The Industrial Storm Water General Permit which has been regulating the auto recyclers and manufacturing industries since 1992 has been significantly revised. The 80 page Permit has been expanded to over 200 pages. It is very complex. The high points are listed below. Details will be provided at upcoming association meetings.
1. The Permit goes into effect July 1, 2015.
2. All data must be submitted on the internet. No paper reports.
3. All submitted data can be read by anybody with internet access.
4. The business owner must register online to be able to certify data.
5. The business owner is the only person that can certify data, although approved people can enter the data.
6. Four samples are required per year, unless the business is in a group program.
7. Group members sample twice a year.
8. If storm water discharge started overnight, samples may be taken within four hours of business opening.
9. Sample limit exceedances require an Exceedance Report, but there is no Permit violation.
10. If numeric limits are exceeded at the end of the year, the operator’s status is raised to risk level 1.
11. Second year numeric limit exceedances raise the operator to risk level 2, requiring a report and plan. No Permit violation has occurred.
12. Additional minimum BMPs are required depending on risk level. Risk level 2 can require treatment.
13. Achievement of benchmarks return risk level 1 or level 2 dischargers to the baseline starting point.
14. A Notice of Non Applicability (NONA) can be filed for Permit exemption if the facility can be certified by a Professional Engineer to not discharge storm water during the largest recorded storm.
15. A No Exposure Certification (NEC) can be prepared by the owner if the owner certified that storm water does not contact industrial material or supplies.
16. Existing SWPPPs and site maps will require rewriting to include greater detail.
17. Naturally occurring background pollutant levels can be utilized to explain exceedances.
18. Technical reports for numeric limit exceedances are to be prepared by a QISP (Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner).
19. QISP certification is achieved by completing an as yet undefined training class.
20. One QISP can represent an unlimited number of facilities.
21. pH sampling is required on site with litmus paper or a pH meter.
Click here for a printable copy.
