|
 |
|
Stormwater Basic Information
What is the NPDES Stormwater Program?
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Program
regulates stormwater discharges from three potential sources: municipal separate storm
sewer systems (MS4s), construction activities, and industrial activities. Most stormwater
discharges are considered point sources, and operators of these sources may be required
to receive an NPDES permit before they can discharge. This permitting mechanism is
designed to prevent stormwater runoff from washing harmful pollutants into local surface
waters such as streams, rivers, lakes or coastal waters.
Most states are authorized to implement the NPDES Stormwater
Program and administer their own stormwater permitting programs. EPA remains the
permitting authority in a few states, territories and on most tribal lands. For these
areas, EPA provides oversight and issues stormwater permits.
Who is covered under the NPDES Stormwater Program?
The NPDES Stormwater Program covers the following types of stormwater discharges:
- MS4s -
Operators of large, medium and regulated small MS4s may be required to obtain
authorization to discharge stormwater.
- Construction
Activities - Operators of construction sites that are one acre or larger
(including smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development) may be
required to obtain authorization to discharge stormwater under an NPDES construction
stormwater permit. Where EPA is the permitting authority, operators must meet the
requirements of EPA's Construction General Permit (CGP).
- Industrial
Activities - Industrial sectors may require authorization under an NPDES industrial
stormwater permit for stormwater discharges. Where EPA is the permitting authority,
operators must meet the requirements of EPA's Multi-Sector General
Permit (MSGP).
Where Can I Find More Information?
EPA
has produced a wide variety of
webcasts and guidance documents
to help stormwater program managers develop or improve their stormwater management
programs. Best management practices (BMPs) tools such as the National Menu of
BMPs and the Urban BMP
Performance Tool have also been created to educate operators on the different BMPs
available to reduce stormwater pollution. Many customizable outreach documents have been developed for public
distribution to increase knowledge of stormwater pollution prevention in everyday
activities. EPA has also compiled a large collection of existing state and non-profit outreach information for local agencies interested in educating the public on nonpoint source pollution or stormwater runoff.
Other EPA Stormwater Web Sites
- Urban Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) - provides technical information on control of urban nonpoint source pollution.
- Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure - summarizes common green infrastructure approaches and key resources for research, funding and partnerships.
- Low Impact Development (LID) - provides resources on low impact development principles.
- Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Stormwater - provides information on waters listed for impairments from stormwater sources and the TMDLs to Stormwater Permits Draft Handbook (PDF) (211 pp, 5.7MB)
- NPDES Compliance Monitoring Strategy - outlines inspection and compliance goals for the entire NPDES program, including major and minor NPDES facilities, pretreatment programs, biosolids, CSOs, SSOs, stormwater, and CAFOs. This new strategy, which takes effect in 2009, places increased emphasis on wet weather issues, particularly stormwater sources, and sets ambitious targets for audits and inspections of Phase I and II MS4s, construction sites, and industrial facilities.
- Greening EPA, Stormwater Management - summarizes strategies to reduce environmental impacts for EPA Headquarter's facilities and operations; and provides in-depth descriptions and examples of low impact development and sustainable stormwater management practices.
|
|
| |
 |
|
The documents on this site are best viewed
with Acrobat 8.0 |
|
