Current Arizona Construction General Permit CGP Extended

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has administratively continued the current statewide general permit (2008 CGP) that applies to construction sites which expires on February 28.

In accordance with a provision made in SB1289 during the 2012 Legislative session, which amended the AZPDES statute by adding ARS § 49 – 255.01(M), the CGP 2008 will be continued beyond February 28, 2013. Construction operators may continue to apply for stormwater permit coverage under the 2008 CGP after February 28, 2013, until the Department's approval and issuance of the  AZPDES 2013 Construction General Permit (2013 CGP). Approval and issuance are anticipated to occur before May 1, 2013.

Read Update On Final 2013 CGP

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

Draft MS4 Permit Revised For New Hampshire Municipalities

EPA has released a revised draft New Hapshire small “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System” (MS4) General Permit for public review and comment. The draft general permit has been published in the Federal Register. Public comments must be submitted by April 15, 2013.

The general permit will apply to 60 municipalities located in an urbanized area as defined by the 2010 census. Regulated MS4s include traditional cities and towns, state and federally owned facilities such as universities and military bases, and the state transportation agency (NHDOT). The draft general permits will apply to all the regulated MS4s, although waivers are possible for eligible municipalities within the urbanized area where population is less than 1,000.

  The revised draft permit updates the previous general permit finalized in 2003. EPA previously released draft general permits for small MS4s in NH in 2008. EPA decided to release revised draft general permits to account for significant public comments received on the 2008 proposal, the availability of updated demographic information from the 2010 Census, and several recently approved TMDLs for various waters in New Hampshire.

Click here for more information on control measures and estimated costs associated with compliance with the draft permit, as written.

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

California Industrial General Permit Reissuance Update

The California Water Board has released an update regarding the status of the State Water Board’s reissuance of the NPDES General Permit for the Discharge of Storm Water associated with Industrial Activities (Industrial General Permit, or IGP). State Water Board staff are currently working to address the comments received on the previous draft of the Industrial General Permit released on July 16, 2012 and expect to release a final draft of the Industrial General Permit by April 2013.  This final draft will be opened for a public comment period of least 45 days. The State Water Board also plans to hold a formal workshop on May 8, 2013, where the board will accept oral comments.

After the close of the public comment period staff expect to review the new comments, revise the permit as necessary, and queue it up the revised General permit for the State Water Board’s consideration during Summer 2013.

Read a summary of the California General Industrial Permit Issued in July 2012

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

New General Stormwater Discharge Permit For Marina Operations In Ohio

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has issued an industrial stormwater discharge permit specifically to cover marinas which would otherwise need to apply for coverage under the Ohio multisector general permit (MSGP). Marinas nationwide are subject to industrial stormwater under the Transportation Sector. OEPA under General Permit No. OHRM00002 became effective on January 22, 2013. Marinas that wish to be covered under this permit are required to submit an application (“Notice of Intent, or NOI”) to OEPA.

Compliance requirements under the Marina general permit are similar in many ways to the Ohio MSGP, including:

• Requirement to prepare and implement a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) meeting the requirements listed in the permit
• Requirement to eliminate non-stormwater discharges
• Requirement to conduct regular facility inspections
• Requirement to develop and implement an employee training program
• Requirement to conduct regular visual monitoring of stormwater discharges.

Read a summary of the Ohio Multisector General Permit

There are some important differences also:

• Marinas are allowed to discharge wash water from boat cleaning, although cleaning of engines or other oily parts is prohibited; use of detergents or other chemical cleaning agents is prohibited.
• Larger marinas (greater than 200 total slips) must conduct chemical monitoring of stormwater discharges on an annual basis.

Read a summary of Ohio general permit monitoring requirements for marinas

Read about Caltha’s new SWPPP Template and Compliance Plan Template for the Ohio marina general 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

Revision To Construction Stormwater Effluent Standards

EPA has announced that it will be considering revisions to selected portions of the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Construction and Development Point Source Category. This action will address revisions to the effluent guidelines and standards for the construction and development point source category 40 CFR 450. The C and D rule was issued on December 1, 2009 and became effective on February 1, 2010. EPA plans to revise several of the non-numeric portions of the rule in response to litigation.


Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting and 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

Guidance and Rules For Salt Storage in Ohio

Ohio EPA has released a guidance document on the elements of salt storage that are relevant to preventing contamination include siting, design, and operation. The document provides guidance on salt storage practices to prevent the contamination of ground water and surface water. “Salt”, as used here, includes solids such as the popular sodium chloride (NaCl), as well as potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and magnesium chloride (MgCl2). It also includes mixtures of the same substances with abrasives such as sand, cinder, slag, etc.

Summary of Regulatory Requirements Affecting Salt Storage Operations in Ohio


Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients in Ohio 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

Benchmark Monitoring Requirements Under MDE Draft Industrial General Permit

Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is issuing a draft General Permit Number 12-SW of stormwater discharges from industrial facilities. MDE has chosen to base the state’s permit on the EPA’s Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP).

The draft permit will replace the General Permit Number 02-SW that was issued for a five-year term on December 1, 2002. The General Permit 02-SW expired on November 30, 2007 but was administratively continued for facilities that were covered under the permit at the time it expired. The final permit is expected to be issued in early 2013.

Read a summary of the key changes to the Maryland General Permit.

Information about Maryland General Permit SWPPP Template and Compliance Plan

One of the key difference in the draft permit compared to the EPA MSGP is that MDE chose to focus on reducing stormwater volume rather than on benchmark monitoring for specific pollutants. MDE evaluated the full list of benchmark monitoring requirements in the MSGP, and narrowed the selection down to three industries that have the highest potential for metals in their stormwater,

1. Subsector C1 – Agricultural Chemicals for (SIC 2873-2879), part of Sector C - Chemical and Allied Products Manufacturing, and Refining (Nitrate plus Nitrite Nitrogen at 0.68 mg/L, Total Lead at 0.014, Total Iron at 1.0 mg/L, Total Zinc at 0.04 mg/L and Phosphorus at 2.0 mg/L).
2. Sector M – Automobile Salvage Yards (Total Suspended Solids (TSS) at 100 mg/L, Total Aluminum at 0.75 mg/L, Total Iron at 1.0 mg/L, Total Lead at 0.014 mg/L).
3. Sector N – Scrap Recycling and Waste Recycling Facilities (Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) at 120 mg/L, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) at 100 mg/L, Total Recoverable Aluminum at 0.75 mg/L, Total Recoverable Iron at 1.0 mg/L, Total Recoverable Lead at 0.014 mg/L, Total Zinc at 0.04 mg/L, Total Recoverable Copper at 0.0038 mg/L).
4. Sector AA – Fabricated Metal Products (Nitrate plus Nitrite Nitrogen at 0.68 mg/L, Total Zinc at 0.04 mg/L)

Benchmark monitoring must occur during the first 4 full quarters of permit coverage after the permittee is granted access to NetDMR. If the average of the 4 quarters of monitoring values exceeds the benchmark, the permittee is required to either:
1. perform corrective actions, and conduct an additional 4 quarters of monitoring until the average value is below the benchmark, or
2. determine that no further pollutant reductions are technologically available and economically practicable and achievable in light of best industry practice to meet applicable effluent limits, and continue to monitor once-per-year.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting and 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