In 2019, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division issued an update to the permit for stormwater discharges associated with Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, or MS4, at military facilities. This permit became effective Jan. 15, 2019, and it is one of several the Robins Air Force Base must comply with under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The NPDES program was developed to reduce and eliminate the release of toxic substances in storm water runoff into downstream water bodies.

The base has updated the Storm Water Management Program to comply with the new permit requirements. The SWMP is designed to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the MS4 to the maximum extent practicable using Best Management Practices. The SWMP consists of six major BMPs for storm water management, which include:

- Public education and outreach through educational articles and announcements on the Robins AFB Splash Page

- Public involvement and participation through informational meetings and community lake cleanups

- Illicit discharge inspection, detection, education, and elimination

- Construction site storm water runoff control through erosion and sediment control plan review, inspections of construction sites, complaint response and erosion control certifications

- Post-construction and green infrastructure storm water management in new development and redevelopment through inventories, mapping, inspections and maintenance

- Pollution prevention and good housekeeping through inventories, mapping, inspections, maintenance, street sweeping, employee training, waste disposal and review of retention/detention ponds

For each BMP, measurable goals have been developed, which allow the state to monitor permit compliance. The updated SWMP is under review by the GA EPD.  The Base will be required to submit annual reports to demonstrate compliance with the approved SWMP.