Federal regulations at 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)(i)-(xi) prohibit discharges of stormwater from certain types of industrial activities unless coverage under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits has been obtained.
The following 11 categories of industrial activities require a stormwater discharge permit:
- Category One (i): Facilities subject to federal stormwater effluent discharge standards at 40 CFR Parts 405-471
- Category Two (ii): Heavy manufacturing (e.g., paper mills, chemical plants, petroleum refineries, steel mills and foundries)
- Category Three (iii): Coal and mineral mining and oil and gas exploration and processing
- Category Four (iv): Hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
- Category Five (v): Landfills, land application sites, and open dumps with industrial wastes
- Category Six (vi): Metal scrapyards, salvage yards, automobile junkyards, and battery reclaimers
- Category Seven (vii): Steam electric power generating plants
- Category Eight (viii): Transportation facilities that have vehicle maintenance, equipment cleaning, or airport deicing operations
- Category Nine (ix): Treatment works treating domestic sewage with a design flow of 1 million gallons a day or more
- Category Ten (x): Construction sites that disturb 5 acres or more
Regulated construction sites (Category X) are normally permitted separately from other industrial activities because of its temporary and unique nature. Other categories follow a similar permitting strategy.
Stormwater NPDES permits are issued by states in most cases (excluding NM, NH, ID, DC, and MA, tribal lands, and the US territories, where EPA issues permits).
Certain facilities that can demonstrate (and certify) that stormwater cannot contact sources of pollutants may be eligible for a “no exposure exclusion certificate” and be excused from permitting.
Facilities required to obtain an NPDES permit for stormwater discharges can apply for a General Permit or an Individual Permit, based on eligibility.
All permit holders must prepare and fully implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPP Plan)(SWPPP) and stormwater monitoring as specified in their permit.
A typical SWPPP includes the following elements:
- Stormwater pollution prevention team;
- Site description;
- Summary of potential pollutant sources;
- Description of control measures;
- Schedules and procedures;
- Documentation to support eligibility considerations under other federal laws; and
- Certification of the SWPPP
SWPPPExpress understands the requirements and process relating to stormwater NPDES permitting, stormwater monitoring, and the development of SWPPPs that are fully customized to your facility, clear and understandable, and practical to implement. Contact us today for a free quote!