EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 10 have proposed a new NPDES general permit for stormwater discharges from industrial activity, also referred to as the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). This proposed permit will replace the existing permit covering industrial sites in EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 that expired on October 30, 2005. The proposed permit is similar to the existing permit and will authorize the discharge of stormwater associated with industrial activities in accordance with the terms and conditions described therein. The organization and numbering of the proposed MSGP has been revised from the 2000 MSGP to more clearly present permittee responsibilities. EPA made changes to the discharge authorization time frame, training, monitoring, reporting, recordkeeping, inspections, and some sector-specific provisions to ensure that receiving waters will be adequately protected.
EPA seeks comment on the proposed permit and on the accompanying fact sheet. Comments must be postmarked by January 16, 2006 (docket ID No. OW-2005-0007). EPA will hold an informal public meeting at EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 20, 2005. The public meeting will include a presentation on the draft permit and a question and answer session. In addition, some EPA Regional offices may schedule public meetings in their areas. Written, but not oral, comments for the official permit record will be accepted at the public meetings. Comments generated from what was learned at a public meeting (or discussion with someone who did attend) can be submitted any time up to the end of the comment period.
More information on these meetings will be available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater and on the various EPA Regional Web sites including any additional dates and locations if scheduled. Due to limited seating, those wishing to attend EPA’s public meeting are asked to please send an e-mail message containing their name, telephone number and organization to Lance Wills at wills.lance@epa.gov. An e-mail message is not required, however. Anyone wishing to may attend. Directions to the meeting site will be provided upon receipt of your e-mail.
After the close of the public comment period, EPA will issue a final permit decision. This decision will not be made until after all public comments have been considered and appropriate changes made to the permit. Responses to Comments will be included as part of the final permit decision.
Since this permit was not reissued or replaced prior to expiration of the MSGP 2000, MSGP is administratively continued in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, and remains in force and effect. Any facility with permit coverage prior to the October 30, 2005, expiration date, automatically remains covered by this permit until the earliest of:
- Reissuance or replacement of the permit, at which time the facility must submit an NOI requesting authorization to discharge under the new permit and comply with the requirements of the new permit to maintain authorization to discharge, or:
- The facility submits a Notice of Termination, or;
- Issuance or denial of an individual permit for the facility discharges, or;
- A formal permit decision by EPA not to reissue this general permit, at which time the facility must seek coverage under an alternative general permit or an individual permit.