Revised Wisconsin Stormwater General Permits - Public Hearings

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has proposed to reissue four of its expired general industrial storm water discharge permits:

Tier 1 Industrial Facilities (Permit No. S067849-3);
Tier 2 Industrial Facilities (Permit No. S067857-3);
Recycling of Scrap and Waste Materials (Permit No. S058831-2); and
Dismantling of Vehicles for Parts Selling and Salvage (Permit No. S059145-2).

The Department will be conducting three public hearings on the proposed permits:

December 14, Madison, WI
December 15, Wausau, WI
December 16, Milwaukee, WI

The purpose of the hearings is to receive public comments on the WDNR’s tentative decision to reissue these general permits. During the hearings, DNR staff will briefly explain the content of the proposed permits. Written comments on the reissued permits must be received no later than January 7, 2011.

To review a summary of each of the permit, click on the links below:

Tier 1 Industrial Facilities (Permit No. S067849-3);
Tier 2 Industrial Facilities (Permit No. S067857-3);
Recycling of Scrap and Waste Materials (Permit No. S058831-2); and
Dismantling of Vehicles for Parts Selling and Salvage (Permit No. S059145-2).

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

MPCA Storm Water Benchmarks, Comparison To Historic Sector Monitoring Data

In 2010, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) reissued the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for industrial stormwater discharges. The reissued permit included significant changes to stormwater discharge requirements for permitted sites, which are now divided into 29 industrial sectors. One of the most significant changes was the requirement for sampling stormwater and reporting results to MPCA. Each sector has been assigned sector-specific stormwater benchmark concentrations. Beginning in June 2011, all sites permitted under the MSGP will have to collect stormwater samples and have samples analyzed for their sector-specific benchmark parameters. If one or more benchmarks are exceeded, sites will be required to upgrade their pollution prevention measures and will need to do further stormwater monitoring.

Since the 1980s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has collected industry-sector data on stormwater discharge. The linked presentation provides a comparison of these historic industrial stormwater results to the current MPCA stormwater benchmark concentrations. The results are discussed in context of which stormwater benchmark parameters have a higher potential for exceedance of benchmark values. This presentation also discusses which of the industrial sectors have a higher potential for exceedance of their specific benchmark values.

Note: Because many States use the same benchmark concentrations used by Minnesota, this analysis and conclusions can be applied to most States.
Link to presentation slides:

Industrial Stormwater Benchmarks – Comparison of New Minnesota Benchmark Concentrations To Historic Industry-specific Testing Results
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

Correction Rule for Construction & Development Effluent Limitations Guidelines

US EPA has announced that it is taking action will address an error that was identified in the Effluent Limitations Guidelines for the Construction & Development (C&D) Point Source Category. The C&D rule was issued on December 1, 2009 and became effective on February 1, 2010. This rule contains a numeric effluent limit for turbidity, based on the application of passive treatment technology.

After the final rule was promulgation, EPA received two petitions for reconsideration of the C&D rule. The petitions pointed out a potential error in the calculation of the numeric limit. Based on EPA's examination of the underlying dataset, EPA has determined that the calculations used to develop the limit were not adequate to support the numeric effluent limit. Consequently, EPA intends to propose a correction rule for public comment and then take final action on a revised limitation.

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.comorCaltha LLP Website