Industrial
Brief Overview
The Industrial Storm Water General Permit Order 97-03-DWQ (General Industrial Permit) is an NPDES permit that regulates discharges associated with 10 broad categories of industrial activities. The General Industrial Permit requires the implementation of management measures that will achieve the performance standard of best available technology economically achievable (BAT) and best conventional pollutant control technology (BCT). The General Industrial Permit also requires the development of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a monitoring plan. Through the SWPPP, sources of pollutants are to be identified and the means to manage the sources to reduce storm water pollution are described. The General Industrial Permit requires that an annual report be submitted each July 1.
Industrial sectors
Operators of industrial facilities or sites with activities included in one of these 11 categories must obtain coverage under an NPDES industrial stormwater permit, unless conditionally excluded. The list provided below describes the types of industrial activities within each category.
- Category One (i): Facilities with effluent limitations
- Category Two (ii): Manufacturing
- Category Three (iii): Mineral, Metal, Oil and Gas
- Category Four (iv): Hazardous Waste, Treatment, or Disposal Facilities
- Category Five (v): Landfills
- Category Six (vi): Recycling Facilities
- Category Seven (vii): Steam Electric Plants
- Category Eight (viii): Transportation Facilities
- Category Nine (ix): Treatment Works
- Category Ten (x): Construction Activity *
- Category Eleven (xi): Light Industrial Activity
For a detailed list of industrial activities covered under the NPDES Industrial Permit, review Table 1-1 (SECTORS OF INDUSTRIAL ACITIVITIES COVERED BY THIS PERMIT) located on page 4 of the Multi-Sectors General Permit (MSGP-2000) prepared by USEPA
*Category Ten (x): Construction Activity that disturbs 1 or more acres of land is included in the definition of "stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity." However, EPA opts to permit these types of activities separately from other industrial activities because of the significant difference in the nature of these activities. More information about stormwater discharges from construction activities is available.
Case Study: Stockton, California: Model SWPPP for Industrial Facilities [PDF]
Read more about Industrial Program
