NPDES PERMITTING FOR STORM WATER DISCHARGES – PHASE I; STORM WATER DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY

The Clean Water Act was amended in 1972 to require NPDES permits for discharges affecting waters of the U.S. However, continuing studies found storm water discharges to be a significant contributor to water quality impairment. The Water Quality Act of 1987 amended the Clean Water Act to require NPDES permits for storm water discharges. The permit requirement was to be implemented in two phases. Under Phase I of the NPDES permit requirement, permits were required for five types of storm water discharges, including storm water discharges associated with industrial activity. A storm water discharge associated with industrial activity is a discharge from material handling and storage areas at certain industries. The U.S. EPA and States delegated by the U.S. EPA have issued NPDES general permits for storm water discharges associated with industrial activity. A discharger authorized under an NPDES general permit to discharge storm water associated with industrial activity, is required to develop and implement a storm water pollution prevention plan to prevent the discharge of pollutants to waters of the U.S. via storm water runoff.