Most industrial facilities are required to maintain a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) in order to minimize the discharge of pollutants from the property. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) releases a Multi-Sector General Permit every five years that the majority of states model their permits after. These 6 steps are important for maintaining a compliant SWPPP in most states:
- Perform and document quarterly routine facility inspections of all areas of the facility where industrial activities are exposed to storm water.
- If any corrective actions are identified during this inspection or any other inspection or testing event, the event triggering the corrective action must be documented and a plan for correction must be implemented.
- Perform quarterly visual observations of storm water during a qualifying rain event. This involves taking a sample in a clear container from each permitted Outfall and documenting the characteristics of the storm water.
- Conduct and document an annual comprehensive site inspection once each year. This is a more detailed inspection than the routine facility inspection. It includes such requirements as reviewing any analytical data from storm water testing, evaluating the effectiveness of the control measures, reviewing the most current 303d list for impaired streams, and certifying there are no non-allowable non-storm water discharges.
- Collect, document, and analyze storm water from permitted outfalls for the analytes required by your specific industry sector and/or by the impaired stream sampling requirements. These can be monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual depending on the state, industry sector, and whether it is required by an impaired stream.
- Annually train all employees who work in areas where industrial materials or activities are exposed to storm water or who are in charge of implementing the SWPPP.
- Submit annual reports and/or Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) to the state agency.
For more information or help in developing and complying with your facility’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, please contact Conversion Technology, Inc. at (770) 263-6330 or visit our website, www.conversiontechnology.com.
A helpful link: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-industrial-activities#overview