Storm Water Permit Program for Transportation Facilities

Activities that take place at transportation facilities which have vehicle maintenance shops and equipment cleaning operations are often exposed to storm water. The runoff from these activities discharges industrial pollutants into nearby storm sewer systems and water bodies. This may adversely impact water quality.

To limit pollutants in storm water discharges from transportation facilities with vehicle maintenance shops and equipment cleaning, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase I Storm Water Program includes an industrial storm water permitting component. Operators of certain transportation facilities that discharge storm water to a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) or directly to waters of the United States require authorization under a NPDES industrial storm water permit.

For transportation facilities with vehicle maintenance shops and equipment cleaning, the facility operator must determine if the facility is eligible for coverage under a general or an individual NPDES industrial storm water permit. In some cases, a facility operator may be eligible for a conditional/temporary exclusion from permitting requirements.

For more information, visit the U.S. EPA's Storm Water Discharges from Industrial Facilities Web site.