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Industrial Storm Water Compliance Monitoring
CWA Topics
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
- Pretreatment of Wastewater
- Biosolids
- Oil Spill Prevention
- Industrial Storm Water
- Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
- Municipal Storm Water
- Wetlands
- Wastewater Trading Program
- Discharge Monitoring Report - Quality Assurance
Storm water discharges are generated by runoff from land and impervious areas such as paved streets, parking lots and building rooftops during rainfall and snow events that often contain pollutants in quantities that could adversely affect water quality. Most storm water discharges are considered point sources and require coverage by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
EPA develops national priorities that focus on significant environmental risks and noncompliance patterns. For Fiscal Years 2005 to 2007, the storm water national priority strategy aims to reduce the environmental impact of storm water runoff by undertaking federal enforcement cases in areas likely to produce the greatest environmental and public health benefit.
The primary method to control storm water discharges is through the use of best management practices. In response to the 1987 Amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA), EPA developed Phase I of the NPDES Storm Water program in 1990. The Phase I program addressed sources of storm water runoff that had the greatest potential to negatively impact water quality.
Under Phase I, EPA required NPDES permit coverage for storm water discharges from:
- Medium and large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) located in incorporated places or counties with populations of 100,000 or more;
- Eleven categories of industrial activity which include construction activity that disturbs five or more acres of land
Operators of the systems, facilities, and construction sites regulated under the Phase I NPDES storm water program must obtain permit coverage for the storm water discharge leaving sites.
The Phase II Final Rule requires NPDES permit coverage for storm water discharges from:
- Certain regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s); and
- Construction activity disturbing between 1 and 5 acres of land (i.e., small construction activities).
Compliance Monitoring
EPA conducts inspections of three types of facility operations subject to the storm water regulations:
These inspections involve:
- reviewing the storm water permit, the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPP), and storm water records and reports
- interviewing personnel knowledgeable of the SWPP and facility operations
- reviewing and observing best management practices and control measures in place
- and sampling storm water discharges (if appropriate).
For MS4 operations, EPA also conducts audits designed to provide a comprehensive review of all facets of the Control Authority's storm water program.
Details on storm water inspections can be found in Chapter 11 of the NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual.