MS4 Storm Wate Discharge Permit Issues To Georgia DOT

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. GAR041000 to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for storm water discharges from its municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) to waters of the State.

This first-time permit requires GDOT to reduce pollutants in storm water through six minimum control measures:

1. Public Education and Outreach,


2. Public Involvement/Participation,


3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination,


4. Construction Site Storm Water Control,


5. Post-Construction Storm Water Management, and


6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping.
   

The permit covers GDOT roadway drainage, bridges, detention ponds, etc. in 145 urban areas around the State.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP atinfo@calthacompany.comorCaltha LLP Website

Update On Reissue Of California Industrial Stormwater Discharge General Permit

The California State Water Board posted a revise draft industrial stormwater general permit in January 2011 and accepted public comments through April 2011. The Board is working to address the comments received on the previous draft.

The California State Water Board currently expects to release a new draft of the industrial permit and its attachments and supporting documents in early 2012. The Board anticipates at least a 60 day comment period, during which they plan to provide at least two, informal staff workshops and one, formal public hearing.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

SPCC Rule Extension For Agricultural Facilities

EPA has extended the date that agricultural facilities must come into compliance with the new Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule to May 10, 2013. Agricultural facilities that began storing oil before August 16, 2002 must revise their SPCC plan to meet the 2002 changes by the May 2013 deadline.

There are several exemptions for agricultural operations. These include: milk and milk product containers, associated piping, and appurtenances; home heating oil tanks at single family homes; pesticide containers used to mix and load formulations; and pesticide application equipment.

The recent Rule changes also allow agricultural operations that store 10,000 gallons of oil or less and meet the Tier 1 or 2 qualified facility requirements to prepare and self-certify their SPCC Plan. Although anyone can use the templates, not all states allow self-certification For example, New Hampshire requires all SPCC Plans to be certified by a professional engineer.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address SPCC and Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, preparing and certifying SPCC Plans and SWPPPs, SPCC rule compliance and SPCC Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at

info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

MPCA Reports Low Compliance Rates With New Industrial Stormwater Permit

In 2010, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) finalized a new industrial stormwater discharge general permit. The new permit had numerous new requirements that facilities are required to meet. One of the most significant changes was that facilities are now required to collect samples of their stormwater discharge, send the samples to a laboratory for testing, and to report the results to MPCA on a Stormwater Monitoring Report Form (SWMR).

[Read a summary of MPCA industrial stormwater monitoring requirements]

[Read a summary of the revised MPCA permit]

According to information now being circulated by MPCA, as of November 2011, about 50% of all permitted facilities in Minnesota that are required to collect a sample and submit results had failed to do so. In addition, another 25% are missing results/data on a previously-submitted SWMR. In summary, according to MPCA, only about 25% of permitted facilities were in compliance with stormwater monitoring requirements of the general permit.

MPCA indicated that it is currently considering options it can take to improve compliance rates with industrial stormwater discharge permit.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at

info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Deadline Approaching For Renewal Of Industrial Permit Coverage In Texas

The general discharge permit for stormwater associated with industrial activities (General Permit # TXR050000 was recently revised by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The new permit became effective on August 14, 2011. The revised permit required that all industrial dischargers that had been covered under the previous expired permit renew their permit authorization by completing and submitting a new application for coverage (Notice of Intent, or NOI).

To be eligible for renewal, existing dischargers are required to submit their renewal application no later than November 14, 2011.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients in Texas and nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP atinfo@calthacompany.comorCaltha LLP Website

Final Washington DC MS4 Stormwater Discharge Permit

US EPA has released the final stormwater discharge permit for the Washington DC area municipal separate storm sewer system (“Washington DC MS4 Permit”). The Washington DC MS4 Permit included a number of performance-based requirements, including:

• Requiring a minimum of 350,000 square feet of green roofs on District properties;


• Planting at least 4,150 trees annually and developing a green landscaping incentives program;


• Retaining 1.2 inches of stormwater on-site from a 24-hour storm for all development projects of at least 5,000 square feet;


• Developing a stormwater retrofit strategy, and implementing retrofits over 18 million square feet of drainage of impervious surfaces;


• Developing consolidated implementation plans for restoring the impaired waterways of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, Rock Creek, and the Chesapeake Bay; and


• Preventing more than 103,000 pounds of trash annually from being discharged to the Anacostia River.

EPA believed the new permit conditions were necessary because impervious surfaces in the District, such as roads, rooftops and parking lots, channel stormwater directly into local streams and rivers. Improperly managed stormwater runoff from the District damages streams, causes significant erosion, and carries excessive pollutants like nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, toxic metals, and solvents downstream and into the Chesapeake Bay. The permit aids the District in meeting its Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction targets and its Watershed Implementation Plan.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP atinfo@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Second Draft Georgia General Industrial Permit Released For Comment

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has released its second draft for the revised industrial general permit (IGP) for storm water discharge. The draft industrial storm water permit is designed to replace existing permit GAR000000, which expired on July 31, 2011.

The first draft of the revised permit, which included significant changes from the expired general permit, was released in June 2011. A public comment period was held on the earlier version of this permit from June 27, 2011 to August 1, 2011, and a public meeting and hearing on the Permit were held August 1, 2011. A total of 22 sets of comments were received during the comment period.

[Read summary of earlier IGP version]

As a result of comments received, minor revisions and clarifications were made to the permit. These changes have been noted in the Change Summary document, and the Comment Response document addresses the comments received. The Change Summary, Comment Response, Revised Fact Sheet and Revised Permit are now available for public comment until September 16, 2011. The draft permit will be revised if needed to address any additional comments.

Once finalized, current permittees covered under the 2006 IGP will be required to submit a new Notice of Intent (NOI) within 30 days after the effective date of the new permit. New dischargers commencing discharge after the effective date of the 2011 IGP must submit an NOI for coverage 7 days prior to commencing discharge. Also, existing facilities which had previously filed for a “No Exposure Exclusion‟ (NEE) must submit a new NEE form no later than 30 days after the effective date of the 2011 IGP. The 2011 IGP requires facilities that claim they have no storm water discharges associated with industrial activity file a “No Discharge Exclusion” (NDE) form which must be certified by a professional engineer.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients in Georgia and nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website