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.

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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

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Stormwater Treatment System for PCB in Seattle

The Boeing Company signed an agreement with EPA to construct a new stormwater treatment system at North Boeing Field in Seattle. The treatment system will be designed to reduce the amount of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are an on-going source of pollution to the Duwamish River.

The North Boeing Field storm drain system carries stormwater to the Duwamish River through more than seven miles of catch basins, drains, inlets, and oil-water separators. Studies by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), the City of Seattle, and Boeing showed the North Boeing Field storm drain system is the biggest source of PCBs to the river sediments in Slip 4, one of the most highly contaminated sites on the lower Duwamish waterway.

With the installation of this stormwater treatment system to address the on-going source of PCBs, cleanup of Slip 4 will proceed in 2011. Several acres of contaminated sediments in Slip 4 will be cleaned up under an EPA settlement agreement with the City of Seattle and King County.

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

Fee Increase For California Storm Water Permits

The California State Water Resources Control Board is considering emergency measures that will result in a significant increase the fees charged to stormwater permittees.

According to the State Board, the increase is needed to respond to both reductions in revenue generated and increased program costs. The shortfall in revenue is a result of under-collection of revenue in the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) in FY 2009-10 and a substantial drop in enrollment under the State Water Board’s recently adopted storm water construction permit. In July 2009, the State Water Board adopted Order 2009-0009-DWQ requiring storm water construction dischargers to enroll in a new storm water construction permit by July 1, 2010. Approximately 64 % of previous storm water construction permit holders did not renew their permits by the deadline and have been terminated from coverage. Many of these permittees did not reenroll because of a decline in construction activity. At the same time, the downturn in the construction industry has resulted in a reduction of the number of new permits being issued.

During the same period, costs increased substantially due to a shift in funding for basin planning from General Fund support to fee support and a return to full payroll costs due to the discontinuance of the furlough program.

According to the State Board, the Storm Water program needs to generate an additional $4.4 million in revenue to meet the FY 2010-11 Budget, which translates to a 21.5 % increase to all Storm Water fee categories.

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

Stormwater Seminar in MN & ND Permiting and Design

Minnesota and North Dakota Stormwater Management Seminar
Fargo, North Dakota
Friday, November 19, 2010


Purpose:

• Examine federal, state, and local rules on stormwater management
• Review municipal, industrial and construction permits and the permitting process
• Explore green stormwater practices
• Examine site selection, sizing, and design
• Evaluate erosion and water quality

Agenda:

Understanding Federal and State Rules on Stormwater Management
Federal statutes and regulations, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements, State statutes and regulations, North Dakota Department of Health NDDH stormwater requirements, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency MPCA stormwater requirements, Local requirements and procedures, Storm water permits and permit application process, Special waters and impaired waters

Stormwater Management Using Wet and Dry Detention Facilities
Detention/retention pond overview, Advantages and disadvantages, Design considerations, Hydrology, Permitting, Site selection, Water quality, Pond sizing, Safety considerations, Outlet structures, Good design practices, Pond routing theory, Interconnected ponds, Steps for detention design

Stormwater Quality Best Management Practices
Bioretention and rain-leader disconnect raingardens, Cisterns, Permeable pavers/pervious concrete, Disconnecting impervious area/vegetated swales, Soil amendments, Rainwater harvesting, Green roofs

Bioretention Design and Maintenance
Costs and consequences of poor design, Site evaluation, Cell configuration and soils, Siting, ponding depth, vegetation, Installation specifications, Maintenance program, Overview of maintenance activities, Costs, Case Study: City of Plymouth, Minnesota, residential raingarden and maintenance program

Download Seminar brochure

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

Trash Limits for MS4s in Anacostia Watershed - Trash TMDL

U.S. EPA, the District of Columbia, and the state of Maryland have announced a new Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for trash in the Anacostia River, making the Anacostia the first interstate river in the nation with such a Clean Water Act (CWA) trash limit. Each year, hundreds of tons of trash and debris are illegally dumped or washed into the Anacostia with stormwater runoff. As a result, the District and Maryland have both included the Anacostia River on their respective lists of impaired waters due to excessive quantities of trash and debris.

The TMDL requires capturing or removing more than 600 tons (1.2 million pounds) of trash from the watershed annually. To complement this TMDL, the EPA, as the permitting authority for the District, and the state of Maryland are developing MS4 storm sewer permits which will serve as key implementation tools requiring municipalities in the Anacostia watershed to achieve the trash reductions required in the TMDL. In addition, continued implementation of the Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan for the District of Columbia supports achievement of the limits.

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