Training - Support - Planning
Water Action Compliance Assistance and Planning LLC offers environmental consulting services in New York State, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut. Water Action specializes in Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) development and compliance support for operators of private and municipally operated facilities with stormwater discharges authorized under the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP), other state-specific general permits for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity or MS4 General Permits.
Whether you need one-time assistance to help you get your footing, or a long-term environmental program partner, we can help. Select from the spectrum of services we provide to support your existing strengths without duplicating efforts. Allow our friendly, expert staff to help you assess your understanding of the permit requirements, evaluate your facility's current environmental practices and assist in the development of a cost-effective stormwater compliance program.
Whether you need one-time assistance to help you get your footing, or a long-term environmental program partner, we can help. Select from the spectrum of services we provide to support your existing strengths without duplicating efforts. Allow our friendly, expert staff to help you assess your understanding of the permit requirements, evaluate your facility's current environmental practices and assist in the development of a cost-effective stormwater compliance program.
Do stormwater discharges from your facility require permit coverage under an industrial stormwater general permit such as the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) or a similar state-administered general permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity? Review the information below to determine whether the activities at your facility are subject to stormwater regulations.
| Sectors and Activities covered by EPA's MSGP |
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Still not sure? Use OSHA's Standard Industrial Classification search tool to determine your SIC code or contact us for more help.
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| Sectors and Activities covered by Connecticut's ISGP |
Do stormwater discharges from municipally-owned facilities require permit coverage under the New York State Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity?
It depends. In New York, municipally owned and operated facilities that would otherwise be subject to the NYS Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activities may maintain authorization for stormwater discharges under the municipality's MS4 General Permit if the following conditions are met:
Stormwater discharges from facilities that are not both owned and operated by a municipality with stormwater discharges covered under an effective MS4 permit must obtain coverage under the MSGP or alternative permit.
It depends. In New York, municipally owned and operated facilities that would otherwise be subject to the NYS Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activities may maintain authorization for stormwater discharges under the municipality's MS4 General Permit if the following conditions are met:
- Stormwater Management Plans that comply with the terms and conditions of the MSGP must be prepared and implemented.
- The operator must perform monitoring and record keeping in accordance with the MSGP.
- Monitoring must be completed as required by the MSGP.
- Reports of monitoring results must be attached to MS4 annual report.
Stormwater discharges from facilities that are not both owned and operated by a municipality with stormwater discharges covered under an effective MS4 permit must obtain coverage under the MSGP or alternative permit.
What's the big deal? It's just rain, right?
When land is developed, soil is compacted and paved. Roads, walkways, and other impervious surfaces, like roofs, decrease the available area for rain and snow melt to soak in the ground.
Because of the decreased area available to absorb water, rain and snowmelt run off in higher concentrations and at higher velocities than under natural conditions. This can cause erosion of soils on slopes and low-lying areas. Sediment in the erosive flows can be carried to surface water, changing, or even eliminating habitat. If the stormwater comes in contact with a concentrated source of pollutants like an industrial facility, it carries along contaminants from spills, leaks, material piles, particulates and other sources as it flows off-site. Pollutants in concentrations too small to detect with our senses can cause fish kills and may even make water from a receiving waterbody unfit to drink. Vegetation that slows flowing rain and filters sediment and other contaminants is also removed during development, so the increased volume of stormwater both erodes soils and bypasses nature's protective systems. Multiply the effects of one development or industrial facility by all the sources of pollution and increased flow in your watershed, and you can begin to appreciate the cumulative effects of stormwater runoff on our waters. Just as each facility contributes to water pollution, so each facility can do something to protect pure water resources and help reverse impairments. |
Stormwater Regulations 101The Clean Water Act, originally known as the Federal Pollution Control Act, was passed in 1948. In 1972, amendments to the Act set water quality standards for surface waters of the United States. The amendment made it illegal to discharge polluted wastewater to surface water without a permit. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit structure was also outlined in Section 402 of the Act.
The NPDES permit structure is the responsibility of the federal government; however the Act allows the Environmental Protection Agency to approve programs developed by states (SPDES programs) that meet or exceed national standards. Stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), construction and ten broad categories of industrial activity were later identified as significant sources of contamination to stormwater. The Water Quality Act of 1987 specifically added stormwater discharges from those sources to the discharges requiring a permit. NPDES and federally approved SPDES programs authorize stormwater discharges under individual permits and less stringent general permits, including, but not limited to MS4 General Permits, Construction General Permits and the various types of Industrial Stormwater General Permits (ISGP) and Multi-Sector General Permits (MSGP) for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity. Services
Click here to find out more about the types of services available to help you develop and compliment your facility's compliance assurance program. Water Action Compliance Assistance & Planning LLC wants to be your pollution prevention partner.
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