of aircraft. All U.S. airports are required to obtain stormwater permits In the United States, facilities that discharge industrial stormwater to surface waters must obtain a permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), pursuant to the
Clean Water Act. Stormwater permit regulations issued by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) govern the permit process. EPA published its "Phase I" stormwater rule, which covers industrial dischargers, in 1990. Most stormwater permits in the U.S. are issued by the agencies in 47 states that have been given authority by EPA. EPA regional offices issue the stormwater permits in the remaining parts of the country. Many industrial sites are legally required to have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), which outlines the steps they’ll take to control and monitor runoff. In the U.S., this falls under regulations like the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Ongoing inspections and monitoring are essential to ensure these controls are working as intended, identify issues early, and maintain compliance while protecting nearby waterways.
Multi-sector general permit EPA published its
Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) initially in 1995 to govern how industrial stormwater should be managed, and periodically it has updated and reissued the permit. The 2021 MSGP covers 30 industrial and commercial sectors:
Timber Products Facilities (including
wood preservation)
Paper and Allied Products Manufacturing Facilities
Chemical and Allied Products Manufacturing and Refining
Asphalt Paving and
Roofing Materials and Manufacturers and Lubricant Manufacturers
Glass,
Clay,
Cement,
Concrete, and
Gypsum Product Manufacturing Facilities
Primary Metals Facilities
Metal Mining (Ore Mining and Dressing) Facilities
Coal Mines and Coal Mining-Related Facilities
Oil and GasExtraction Facilities
Mineral Mining and Processing Facilities
Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, or Disposal Facilities must obtain stormwater permits and control
stormwater runoff Landfills and Land Application Sites
Automobile Salvage Yards Scrap
Recycling and Waste Recycling Facilities
Steam Electric Power Generating Facilities, including Coal Handling Areas Motor Freight Transportation Facilities, Passenger Transportation Facilities, Petroleum Bulk Oil Stations and Terminals, Rail Transportation Facilities, and United States Postal Service Transportation Facilities Water Transportation Facilities with Vehicle Maintenance Shops and/or Equipment Cleaning Operations Ship and Boat Building or Repair Yards Vehicle Maintenance Areas, Equipment Cleaning Areas, or Deicing Areas Located at Air Transportation Facilities
Sewage treatment plants Food and Kindred Products Facilities Textile Mills, Apparel, and Other Fabric Products Manufacturing Facilities Wood and Metal Furniture and Fixture Manufacturing Facilities Printing and Publishing Facilities Rubber, Miscellaneous Plastic Products, and Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries Leather Tanning and Finishing Facilities Fabricated Metal Products Manufacturing Facilities Transportation Equipment, Industrial, or Commercial Machinery Manufacturing Facilities Electronic and Electrical Equipment and Components, Photographic, and Optical Goods Manufacturing Facilities Other industrial facilities not in the above categories that are designated by the permit authority as needing a permit The permit is applicable to facilities in
Massachusetts,
New Hampshire,
New Mexico, the
District of Columbia and federal
insular areas (territories). The other states have developed their own state-specific industrial stormwater permits (e.g. California's Industrial General Permit). State-issued general permits often include the same requirements as EPA's permit, but some states have additional requirements. In addition to implementing the NPDES requirements, many states and local governments have enacted their own stormwater management laws and ordinances, and some have published stormwater treatment design manuals. Some of these state and local requirements have expanded coverage beyond the federal requirements. For example, the State of
Maryland requires
erosion and
sediment controls on construction sites of 5,000 sq ft (460 m2) or more. ==See also==