Industrial Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Guide
Adapted from "Developing Educational Tools for Sustainable Stormwater Management." Find the full report here.
Regulatory Background & Requirements
When it rains or snows, water flows over impervious and disturbed soil surfaces on industrial sites, creating stormwater runoff. This runoff picks up loose soils, debris, hazardous wastes, oils, and other pollutants and transports them to nearby waterbodies or storm sewer systems. Proper stormwater controls are critical for stopping these pollutants from entering communities, waterways, and the surrounding environment to protect Utah's water quality.
Stormwater runoff and wastewater discharges from industrial sources can contain high levels of pollutants that negatively impact the waterways the discharge enters. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program places limits and regulations on the discharge from each industrial facility and/or activity. Industrial facilities are typically required to obtain permits for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activities. These permits require the creation of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for each facility covered under the permit. The SWPPP identifies potential sources of pollution that may impact stormwater quality. It also establishes a plan for the implementation of practices to reduce pollution impacts and fulfill compliance with the requirements of the permit. A typical SWPPP includes the following elements:
- Site Description
- Regulatory Requirements
- Site Map
- Potential Pollutant Sources
- Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Sediment and Erosion Control
- Spill Prevention and Response
- Emergency Response
- Good Housekeeping Practices
- Inspection and Monitoring
- Employee Training
- Recordkeeping
- Documentation of Compliance
The Clean Water Act mandates that operators engaged in "discharges associated with industrial activity" must secure a NPDES permit under Section 402(p). The EPA regulations outlined in 40 CFR 122.26 identify the types of industrial activities necessitating NPDES permits and outline the application requirements. In cases where the EPA is not the designated permitting authority for stormwater from industrial facilities, it has delegated this responsibility to states or territories, empowering them to regulate stormwater discharges from such industrial activities (“Developing Your SWPPP,” 2021).
In Utah, the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) addresses discharges associated with various industrial activities across multiple sectors. These permits outline specific requirements, monitoring procedures, and pollution prevention measures to control pollutants such as sediments, chemicals, and heavy metals.
The following fact sheet provides information on the following:
- A list of the 11 categories of regulated industrial activities
- A list permitted industrial activities included under the MSGP
- All the elements of a SWPP plan and how to achieve each at your site
- Best management practices, including non-structural and structural control measures
Additional Resources
The EPA has developed a series of fact sheets for the 29 industrial sectors regulated by the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). These fact sheets help identify typical pollutants from each sector and stormwater control measures (SCMs) that can be used to minimize pollutant discharges. You can find more helpful resources at the links below.
- https://deq.utah.gov/water-quality/general-multi-sector-industrial-storm-water-permit-updes-permits
- https://documents.deq.utah.gov/communication-office/bizhelp/top-10-bmps-industrial-municipal.pdf
- https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/priority-pollutant-list-epa.pdf
- https://deq.utah.gov/water-quality/explanation-of-standard-industry-classification-sic-codes-updes-permits
- https://documents.deq.utah.gov/water-quality/stormwater/DWQ-2018-014334.pdf
- https://www.epa.gov/npdes/industrial-wastewater
- https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-permit-limits
- https://www.epa.gov/npdes/industrial-stormwater-fact-sheet-series
- https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/documents/swppp_guide_industrial_2021_030121.pdf
References
EPA. (2021, March). Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Industrial Operators. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/documents/swppp_guide_industrial_2021_030121.pdfAuthors
Lauren Houskeeper, Science Communicator, Environmental Educator
Erin Rivers, Water Quality Extension and Stormwater Specialist
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