[Massplanners] Stormwater Bylaws - Impervious Surfaces

[Heidi Ricci]

Mass DEP recognizes that the arrays are impervious surfaces and large ground mounted projects are subject to the stormwater management standards.

https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-wetlands-program-policy-17-1-photovoltaic-system-solar-array-review

https://www.aswm.org/pdf_lib/member_webinar/wetlands_protection_act_and_section_401_permitting_process_mass_dep_100415.pdf

Local wetland or stormwater bylaws can have broader definitions and stricter standards than the state regs.

Heidi

E. Heidi Ricci
Director of Policy and Advocacy
Mass Audubon
208 South Great Road
Lincoln, MA  01773
c 781-622-8911
o 781-259-2172
hricci at massaudubon.org<mailto:hricci at massaudubon.org>
Pronouns: she/her(s)

Visit www.massaudubon.org<http://www.massaudubon.org/> to learn more about our conservation, education, and advocacy work.

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From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Michael Antonellis
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2021 12:57 PM
To: massplanners at masscptc.org
Subject: [Massplanners] Stormwater Bylaws - Impervious Surfaces

Hello All,

My question is specific to ground mounted solar panels.

Do your communities define impervious surfaces beyond just a general definition? For example does your zoning bylaw/ordinance or stormwater management bylaw/ordinance include specific types of surfaces or structures as "impervious"?

I came across a description of solar panels as "disjointed impervious" and that description was stated as being defined by the NPDES program, however I can't locate any reference to that on the EPA website for the program. Any insight would be helpful.

Apologies if this question has come up before, I'll be sure to dig through the archives as well.

best,

--
--
Michael Antonellis
Planning and Land Use Consultant
MEAPlanning at gmail.com<mailto:MEAPlanning at gmail.com>
MA Planning, LLC
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