Workplace Safety and OSHA Compliance

3 Immediate actions from 2021 stormwater permit

By: Lisa Neuberger

Publication: Environmental Regulatory Alert

Date Posted: Apr 2, 2021

Stormwater discharges from industrial activity effective on March 1, 2021

The final EPA 2021 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for stormwater discharges from industrial activity became effective on March 1, 2021. For those facilities covered by the new MSGP, the following are actions that must be taken in the near term:

1. You must post a sign or other notice of your permit coverage in a location visible to the public. The sign must meet specific requirements and contain very specific information about your stormwater program.
2. Update your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to include new required elements including control measure consideration for major storm events, indicator monitoring requirements, and Additional Implementation Measures.
3. You must submit a new Notice of Intent to obtain authorization to discharge stormwater. For existing MSGP facilities, the deadline to submit is May 30, 2021. Other facilities should check the deadlines listed in the permit.

The MSGP covers stormwater discharges from industrial facilities in areas where EPA is the permitting authority. These areas are four states (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Idaho); the District of Columbia; all U.S. territories except the Virgin Islands; federally operated facilities in Colorado, Delaware, Vermont, and Washington; most tribal lands; and other designated activities.