Phase I NPDES, Storm Water Permit Renewal

The Office of Compliance Fact Sheet Series

Storm water permits provide a mechanism for monitoring the discharge of pollutants from these sources to waters of the United States and for establishing appropriate controls. Facilities can comply with NPDES permit requirements for storm water discharges by submitting (1) an individual permit application; or (2) a Notice of Intent (NOI) to be covered under a general permit (baseline or multi-sector).

The Baseline Industrial General Permit, which was issued in 1992, expired in September 1997. EPA has terminated this permit in most locations where it was issued, and, in its place, covered all industrial storm water dischargers under the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) originally issued in 1995. To accomplish this, EPA has modified the MSGP (62 FR 37448-75, July 11, 1997) and is attempting to modify it again in February 2000.

Options After the Expiration of the Storm Water Baseline Industrial General Permit in September 1997

With the expiration of the Baseline Industrial General Permit, the only other general permit available for permittees to transition to was the MSGP. Permittees could remain covered by the Baseline Industrial General Permit until September 9, 1997, with no further action on their part. After this date, facilities eligible for the MSGP coverage (see 60 FR 50821-24, September 29, 1995 for eligibility) could switch to this newer permit, which is effective through September 29, 2000, by filing an NOI for the newer permit and updating their Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan accordingly. Facilities not eligible for the MSGP could remain covered by an extension of the Baseline Industrial General permit after the expiration date by submitting an NOI before September 9, 1997. This coverage extension remained in effect until 30 days after MSGP modifications became final.

If you have questions about switching to the MSGP or about other storm water permitting options, please contact the Storm Water Hotline at 1-800-245-6510.

To Acquire Coverage under the EPA Modified Multi-sector General Permit When Final

• Obtain a copy of the final EPA Modified Multi-Sector General Permit when it is published in the Federal Register.
• Read and comply with all aspects of the Modified Multi-Sector General Permit.
• Submit an NOI form within 30 days of the effective date of the final modified Multi-Sector General Permit to:

Storm Water Notice of Intent (4203)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

Additional Information

Copies of the proposed Multi-Sector General Permit are available through the EPA Office of Water Resources Center at (202) 260-7786.