The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a new
Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for an estimated 4,100 industrial
facilities in 29 different sectors to implement site-specific stormwater
pollution prevention plans to protect water quality. Facilities are required to
install control measures that meet established technology- and water
quality-based effluent limits and must develop a stormwater pollution
prevention plan.
“These new controls will help prevent stormwater pollution,
one of the country’s greatest threats to water, and improve reporting and
accountability at industrial sites,” said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA’s assistant
administrator for water.
The new permit offers several improvements from the previous MSGP,
including easier to understand discharge requirements; fast and easy electronic
filing of Notices of Intent (NOIs) and monitoring reports; web-based tools for
locating waterbodies and determining impairment status; and updated monitoring,
inspection and corrective action schedules.
The MSGP applies to facilities in states and
territories not authorized to implement EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System program including Alaska,
Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, parts of Texas and Oklahoma,
Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia,
and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll, and Midway and
Wake Islands.
The MSGP also applies to facilities located
in Indian Country lands in Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Michigan,
Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Louisiana, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas,
Arizona, California,
Nevada, Alaska,
Idaho, Oregon,
and Washington, as well as to industrial
activities taking place on Federal Facilities in Vermont,
Delaware and Washington.
Under the Clean Water Act, all facilities that discharge
pollutants into waters of the United
States must obtain a National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System permit. The new permit replaces the MSGP issued in
2000.
Fore more information on the MSGP, visit
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/msgp.
