STORM WATER

The USEPA defines storm water as “rainwater or melted snow that runs off streets, lawns, and other sites.” Storm water runoff from streets, lawns, and other sites eventually enters our streams, lakes, and rivers. Pollutants such as garbage, sediment, road salt, petroleum, pesticides, and other industrial chemicals contaminate storm water and ultimately discharge to surrounding water bodies. Contaminated storm water can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems, drinking water systems, and recreational uses of waters. VET assists industrial facilities and construction sites subject to NPDES regulations to develop storm water pollution prevention control measures that make sense for your facility, while protecting the quality of downstream waters.

Click here for more information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency on the NPDES Stormwater Program.

The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program is intended to reduce water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge to Waters of the United States (WOTUS). NPDES was created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act and is administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The USEPA, in turn, authorizes state governments to fulfill the permitting, administrative, and enforcement aspects of the NPDES program. This vast majority of individual state environmental agencies are in charge of storm water regulations for their state, meaning that regulations can vary from state to state. VET is a leader in the industrial storm water industry, assisting facilities with maintaining compliance with storm water permitting requirements from Colorado to New York.

Although requirements vary by state, NPDES permits for industrial facilities generally require regular storm water sampling, inspections, and reporting. VET’s storm water compliance program ensures that you understand and adhere to your state’s storm water requirements. Construction storm water permits also vary by state, but generally require installation of storm water control measures and regular inspections of these measures. Click here to learn more about the NPDES program.

All facilities with industrial activity exposed to storm water are required to maintain a storm water permit. This means that the majority of industrial operations (salvage yards, recycling facilities, lumber yards, etc.) are subject to industrial storm water permitting regulations. Specific industrial permitting requirements depend on your facility’s Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code and location, as permitting requirements can vary greatly from state to state. For example, a quarry, a truck stop, and a salvage yard located in the same state will all have different requirements, as will two quarries located in different states. If you are unsure whether your facility is regulated, give us a call! Click here for more information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency on industrial activity storm water discharge.

Construction storm water permitting is for land disturbing activities including grading, site development, and construction projects. Generally, projects that will disturb more than one acre (and some that disturb less than one acre) are required to obtain a construction storm water permit. Conducting a project in phases does NOT exempt you from the permitting process. This means that if, over the life of your project, you disturb more than one acre, you are required to obtain a permit. This is a common misconception. If you are required to obtain a permit and your project site does not have one, you are subject to fines and violations from regulatory agencies. Click here for more information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency on construction activity storm water discharge. If you are unsure whether your facility is required to obtain a permit, give us a call!

A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is a site-specific plan that identifies where storm water discharges from a site and describes control practices that will improve storm water quality prior to discharge. SWPPPs contain information about site hydrology and land use, current or planned industrial activities, potential pollutant sources, and measures taken to monitor and control pollution in storm water discharging from the site. Your SWPPP is not just a big binder you keep on the shelf for five years, collecting dust. Rather, your SWPPP is an active plan to guide daily procedures at your facility and should be a dynamic, frequently-updated document. VET understands that each facility is unique. VET can help you develop, implement, and maintain a site-specific SWPPP for your facility. VET’s team of environmental professionals is here to help you develop a SWPPP that makes sense for your facility, train your employees on the applicable requirements, and help you maintain compliance with applicable environmental regulations. Click here to learn more about preparing a SWPPP.

The main purpose of a construction SWPPP is to describe how storm water discharge will be managed through implementation of storm water and sediment control best management practices (BMPs). BMPs, such as silt fence, rock check dams, and filter socks, are utilized to prevent sediment from migrating off-site and into receiving waters during land disturbing activities. A SWPPP will detail the location, type, and maintenance specifications for all proposed BMPs. Every site is different. BMPs must be selected and designed on a site-by-site basis. BMPs are not a one size fits all solution. Additionally, a SWPPP is a dynamic document that needs to be modified as changes to site layout, BMP selection, and/or construction processes occur. Click here for a SWPPP guide provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. VET understands that not everything may go as planned during a project. VET’s team of knowledgeable environmental professionals, including a Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control (CPESC) certified through EnviroCert International, Inc., can help you select BMPs and develop a SWPPP that make sense for your project.

The first step in the industrial permitting process is to submit a permit application, commonly referred to as a Notice of Intent (NOI) in many states. The application includes information about your facility (facility name, location, SIC Code, receiving water), site maps, and a description of facility operations. The agency will review your application, and if all looks good, grant your facility coverage under the industrial storm water permit and assign your facility a unique permit number. Industrial storm water permitting regulations typically require SWPPP development and implementation, annual reporting, routine facility inspections, and regular storm water sampling. Specific requirements vary from state to state.

VET’s team of environmental professionals maintain relationships with regulatory stakeholders across the country to ensure our team stays up to date with state specific permitting requirements. VET is here to help you throughout the process. VET will develop your SWPPP, submit required documentation to the environmental agencies, and VET’s knowledgeable staff can help you maintain compliance with permitting requirements that apply to your facility.

The first step in the construction storm water permitting process is to prepare a SWPPP. SWPPPs must be submitted to the applicable government agency for review. The agency will review the plan and request additional information and/or amendments, as needed. Once the agency has approved the SWPPP, you are able to submit a permit application. The regulatory agency will review your permit application and, if all looks good, grant you coverage under the construction storm water permit and issue your project a unique permit number. Once you receive coverage, you are able to commence land disturbing activities. In order to maintain compliance with your permit, you must conduct and document regular inspections throughout the duration of your project. Inspections are utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the site’s BMPs and to ensure that sediment and other pollutants are not discharged to surrounding water bodies.

Inspection protocol and specific permitting requirements vary from state to state. VET can help you understand what regulations apply to your project, manage any required inspections, submit required documentation to the applicable regulatory agencies, and maintain compliance with your permit. VET can develop strategies for maintaining compliance that make sense for your site. Click here to access resources from the USEPA for construction storm water permitting.

VET is here to help you through the storm water permitting process. We prepare and submit your SWPPP, permit application, and use our internal project management software to keep track of your reporting requirements such as annual reporting due dates, sampling requirements, and permit renewal due dates. VET’s compliance software saves you time and money by helping you track all of your permit requirements in one convenient, safe location. VET’s program provides peace of mind that you are complying with environmental regulations, allowing you to focus on your operations.

VET streamlines communication and resolves issues between your facility and regulatory agencies. We are here to help you understand regulations and communicate with state agencies on your behalf. We understand that all facilities are different. There is not a one size fits all solution to improving storm water quality. VET can help you create and manage a compliance program that works for your facility.