Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Storm Resistant Shelter Requirement Under TCEQ Proposed No Exposure Exemption

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is proposing to renew TPDES Multi Sector General Permit (MSGP) One of the key changes under the proposed MGSP will be the requirements to meet the No Exposure Exemption.

Facilities regulated under the MSGP may be excluded from permit requirements if there is no exposure of industrial materials or activities to precipitation or runoff. To qualify for this conditional exclusion from permit requirements, the operator of the facility must certify that industrial activities and materials are isolated from precipitation and runoff by storm resistant shelter (there are certain exceptions to the requirement for a storm resistant shelters). The certification must be submitted to the TCEQ on a No Exposure Certification (NEC) form, or other approved form.

Storm-resistant shelters include buildings or structures that have complete roofs and walls, as well as structures with only a top cover but no side coverings, as long as the materials or activities under the structure are not otherwise subject to any run-on and subsequent runoff of storm water, or mobilization by wind.

Facilities operating under a conditional no-exposure exclusion are subject to inspection by TCEQ to determine compliance with the exclusion. In addition, operators of facilities that qualify for this exclusion and that discharge storm water to a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) must provide a copy of their NEC form to the MS4 operator, even if not required by the MS4.

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

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