than one acre, including highway construction and maintenance. This website explains details of AHTD storm water management, potential sources and types of pollution, gives links to current state and federal regulations, and suggests measures that the public can take to reduce polluted storm water runoff. In addition, the website will detail the Department’s ongoing development and maintenance of the AHTD Storm Water Management Program. Choose one of the topics on the top of the page that you wish to know more about and click on the link. This action will connect you to web pages of additional information on that topic. For further information concerning the AHTD Storm Water Program, contact the AHTD Environmental Division, NPDES Section, at (501) 569-2230, or e-mail to:
Stormwater@arkansashighways.com
Stormwater is a term used to describe water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt or runoff water from overwatering that enters the stormwater system. Stormwater that does not soak into the ground becomes surface runoff , which either flows into surface waterways or is channeled into storm sewers.