SD DENR Revised Industrial Discharge Permit

The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has drafted a revised general stormwater discharge permit for industrial dischargers in the State. The existing permit expired in 2008, but has remained in effect until the revised permit is finalized.

The revised permit that has been draft is similar in many aspects to the existing permit, including requirements for stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP), site inspections, and prohibition on non stormwater discharges, such as equipment and vehicle washing.

There are some important differences in the working draft that will change the compliance requirements for South Dakota industrial sites.

Multi Sector Industrial Requirements. The current draft permit does not include the industrial sectors associated with the EPA Multi Sector General Permit (MSGP), however it does segregate seven industrial sectors:

• Metals
• Transportation (other than airports)
• Air Transportation, Airports
• Food and Kindred Products
• Auto Salvage
• Landfills
• Waste Treatment

The draft permit is expected to have the same compliance requirements for all industrial facilities, including the seven sectors, with the exception of monitoring requirements.

Stormwater Monitoring Requirements. Under the draft permit requirements, all industrial sites will have to conduct storm water discharge monitoring. All sites would have to collect samples during the first year of the permit and report results to SDDENR. The chemical parameters to be tested by each site will depend on the industrial sector the site falls into.

Under the current plan, monitoring results reported to DENR will be used to determine if industrial benchmark concentrations will be established during the next permit revision and as a basis for future benchmarks.

The revised permit is expected to be released for public review and comment in the Fall 2010; South Dakota DENR anticipates that the new permit will be effective January 1, 2011.

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.

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