The current Georgia industrial stormwater general discharge permit expires on May 31, 2017. The revised NPDES General Storm Water Permit For Discharges of Stormwater Associated With Industrial Activity (2017 IGP) was finalized in 2016 and becomes effective on June 1, 2017. The revised permit made some modifications to requirements permitted facilities must meet, but not as substantial changes compared to the release of the 2012 IGP.
What If My Facility Is Already Covered Under the Existing Permit?
Current permittees are required to submit a new Notice of Intent (NOI) to obtain coverage under the 2017 IGP and to maintain coverage for discharging stormwater associated with industrial activities. Facilities previously covered under the 2012 IGP will have up to 30 days to submit the new NOI for coverage under the updated 2017 IGP after the effective date.
What If I Exceeded Benchmarks Under Current Permit?
If a facility exceeded the impaired waters benchmark based on the criteria presented in 2012 IGP permit, the facility has the option to conduct 12 months of flow-weighted composite sampling to demonstrate the discharge does not cause or contribute to an exceedance of water quality standards, or make the necessary improvements to the facility to achieve the instream water quality standard as an effluent limit within 36 months. If the facility still is unable to meet the impaired waters benchmark(s), they may not be authorized to discharge stormwater under the 2017 IGP and may be required to apply for an individual NPDES permit or alternative general permit.
Facilities that failed to meet the applicable benchmarks of the 2012 IGP permit have the option to sample their discharge(s) for 12 months to confirm whether the facility causes or contributes to an exceedance of the applicable Water Quality Standard, or prevent all exposure of industrial processes, materials, and equipment to stormwater, and/or capture and treat storm events of up to 1.2 inches within industrial areas exposed to stormwater within 36 months.
What If I Am Covered Under A No Exposure Exclusion?
Existing facilities that filed under the ‘No Exposure Exclusion’ (NEE) of the 2012 IGP must submit a new NEE form no later than 30 days after the effective date of the 2017 IGP to retain NEE status.