Does Your Facility Need a Stormwater Permit?
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Because every industrial site is unique, beyond the immediate footprint of the EPA 910-K-09-008 every SWPPP is unique. The SWPPP facility site as well as beyond the property Questions? needs to be reviewed and updated by the line—areas that could be affected directly To find out more about the stormwater operator on a regular basis. Please visit or indirectly by stormwater discharges. permit program, please contact in the www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/msgp The MSGP contains more information EPA Region 10 Seattle office: for more information on how to develop about completing these determinations in your SWPPP. applying for permit coverage. Julie Congdon Stormwater Compliance Assistance 4. File a Notice of Intent (NOI) Coordinator Basic SWPPP Elements application. Office of Compliance & Enforcement, • Stormwater pollution prevention team The Notice of Intent (NOI) form lets NPDES Unit • Site description EPA know that you are filing for permit 1.800.424.4372, x. 2752 • Summary of potential pollutant sources coverage. It also attests that you have [email protected] • Description of control measures read, understood, and are complying with • Schedules and procedures the requirements of the MSGP. The fastest Michael Le Does Your • Documentation to support eligibility and easiest way to file an NOI is through Industrial Stormwater Permits considerations under other federal laws EPA’s online permit application system Facility Need • Certification of the SWPPP Office of Water & Watersheds, NPDES (www.epa.gov/npdes/enoi). (Mailing a Permits Unit paper NOI to EPA can add 2 or more 1.800.424.4372, x. 1099 a Stormwater weeks to your processing time.) Your [email protected] 3. Complete documentation for permit coverage begins after a 30-day Permit? eligibility under other Federal laws. waiting period, during which NOIs are An Industrial Facility The operator must assess the potential reviewed by EPA and others. Notice: The statements in this document are effects of stormwater runoff on federally intended solely as guidance to aid regulated Operator’s Guide to EPA’s entities in complying with the Clean Water Act’s listed endangered and threatened species 5. Implement all stormwater control Stormwater Permit Program and any designated critical habitat located stormwater requirements. The guidance is not a measures outlined in your SWPPP. substitute for reading the Clean Water Act and on or near the site, as well as impacts Your SWPPP must be updated as its implementing regulations and understanding on historic properties on or near the conditions at the industrial facility and as all its requirements as they apply to your facility. facility. In making these determinations, practices change. This guidance does not constitute rulemaking the operator needs to consider areas by the EPA and may not be relied on to create a substantive or procedural right or benefit enforceable, at law or in equity, by any person. EPA may decide to update this guide without public notice to reflect changes in EPA’s approach to implementing the Clean Water Act. This document reflects information available in EPA’s NPDES Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity. Waste materials are left exposed to the elements and stormwater runoff. Lack of Office of Compliance and Enforcement Storm drain adjacent to access road to plant; drain is not protected and not being serviced. secondary containment for the tank. US EPA Region 10 Many Industrial Facilities (with few exceptions) Need Stormwater Permit Coverage! Why is stormwater runoff a I need permit coverage. problem? Where do I begin? Runoff from rainstorms and snowmelt picks up pollutants like sediment, oil and grease, 1. Read EPA’s Multi-Sector General nitrogen, phosphorus, and other chemicals Permit. and carries them into storm drains or You can download a copy of EPA’s permit directly into waterbodies. Because most at www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/ storm drain systems do not provide msgp. Read the permit carefully, and any treatment to the water they collect, remember that operators are legally preventing contamination of stormwater responsible for complying with all of its is critically important. Otherwise, polluted requirements. runoff will be discharged untreated into the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and drinking water. Who is responsible for coverage Two photos showing an industrial facility before and after it followed good housekeeping practices. and who submits an NOI? Photos courtesy of TetraTech. This brochure describes who must The “operator” submits a Notice of Intent comply with the EPA’s stormwater permit (NOI) application. The operator is the entity requirements for: What is the Multi-Sector General (generally the company, corporation, etc.) • Idaho Industries Covered by the MSGP that has operational control over the industrial • Federal facilities in Washington Permit, or MSGP? and SIC Codes activities, or has day-to-day operational EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge • Indian Country within Alaska, Idaho, control of activities at the facility necessary Elimination System (NPDES) program SIC Code Industrial Activity Sector Oregon and Washington.* to implement the Stormwater Pollution regulates stormwater runoff from industrial 24xx A: Timber Products Prevention Plan (SWPPP—see below/ facilities. The Multi-Sector General Permit 26xx B: Paper Products next page for more information) and ensure * If your facility is not in one of the areas (MSGP) covers industrial facilities in 29 28xx, 3952 C: Chemical Products compliance with the permit (e.g., the entity noted, you will need to obtain permit different industrial sectors. 29xx D: Asphalt/Roofing is authorized to direct workers at a facility to coverage from the appropriate state 32xx E: Glass, Clay, Cement carry out activities required by the permit). authority. A list of state permitting authorities 33xx F: Primary Metals If your facility… 10xx G: Metal Mining can be found at www.epa.gov/npdes/ • is located in Idaho, Indian Country or is It is the responsibility of the operator(s) stormwater. 12xx H: Coal Mines to develop and implement a SWPPP and a Federal facility in Washington, 13xx I: Oil and Gas maintain all “best management practices” or • has “primary” or “co-located” industrial 14xx J: Mineral Mining stormwater control measures at the facility. activities covered by the MSGP, HZ K: Hazardous Waste These include swales, detention ponds, spill • has stormwater runoff that discharges to LF L: Landfills 5015 M: Auto Salvage Yards protection equipment, schedules of activities, a surface water or to a storm sewer that 5093 N: Scrap Recycling prohibitions of practices, and maintenance flows to a surface water, SE O: Steam Electric Facilities procedures that you use to prevent or reduce you need permit coverage under the Multi- 40xx, 41xx, P: Land Transportation the discharge of pollutants. Sector General Permit. 42xx, 4311, 5171 44xx Q: Water Transportation 37xx R: Ship/Boat Building, 2. Develop a site-specific stormwater What industries are covered by the Repair pollution prevention plan (SWPPP). MSGP? 45xx S: Air Transportation TW T: Treatment Works The SWPPP explains how you will control Permit eligibility is limited to discharges (WWTPs) pollutants in stormwater runoff from from facilities in the “sectors” of industrial 20xx, 21xx U: Food Products your facility. It is a written document that activity listed. The sector descriptions are 22xx, 23xx, 31xx V: Textile Mills identifies the sources of pollution and based on Standard Industrial Classification 2434, 25xx W: Furniture and Fixtures industrial activities conducted at the site, (SIC) Codes and Industrial Activity Codes. 27xx X: Printing, Publishing including stormwater control practices For a more detailed list, please see 30xx, 39xx Y: Rubber, Misc. Plastics Unauthorized non-stormwater discharge from 3111 Z: Leather Tanning/ which the operator will use to prevent an industrial facility. Appendix D of the MSGP. The industrial Finishing pollutants from making their way into Photo courtesy of TetraTech. sectors listed in the table must minimize 34xx, 39xx AA: Fabricated Metal stormwater runoff. The SWPPP must be pollutants in their stormwater discharges Products completed before you apply for permit and obtain permit coverage under the 35xx, 37xx AB: Transportation Equip. coverage. EPA does not require that you 357x, 38xx, 36xx AC: Electronic, photo goods MSGP. submit the SWPPP with your application to obtain permit coverage, but the plan must be available to EPA by request or for review during inspection. .