E.P.A. Solicits Public Review on Permit to Reduce Stormwater Discharges from Construction Sites

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) is releasing for public review a outline permit that will help enhance our nation's waterways by regulating the discharge of stormwater from construction sites. Stormwater discharges during construction activities can contain sediment and pollutants that harm aquatic ecosystems, increase drinking water treatment costs and pollute waters that people use for fishing, swimming and other recreational activities.

The suggested Construction General Permit (CGP) includes a number of enhanced protections, including enhanced provisions to protect impaired and sensitive waters. Some of the significant suggested permit modifications include new requirements for:

· Eligibility for emergency-related construction
· Required use of the electronic notice of intent process
· Sediment and erosion controls
· Natural buffers or alternative controls
· Soil stabilization
· Pollution prevention
· Location inspections
· Stormwater Pollution Prevention Projects
· Permit termination

Many of the new permit requirements implement new effluent limitations guidelines and new source performance requirements for the construction and development industry that became effective on February 1, 2010. These requirements include a suite of erosion and sediment controls and pollution prevention measures that apply to all permitted construction sites.

The permit will be effective in areas where E.P.A. is the permitting authority, including 4 states (Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Mexico); Washington, D.C.; most territories; and most Indian country lands.

The public will have 60 days to review on the outline permit. E.P.A. anticipates that it will issue the final construction general permit by January 31, 2012.

The current permit is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2011; however, E.P.A. is proposing to extend the current permit until January 31, 2012 to provide sufficient time to finalize the new permit.

More information on the suggested construction general permit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgp.cfm

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