NPDES Storm Water Permit Program
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The Clean Water Act authorizes EPA and states, when delegated the authority by EPA, to regulate point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. So-called "point sources" are generated from a variety of municipal and industrial operations, including treated wastewater, process water, cooling water, and storm water runoff from drainage systems. The NPDES Phase I Storm Water Program, in place since 1990, regulates cities and counties with populations of 100,000 that operate a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), specific industrial operations (as defined at 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)), and construction activities that disturb 5 or more acres of land. The Phase II Storm Water Program became effective March 2003. It regulates MS4s located within "urbanized areas" as defined by the latest census from the U.S. Census Bureau and construction activities that disturb between 1 and 5 acres.
Administration
- Updated Information for Small MS4 General Permit (9/24/08) (PDF) (2 pp., 90 KB)
- Which New England communities are regulated?
- General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) (PDF) (56 pp., 264 KB)
- Access Notices of Intent (NOIs)
- Public Notice Process for NOIs
- Public Comments Received:
- Period Ending February 17, 2005 (PDF) (162 pp., 4.81 MB)
- Period Ending February 17, 2006 (PDF) (79 pp., 4.1 MB)
- Public Hearing Transcripts:
- February 15, 2005 (PDF) (24 pp., 1.24 MB)
- February 17, 2006 (PDF) (43 pp., 89 KB)
- Annual Reporting Requirements
Summary
***Permit Year 5 Reports due May 1, 2008*** - Access Annual Reports
Construction Activities
- Obtaining
permit coverage for your construction activity
This site provides links to the 2003 Construction General Permit (including related Fact Sheets, Federal Register Notices, and the administrative record), Notice of Intent (NOI) and Notice of Termination (NOT) Forms, the on-line filing system(eNOI), and the on-line searchable NOI database. - NPDES General Permit for Construction Dewatering Activities in MA and NH. This site provides links to the Federal Register Notice, the General Permit, and EPA contact information. Subject to limitations and eligibility requirements, this permit authorizes pumped or drained discharges of ground water or storm water from excavations or other points of accumulation associated with a construction activity. Depending on the nature of the dewatering activities at a given site, one or more general permits may be applicable: the Construction Dewatering General Permit, the Construction General Permit, or the Remediation General Permit.
- EPA New England Fact Sheet: Storm Water Permit Basics: The Federal (EPA) Storm Water Permit for Large & Small Construction Projects (11/3/03) (PDF) (1 p., 53 KB). A quick read to determine whether you need a permit and how to get it.
- EPA New England Guidance (two-sided, trifold): Storm Water at Construction Sites - A Guide to the Federal Requirements (11/3/03) (PDF) (2 pp., 210 KB). More detailed than the fact sheet above -- Describes the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), site inspections, and other requirements.
- EPA New England Fact Sheet: Storm Water Permit Basics: New Hampshire Digging Needs a Federal Permit (10/29/03) (PDF) (4 pp., 210 KB). Describes how to prepare a single SWPPP to comply with the independent requirements of the Federal Construction General Permit and the New Hampshire Alteration of Terrain (Site Specific) Permit
Industrial Activities