As a volcanic island located in the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico
is geographically distinctive. The Commonwealth, part of a group
of islands known as the Greater Antilles, is roughly the size
of Connecticut and has a population of 3.9 million, with over
a third of its inhabitants living in the San Juan metropolitan
area. The landmass of Puerto Rico is comprised of a coastal plain
bisected by a chain of mountains that divides it in half. This
central mountain range plays a large part in affecting weather
patterns and accounts for the dramatic natural diversity that
exists in Puerto Rico. With ecosystems ranging from bioluminescent
bays and tropical mangrove swamps to dazzling coral reefs and
one of the only protected tropical rainforests in the United States,
Puerto Rico is environmentally unique. These resources draw a
wide variety of visitors who travel to Puerto Rico to enjoy ecological
tourism and nature-based recreational activities.
New General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems within Puerto Rico
On November 6, 2006, EPA issued a general permit for discharges from small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) within urbanized areas of Puerto Rico. This permit establishes Notice of Intent (NOI) requirements, standards, prohibitions and management practices for discharges of storm water. These MS4s include State departments of transportation, public universities, penitentiaries, military installations and similar institutions with separate storm sewer drainage areas. Owners and/or operators of small MS4s that discharge storm water will be required to submit an NOI to EPA to be covered by the general permit and will receive a written notification from EPA of permit coverage and authorization to discharge under the general permit.
General Permit [PDF 326 KB, 62 pp]
Permittees covered under the NPDES Small MS4 General Permit
Response to Comments [PDF 222 KB, 50 pp]
Federal Register Notice [PDF 58 KB, 3 pp]
List of Municipalities defined by the Storm Water Phase 2 Final Rule (64 FR 68722) [PDF 3 KB, 1 pp]
Additional information may be found at EPA's storm water website: www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater
For further information, contact Sergio Bosques (bosques.sergio@epa.gov) or 787-977-5838.
Caribbean Environmental Protection Division
Centro Europa Building, Suite 417
1492 Ponce de Leon Avenue
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907-4127
Phone: (787) 977-5870
FAX: (787) 729-7747
CEPD
Organizational Web Page
Puerto Rico Environmental
Resources
Junta
de Calidad Ambiental (Environmental Quality Board)
U.S.
Geological Survey
Departamento
de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (Department of Natural
Resources and Environment)
Departamento
de Salud (Department of Health)
Departamento de Agricultura (Department of Agriculture)
Autoridad de Desperdicios Solidos (Solid Waste Authority)
Administración
de Asuntos de Energia (Administration for Energy Affairs)
Compañia de Parques Nacionales (Puerto Rican National
Parks Company) San
Juan National Historic Site
|
|
EPA has launched a new hurricane preparedness Web page in Spanish to provide information to Spanish speakers and Hispanic businesses nationwide, including Puerto Rico. Early preparations during hurricane season can minimize injury and property damage. Households and businesses should take this opportunity to start planning at the beginning of the hurricane season and prepare well in advance.
Hurricane preparedness information: En Español
|
|