The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes a comprehensive program “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.” This includes the rivers, washes, and certain other drainages in Arizona. To achieve these goals, the CWA requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to authorize discharges through issuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
On October 30, 2000, EPA issued the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for storm water discharges associated with industrial activity (MSGP-2000). The MSGP-2000 contained provisions that required facilities in 29 industrial sectors to implement control measures and to develop site-specific storm water pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) to comply with NPDES requirements. The facilities in these sectors are defined by either a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code or a general description of the facility’s industrial activities.
The Industrial Fact Sheet Series for Activities Covered Under EPA’s MSGP webpage contains links to fact sheets for the various types of industrial activities covered under the MSGP. Each fact sheet provides a brief summary of the industrial storm water permitting program, the types of facilities included in that sector, a summary of typical pollutants associated with each sector, and types of storm water control measures used to minimize the discharge of those pollutants.
On December 5, 2002, Arizona received authorization from EPA to implement the NPDES permit program on the state level. The state-specific program is called the Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) permit program and adopted the MSGP-2000 as an Arizona permit until a new AZPDES industrial storm water discharge permit could be issued. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) website contains background information on Arizona’s implementation of the multi-sector general permit. The MSGP-2000 expired on October 30, 2005 and has since been administratively continued in the state of Arizona.
Operators already covered under the MSGP-2000 continued to implement their SWPPPs and comply with the requirements in the MSGP-2000. Operators in Arizona that did not obtain coverage under the MSGP-2000 before it expired were not covered.
On December 20, 2010, ADEQ issued two new AZPDES Multi-Sector General Permits (MSGP-2010): MSGP-2010 Mining Permit; and MSGP-2010 Non-Mining Permit. Both permits became effective on February 1, 2011.
All industrial facilities in Arizona subject to the MSGP-2010 are required to apply or reapply under the appropriate new permit. Existing facilities that were authorized for coverage under the MSGP-2000 have 120 days from the effective date of the MSGP-2010 (i.e., May 31, 2011) to prepare a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to obtain coverage under the MSGP-2010.
Facilities that have been in operation without coverage under the MSGP-2000 must also develop a SWPPP and apply for coverage no later than May 31, 2011.
Facilities not in operation prior to the effective date of the MSGP-2010 must obtain coverage and prepare a SWPPP as soon as possible, and at least 30 business days before commencement of discharge.
To receive announcements about the new AZPDES MSGP-2010 via e-mail, go to the ADEQ mailing list webpage and subscribe to the MSGP topic.
For further information, please contact:
Dennis L. Turner
Surface Water Consultant
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
1110 W. Washington Street
Mail Code 5415 A-1
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
602-771-4501
Christopher M. Henninger
Manager, Stormwater and General Permits Unit
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
1110 W. Washington Street
Mail Code 5415 A-1
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
602-771-4508
