New Storm Water (SWPPP) General Permit adopted

On September 2nd, 2009 the State Water Board adopted a new construction general permit (CGP) to replace Order 99-08-DWQ and this new CGP will become effective July 1, 2010.

Builders will now be more responsible for their SWPPP involvement and activities in regards to storm water compliance. The new permit now categorizes constructions sites into risk levels, each risk level having its own criteria on storm water compliance and sampling. A risk level 4 construction site will need a different permit all together.

A Rain Event Action Plan (REAP) is now mandatory for each storm event. REAP templates are available for various phases of construction. The REAP must be written and implemented before the storm event.

Home builders are now required by this new General Permit to conduct sampling on various constituents in the storm water runoff. In 2005 and 2006, the State Water Board convened an expert panel (panel) to address the feasibility of numeric effluent limitations (NELs) in 's storm water permits. Specifically, the panel was asked to address:

"Is it technically feasible to establish numeric effluent limitations, or some other quantifiable limit, for inclusion in storm water permits? How would such limitations or criteria be established, and what information and data would be required?"

Numeric Action Levels (NALs) were also developed to be used as a warning to evaluate if best management practices are effective and take necessary corrective actions.

All information on the new (and "old") CGP will be posted here, once it becomes available:

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/construction.shtml

This new permit is not easy! Builders will need advice, monitoring, inspections, training, and constituent sampling. Scott Environmental has been consulting with builders for over eight years in the storm water compliance industry.

Scott Environmental Health & Safety Services
Storm Water Compliance Consultants
CESSWI - Certified Erosion and Sediment Storm Water Inspectors