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                                      Thursday
                                      April 2, 1992
                                      Part VI



                                      Environmental

                                      Protection  Agency

                                      40 CFR Part 122
                                      National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
                                      System Application Deadlines, General
                                      Permit Requirements and Reporting
                                      Requirements for Storm Water
                                      Discharges Associated With Industrial
                                     Activity; Final Rule

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II        40 CFR Part 122

          [FRL-4100-4]

          National Pollutant Discharge
          Elimination System Application
          Deadlines, General Permit
          Requirements and Reporting
          Requirements for Storm Water
          Discharges Associated With Industrial
          Activity   .
          AGENCY: Environmental Protection
          Agency (EPA).  •
          ACTION: Final rule.	

          SUMMARY: The Water Quality Act
          (WQA) of 1987 added section 402(p) to
          the Clean Water Act (CWA). Section
          402{p) of the CWA requires the
          Environmental Protection.Agency (EPA)
          to establish phased and tiered
          requirements for storm water discharges
          under the National Pollutant Discharge
          Elimination System (NPDES) program.
          On August 16.1991 (56 FR 40948). EPA
          requested public comments on several
          regulatory and policy issues regarding
          NPDES permits for storm water
          discharges associated with industrial
          activity. On November 5,1991 (56 FR
          . 56549), the Agency also proposed
          extending the deadline for submitting
          part 2 of group applications for storm
          water discharges associated with
          industrial activity. .
          -'  In response to comment received on  •
          August 16,1991, proposal, today's action
          describes a National Strategy for issuing
          NPDES permits for storm water  •
          discharges associated with industrial
          activity. Today's action also contains a
          final rule that revises minimum NPDES
           monitoring requirements for storm water
           discharges associated with industrial
           activity. In addition, todays rule
           establishes minimum requirements for
           filing notices of intent to be authorized
           to discharge under NPDES general
           permits.
             Today's rule also establishes a
           deadline of October 1,1992 for part 2 of
           group applications for storm water
           discharges associated with industrial
           activity." As noted above, this revised
           deadline was proposed on November 5,
           1991. In connection with group
           applications, today's rule contains an
           amendment to clarify the minimum
           number of facilities that must submit
           sampling information in part 2 of a group
           application.
             Finally, today's action codifies several
           provisions of Section 1068 of the
           Intermodal Surface Transportation
           Efficiency Act of 1991 or Transportation
           Act into the NPDES regulations. Section
 for storm water discharges associated
 with industrial activity from facilities
 that were owned or operated by
 municipalities.   j
 ELECTIVE DATE: The final rule becomes
 effective May 4,1992.            •
 ADDRESSES: The public record is located
 at EPA Headquarters, EPA Public.
 Information Reference Unit, room 2402.
 401M Street. SW, Washington, DC,  .
 20460. A reasonable fee may be charged
 for copying.      !           •
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 For further information on the rule   • .
 contact the NPDES  Storm Water Hotline
 at (703) 821-4823 or. Kevin Weiss, Office
 of Wastewater Enforcement and • '-'•
 Compliance (EN-336). United States
 Environmental Protection Agency, 401M
 Street SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202)
 260-9518.                    .  .
 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
 L Background     '
   A. Environmental Impacts
   B. Water Quality Act of 1987
   C November 16,1990, Permit Application
     Regulations  . !           .••   -:
   D. August 16,1991 Notice,
   E. November 5,1991 Proposal
   F. Intennadal Surface Transportation'  '   :
     Efficiency Act of 1991       .. . "    .'
 H. Today's Rule   |            .
   A. Long-Term Permit Issuance Strategy
   B. Minimum Monitoring and Reporting
     Requirements for Storm Water
     Discharges   '
   C. Application Requirements for General
    ' Permits      . •
   D. Deadline for part 2 of Group
     Applications  i'
   E. Clarification for  Part 2 of Group
     Applications  i
   F. Transportation Act Deadlines  •"
 IIL Economic Impact
 IV. Executive Order 12291
 V. Paperwork Reduction Act
 VL Regulatory Flexibility Act        ...
 VIL APA Requirements         '"   •'.,

, L Background   '!
    The 1972 amendments to the Federal  •
 Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA.
 also referred to as  the Clean Water Act ,
 or CWA), prohibited the discharge of   ;
 any pollutant to navigable waters from a
 point source  unless the discharge is-
  authorized by a NPDES permit Efforts
  to improve water quality under the
  NPDES program have focused."...-;.:.; -: •
  traditionally on reducing pollutants in:  -
  discharges of industrial process .•; 4   ]'.
  wastewater and from municipal sewage '••
  treatment plants. This program
  emphasis has developed for a number of
  reasons. At the onset of the program in •;
  1972, many sources of industrial process
  wastewater and municipal sewage-were?
  not controlled adequately,
.and industrial process discharges were
easily identified as responsible for poor,
often drastically degraded water quality
conditions. However, as pollution
control measures were developed
initially for these discharges, it became
evident that more diffuse sources
(occurring over a wide area) of water
• pollution, such as agricultural and urban
runoff, were also major causes of water
 quality problems. Some diffuse sources
 of water pollution, such as agricultural
 storm water, discharges and irrigation
return flows, are exempted statutorily
from the NPDES program. Controls for
 other diffuse sources have been slow to
 develop' under the NPDES program.  .  .

 A. Environmental Impacts

   Several national assessments have
 been conducted to evaluate impacts on
 receiving water quality. For the purpose
 of these assessments, urban runoff was
 considered to be a diffuse source or
 nonpoint source pollution, although in
 legal terms, most urban runoff is
 discharged through conveyances such as
• separate storm sewers or other      •  ;
 conveyances which are point sources  .
 under the CWA and subject to the
 •NPDES program.
   The "National Water Quality      . ;
 Inventory, 1990 Report to Congress"
 provides a general assessment of water
 quality based on biennial reports
• submitted by the States under section
 3O5(fa) of the CWA. In preparing section .
 305(b) Reports, the States were asked to
 indicate the fraction of the States'
 waters that were assessed, as well as
 the fraction of the States' waters that
 were fully supporting, partly supporting,
 or not supporting designated uses. The
 Report indicates that of the rivers, lakes...
 and estuaries that were assessed by.    •
 States (approximately one-third of
 stream miles,  one-half of lake acres and
• threerquarters of estuarine waters),
 roughly 60 percent .to 70 percent are
 supporting the uses for which they are
 . designated. For waters with use
 impairments, States were asked to
 •determine impacts due to diffuse
';.' sources (agricultural and urban runoff
 and other categories of diffuse sources),
 municipal sewage, industrial (process)  .
-. -wastewaters, combined sewer
 •overflows, and natural sources, and then
;-?to combine impacts to arrive at
''•: estimates of the relative percentage of
 State waters affected by each source. In
  this manner, the relative importance of
;.; -the various sources of pollution caubing .
••-:-ase impairments -was assessed and     • _•
^-weighted national averages were
^calculated.          •              •  . ••

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    , Based on 51 States, and.Territories.;
   that provided information on sources of
..  pollution, the Assessment also •-
  •concluded that pollution: from diffuse :
  ••sources such as runoff from agricultural
   urban areas, construction sites, land
   disposal activities, and resource
   extraction activitieais cited by the
   States as the leading cause of water
   quahty impairment* Diffuse sources
   appear to be increasinglyimportant
   cpnWbutors of use impairment as
  discharges of industrial process
  wastewaters and municipal sewage
  plants come-under conjrol'and     •
  intensified data collection efforts
  provide additional information. Some
  examples where use impairments are
  cited as being caused by'diffuse sources
  include: Rivers and streams, where 11
  percent are caused by separate storm
  sewers, 6 percent are caused by
  construction and 14 percent are caused
 by resource extraction; lakes, where 28
 percent are caused by separate storm
 sewers and 24sPercent are caused by
 land disposal; the Great Lakes shoreline.
 where 6 percent are caused by separate
 storm sewers, and 41 percent are caused
 by land disposal; for estuaries where, 30
 percent are caused by separate storm
 sewers; and for coastal areas, where 36
 percent are caused by separate storm
 sewers and 37 percent are caused by
land disposal. • •  .      .    . .
   The States conducted a more
comprehensive study of diffuse pollution
sources under the sponsorship of the
W^±^lS^!-d^erstate
                                           :^^^^™*™"^~"          "^^^^^^^^^^^^^^BBMi^Mi

                                         •.limited area); 2,000.000 acres of shellfish
                                          Erowine wnfpm in *V.o r-..ir -r*;  ,
                                          «n'^t "*" "<"'Ye»w«nutea area): and
                                          1300001 acres of shellfish growing waters
                                          on the West Coast (5255 rfharvSt-
                                          limited areas).
                                          B. Water Quality Act of 1987

                                          •^SsSS&issay**
                                        ' o f w-«to
                                         establish a comprehensive two phased
                                         approach for EPA to address storm
                                         water-discharges. Section 402(p)fi)
                                         provides. that S>A or NPDES States -
                                         cannot require a permit for certain storm
                                         water discharges f until October 1. 1992, :
                                         except for storm water discharges listed
                                         ^8e^Pn402&>)C2), Section 402(P)f2)
                                         lists five types of storm water  ^HWl '
                                         discharges which are covered under
                                        Phase I of the program and are required
                                        to, obtain a permit before October 1
                                        J.+Rj£t   '• ' • .*""• '
                                        o «IZI"» v!"""!.'"8'' W1U1 respect to which
                                        a permit has been issued prior to
                                        February 4,1987;
                                          CB) A discharge associated with  ^
                                        industrial activity;
                                          (C) A discharge from a municipal
                                        separate storm sewer system servins a
                                        population of 250,000 mmOK*
                                          (D) A discharge from.a municipal  -

                                        Sa fnn^^f^T 8yStem ^^ a
                                         (E) A discharge for which the
                                       mSlfiS^t0r-r ^ State.as the case
                                       may be, determines that the storm water
                                       discharge contributes to a violation of a
 Assessment 1985". which indicated that
 38 States reported urban runoff as a
 major cause of beneficial use
 impairment In addition. 21 States
 reported construction site runoff as a
 m|jor cause of use impairment
   Studies conducted by the National
 Oceanic and Atmospheric
 Administration (NOAA) * indicate that
 urban runoff is a major pollutant source
 which adversely affects .shellfish
 growing waters. The NOAA studies
 identified urban runoff as affectino ««=„
 578000, acres of shellfish gtWnJtaSs
 on the East Coast (39 percent ofha^v est-


par^oltr ±f±^L**' fad"d'- *
                                         The WQA clari'fied-and amended the
                                       requirements for permits for storm water
                                       discharges'in the new CWA section

                                               "
„ .n.   Quality of Sne'lfinti Growing Waters
on the East Coast of the United States" floA^

^'?8f S"al/ty °f Shellfi8h G™^«8 W°ta fa
                                                      	-»wu, mtu, |yciILUia
                                       ..---—<*es associated with industrial
                                     activity must meet all of the applicable
                                     provisions of section 402 and sectSn 301
                                     including BAT/BCT technology-based
                                     requirements and that permitffor
                                     discharges from municipal separate
                                     storm sewer must meet a new statutory
                                     standard requiring controls to reduce the
                                     discharge of pollutants to the maximum
                                     extent practicable (MEP). As with all
                                     point source discharges under the CWA
                                     storm water discharges are subject to
                                     applicable water quality-based
                                     standards.
                                      Section 402(p)(4) establishes  '
                                    deadlines to  implement the permit
                                    program for:  Storm water discharges
                                    associated with tadusWal activity-
                                    discharges from large municipal
                                    separate storm sewer systems (systems
                                    anT!?811 P°PUl1ti0n of 250.000 o^more);
                                    and discharges from medium municipal
     separate storm sewer systems (systems
     serving a population of 100.000 or more
     but less than 250.000). This section of U,e
     Act specifies deadlines for EPA to
     promulgate permit application
     requirements, applicants to! submit   '  •
     £™lapplicatio"ns' SPA and authorized
    NPDES States to issue NPDES permits
    and for permit compliance for the    !'   •
    identified storm water discharges
      NPDES permits for all other storm
    water discharges fall under phase II of
    the program, and cannot be required
    unuj October 1.1992,-unless a permit for
    toe discharge was issued prior, to the
    date of enactment of the WQA fi e
    February 4.1987), or the discharge is
    determined to be a significant    •
    contributor of pollutants .to waters of the
    United States or is contributing to a
   violation of water quality standards.
     EPA.inConsuitationwiththeStateg
   is required to conduct two studies on '
   phase n storm water discharges that are

  -S?r™lLtChai:8e8 f°r Which **
   ana wfutb btates. cannot requh-e
   permits prior to October 1,1992. The  '
   first study will identify those storm
   water discharges or classes of storm
   water discharges addressed by phase II
   and determine, to the maximum extent
  practicable, the nature and extent of
  pollutants in such discharges. The
  second study is for the purpose of .
  establishing procedures and methods to
  control phase n storm water discharges
  to the extent necessary to mitigate
  impactsion water quality. Based on the
  two, studies, EPA in consultation with
  State and local officials, is required to
  issue regulations by no later than
  October 1,1992, which designate classes
  of Phase II 8tOrm water discharges to be
  regulated to protect water quality and
  establish a comprehensive program to
  regulate such designated sources This
 •program must establish, at a minimum.
  (A) priorities, (B) requiremenfs for State
  storm water management programs, and
  (C) expeditious deadlines.Thiprogram
 may include performance standards
 guidelines, guidance, and management
 practices and treatment requirements
 as appropriate.

 C. 'November 16,1990, Permit
 Application Regulations

   EPA promulgated permit application
 regulations for the storm water
 discharges identified under section
 402(pj(2) (B), (C). and (D) of the CWA.
 including storm water discharges
 associated with industrial activity, on
 November 16,1990 (55 FR 47990). The
November 16,1990 regulations address '
requirements, including deadlines, for
two sets of application procedures for'
storm water discharges associated with
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11396      Federal Register / Vol.  57, No. 64 / Thursday. April 2. 1992 / Rules and Regulations

industrial activity: Individual permit
applications and group applications. In
addition, the notice recognizes a third
set of application procedures for storm
water discharges associated with
industrial activity: Those associated
with general permits. With these
requirements, EPA is attempting to
implement a flexible, cost-effective
approach for storm water permit
applications.
  The requirements for individual
applications for storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity are
set forth at 40 CFR'l2238(c)(l).
Generally,'the applicant must provide
comprehensive facility specific narrative
information including: (1) A site map; (2]
an estimate of impervious areas; (3) the
identification of significant materials
treated or stored on site together with
associated materials management and
disposal practices; (4) the location and
description of. existing structural and
non-structural controls to reduce
pollutants in storm water runoff; (5) a
certification that all storm water outfalls
have been evaluated for any
unpermitted non-storm water
discharges; and (8) any existing
information regarding significant leaks
or spills of toxic or hazardous pollutants
within three years prior to application  •
submittal. In addition, an individual
application must include quantitative
analytical data based on samples
collected on site during storm events.
Under § 122.26{e)(l) of the November 16,
, 1990 rule, individual applications were '
 to have been submitted by November 18,
1991.3
   The group application process allows
for facilities with similar storm water
 discharges to file a single two part
permit application. Part 1 of a group
 application includes a list of the
 facilities  applying, a narrative
 description summarizing the industrial
 activities of participants of the group, a
 list of significant materials exposed to
 precipitation that are stored by
 participants and material management
 practices employed to diminish contact
 of these materials by precipitation (see
 40 CFR 122.26(c)(2)(i)). Under the
 November 16,1990 regulations, Part 1 of
 the group application was to be
 submitted to EPA no later than March
 18,1991/* The regulation provides that
 EPA has a 60 day period after receipt to
 review the part 1 applications and notify
 the groups as to whether they have been
 approved or denied as a properly
 constituted "group" for purposes of this
 alternative application process. Part 2 of
 the group application contains detailed
 information, including sampling data, on
 roughly ten percent of the faculties in
 the group (today's notice contains a
 more detailed description clarifying the
 requirements of 40 CFR 122^8(c)(2)(ii)).
 Under the November 16,1990
 regulations, part 2 applications were to
' be submitted no later than 12 months
 after the date of approval of the part 1
 application. (Revisions to this deadline
 are discussed below). Also under the
 November 16,1990 regulation, facilities
 that are rejected as members of a group
 were to have 12 months from the date
 they receive notification of their
 rejection to file an individual permit
 application (or obtain coverage under an
 appropriate general [permit).*
    The group application process has
 been designed by EPA as a one-time
 administrative procedure to'ease the
 burden on the regulated community and
 permitting authorities in the initial stage
 of the storm waterjprogram.
    The third application procedure
 entails seeking coverage under a general
 permit for storm water discharges
 associated with industrial activity.
 Dischargers covered by a general permit
 are excluded under 40 CFR 122.21(a)
 from requirements to submit individual
 or group permit applications. Conditions
 for filing an application to be covered by
 a general permit (typically 'called a
 Notice of Intent (NQI)) are established
 on a case-by-case basis. As discussed in
 more detail below, today's notice
 establishes final minimum requirements
 for general permit NOI submissions.
    The November 18,1990 regulations
 also establish a two part application .
 process for discharges from municipal .
 separate storm sewer systems serving a
 population of 100,000 or more. The
 regulations lists 220 cities and counties
  that are defined as having municipal
  separate storm sewer systems serving a
. population of'lOO.OOOqr more and
  allows for case-by-case designations of
  other municipal separate storm sewers
  to be part of these systems (55 FR 48073,
  48074). The regulations provide that part
  1 applications for discharges from large
  municipal separate storm sewer systems
   9 The deadline for submitting an Individual permit
 application for dorm water discharge* associated
 with industrial activity was extended from
 November IB. 1691 to October 1.1992 (56 FR S6548.
 (November 5,0891)).
   * The deadline for lubmitting part 1 of lite group
 application wu extended from March 18.1991 to
 September 30.1991 (SO FR 12098 (March 21.1991)).
    • The deadline for* facility that ta rejected as a
  member of « group application to •ubmit an
  individual permit application ha* been revised to
  provide that an individual application mutt be
  •ubmitted no later than 12 month* after the date of
  receipt of the notice of refection or October 1.1992.
  whichever comm£r*t (56 FR 56549, (November 5,
  1991)).         '  ' ,
(systems serving a population of 250,000
or more) were due November 18,1991.
Part 2 applications for discharges from
large systems are  due on November 16,
1992. Part 1 applications for discharges
from medium municipal separate storm
sewer systems (systems serving a
population of 100,000 or more, but less
than 250,000) are due May 13,1992. Part
2 applications for discharge!! from
medium systems are due on May 18,
1993. Today's rulemaking does not
address, modify or change application
requirements or deadlines established
by the November 18,1990 regulations for
discharges from municipal separate
storm sewer systems serving a
population of 100,000 or more.  '  •

D. August 16,1991 Notice
 • On August 16,1991, EPA published a
notice (56 FR 40948) requesting public
comment on four major areas:
  (1) EPA's  long-term permit issuance
strategy for storm water discharges   •
associated with industrial activity;••
  (2)  Proposed modifications to 40 CFR
122.44(i)(2) addressing minimum
monitoring and reporting requirements  '
for NPDES permits for storm water •
discharges associated with industrial •
activity;                     "•"    '  ' •
  (3) Proposed modifications to 40 CFR '"
122.28(b)(2) addressing minimum notice
of intent requirements for general  '   .
permits;,                             •
  (4) Draft baseline general permits for
storm water discharges associated with
industrial activity in 12 States (MA, ME,
NH, FL, LA, TX, OK, NM.SD, AZ, AK.
ID) and 6 Territories (District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto '
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the   . . !
 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
 Islands, and the Trust Territory of the'
 Pacific Islands) without authorized      ,
NPDES State programs; on Indian lands .
 in AL, CA, GA, KY. MI, MN, MS, MT.
 NC, ND, NY. NV. SC. TN, LIT. WI, and
WY; located within FederaS facilities "
 and Indian  lands in CO and WA; and   '
 located within Federal facilitieslin     •.•
 Delaware.       "       .   •'-..'••  •.«*
   One of the central purposes of today's.:,
 notice is to address and/or take final,  _.;
 action on the first three items listed  '..-
 above. Each of these three items is   . -. _
. discussed to more detail below. The •
 fourth component of the August 16,1991;'
 proposal involving draft baseUne   •'
 general permits for storm water will he --•;
 addressed to a separate rulemaktog  •'••*-
 presently scheduled for promulgation in ':
 late spring  of this year.  •-•••       "
 E.November5,1891 Proposal.•
   On November 5.1991, (58 FR W
 as a result  of issues and concerns

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.Federal.E^rterXVol S7..No. 64 /^Thursday, April>. 1992 / Rules and Regulations
                                                                                                               11397
  In comments on the March 21. .1991
.. proposed deadline extensions, EPA
. requested comments' on extending the
.' deadline for submitting part 2 of the
  group application, from May 18,!l992 to
  October 1,1992. hi the November 5,1991
  notice, the Agency indicated that this
  extension would provide an appropriate
  opportunity to conduct sampling to
  .support the part 2 application and-would
  allow for 'permit issuing agencies to
  issue general permits.  -; •;   .""

  F. Intennodal Surface Transportation
  Efficiency Act of 1391
    On December 18,1991. the President
  signed the Intennodal Surf ace   '
  Transportation Efficiency Act (or
  Transportation Act) of 1991, into law.
  Section 1068 of the  Transportation Act
  addresses NPDES permit application
  deadlines for storm water discharges
  associated with industrial activity from
  facilities that are owned or operated by
  muncipalities.
    Section lO68(b}(lj of the
  Transportation Act provides that EPA
.  shall require individual permit
  applications for storm water discharges
  associated with industrial activity that
  are owned or operated by municipalities
  on or before October -i. 1992; except that
  any municipality that has participated in
  a timely part 1 group application and
  that is denied participation in the group
  application shall not be required to
  submit an individual application until •
  the 180th day following the date on
  which the denial js made.
   Section 1068(b)(2] of the
  Transportation Act provides that part 1
  of group applications for storm water.
  discharges associated with industrial
  activity that are owned or operated by a
  municipality with a  population of
  250,000 or more shall be required on or
  before September 30,1991. and part 2
  applications on or before 'October 1,
  1992. Part 1 of group applications for
  storm water discharges associated with
  industrial activity that are owned or
  operated by a municipality with a
  population of less than 250,000-shall be
  required on or before May 18,1992, and
  part 2 applications on or before May 17,
  1993.
   Section 1068(c) of the Transportation
  Act provides that EPA shall not require
  any municipality with a population of
  less than 100,000 to apply for or obtain a
  permit for any storm water discharge
  associated with an industrial activity
  other  than an airport, powerplant, or
  uncontrolled sanitary landfill owned or
 operated by such municipality before
 October 1.1992, unless a permit is
 required by either section 402(pJ(2) (AJ
 or (E)  of the CWA. Section 1063(d) of the
 Transportation Act defines uncontrolled
                            sanitary landfill to mean a landfill or
                            open dump, whether open or closed, that
                            does not meet the requirements for
                            runpn and runoff controls established
                            pursuant to subtitle D of the Solid Waste
                          .  Disposal Act •
                             Section 1068(e] of the Transportation
                            Act clarifies that the statutory deadlines
                            for group and individual applications
                            outlined above do not affect any storm
                            water discharge that is subject to the
                            provisions of either section 402fpl[2)[Ai
                            or 402(p)(2)(E} of the CWA. Section
                           402{p)(2KA}.of the CWA addresses
                            storm water discharges that had an
                           NPDES permit prior to February 4,1987.
                           Section 402{p)(2)(E) of the CWA  .
                           addresses storm water discharges that
                           EPA or the State*, as the case may be.
                           determines that the storm water
                           discharge contributes to a violation of a
                           water quality standard or is a significant
                           contributor of pollutants to the waters of
                           the United States. As discussed in more
                           detail below, today's rule codifies the
                          application provisions of Section 1068 of
                           the Transportation Act
                           H. Today's Rule

                             Today's rule addresses the following:
                          (1) EPA's long-term permit issuance.
                          strategy for storm water discharges
                          . associated with industrial activity;
                            . (2} Modifications to 40 CFR 122.44(i)(2*
                          addressing minimum monitoring and
                          reporting requirements for NPDES
                          permits for stonn water discharges
                          associated with industrial activity,
                             (3) Modifications to 40  CFR
                          122.28(b](2) addressing minimnnj notice
                          of intent requirements for general
                          permits;
                             (4) Modifications to 40  CFR 122.26(e)
                          to establish a deadline of October 1.
                          1992 for part 2 of group applications for
                          storm water discharges associated with
                          industrial activity;
                             (5) An amendment to 40 CFR
                          122.26(c)(2] to clarify the minimum
                          number of facilities in a group that must
                          submit sampling information in part 2 of
                          a group application: and
                             (6) Modifications to 40 CFR 122;26(e)
                          to codify portions of Section 1068 of the
                          Transportation Act of 1991.

                          A. Long Term Permit issuance Strategy
                            Many of the initial concerns regarding
                          the NPDES storm water program
                          focussed on adapting the  existing
                          NPDES permit program to effectively
                          address the large number of storm water
                          discharges  associated with industrial
                          activity. Potential issues with  .
                          implementing the NPDES  program for
                          storm water discharges associated with
                          industrial activity are raised not only by
                          the number of industrial facilities
                          subject to the program, but also by the
  challenges presented in identifying and
  assessing appropriate technologies for
  preventing and reducing pollutants in
  different classes of storm water and the
  differences in the nature and extent of
  storm water discharges..
   Based on a consideration of comments
  from authorized NPDES States,
  municipalities, industrial faculties and
  environmental groups on the permitting
  framework and permit application
  requirements for storm water discharges
  associated with industrial activity, EPA
  has developed a strategy for permitting
  storm water discharges associated with
  industrial activity that will serve as a
  foundation for future program
  development and technology transfer.
 The Agency intends torae the flexibility
 provided by the CWA « in designing a
 workable and reasonable permitting
 system.-
   In an action related to this
 rulemaking/EPA. hi conjunction with
 the Rennselaerville Institute, has
 initiated a project to develop
 recommendations for streamlining and
 improving the existing permit issuance
 and compliance processes for storm
 water discharges. In addition, the
 project will examine whether and how
 the currently unregulated phase II storm
 water discharges should be addressed.
 EPA will be issuing a Federal Register
 notice to announce a series of meetings
 that will address these phase n storm
 water discharges.
   The strategy in today's action consists
 of two major components, a tiered
 framework for developing permitting
 priorities and a framework for the
 development of State Storm Water
 Permitting Plans.

 1. Permitting Priorities

   The Agency believes that most storm
 water permitting activities can be
•described in terms of the following four
 classes of activities:
   • Tier I—Baseline Permitting: One or
 more general permits will be developed
 initially to cover the majority of storm
 water discharges associated with
 industrial activity; '
  * The Court in NRDC v. Train. 398 F. Supp. 1333
(DJD.C. 1975) afTA NRDC v. Castle. S68 F-2d 1369
(D.C. Cir. 1977). has recognized the administrative
burden placed on the Agency by requiring
individual permits fora large number of storm
water discharges. These courts have affirmed EPA'a
discretion to use certain administrative devices,
such as area permits or general permits to help
manage Its workload. In addition, the •courts have
recognized flexibility in the -type of permit
conditions that are established. Including
requirements for best management practices. "See
August 16,1991 (S6 FR 40948) for further discussion
of the use of general permits for stonn water
discharges.

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        11398      Federal Register / Vol. 57. No. 64  /  Thursday. April 2, 1992  / Rules and Regulations
I

1
   • Tier If—Watershed Permitting:
 Facilities within watersheds shown to
 be adversely impacted by storm water
 discharges associated with industrial
 activity will be targeted for individual or
 watershed-specific general permits;  •
   • Tier III—Industry-Specific
 Permitting: Specific industry categories
 will be targeted for individual or
 industry-specific general permits; and
   * Tier IV—Facility-Specific
 Permitting: A variety of, factors will be
 used to target specific facilities for
 individual permits.
   These four classes of activities will be
 implemented over time and will reflect
 priorities within given States. In most
 States, tier I activities,.issuance of
 baseline permits, will be the initial
 starting point As priorities and risks
 within the State are evaluated, classes
 of storm water discharges  or individual
' storm water discharges will be
 identified for tier n, lH or IV permitting
 activities. UsuaUy a storm water
 discharge on a class of discharges will
 not go through a  sequence that involves
 all four of the tiers associated with the
 strategy, but may for example, go from
 initial coverage under a Tier I baseline
.permit to coverage under a tier HI
 industry-specific general permit.
   a.'Tier I—Baseline permitting. Tier I
 general permits can initially cover the
 majority of storm water discharges
 associatedivith industrial activity in a
 State. Consolidating many sources .
 under a general permit greatly reduces
 the administrative burden of issuing
 permits for storm water discharges
 associated with industrial activity.
 Under this approach:
   • Pollution prevention and/or best
 management practices will be
 established for discharges covered by
 the permit;
    • Facilities whose discharges are
 covered by the permit.will be certain of
 their legal responsibilities and have an
 opportunity to comply with the CWA;
    • EPA and authorized NPDES States
 will begin to collect and review data on
 storm water discharges from priority
 industries, thereby supporting
 subsequent permitting activities;
    • The public, including municipal
 operators of municipal separate storm
 sewers which may receive storm water
 discharges associated with industrial
 activity, will have the opportunity to
 review data and reports developed by
 industrial permittees under section
 308{b)6ftheCWA'    .  •
    • The baseline permits will provide a
 basis for coordinating requirements for
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activity with requirements of
 municipal storm water management
 programs in permits for discharges from
 municipal separate storm sewer
 systems.             'j
   • The baseline permits will provide a
 basis for bringing selected enforcement
 actions; and
   • The baseline permit along with the
 State storm water permitting plans
 (discussed below), will provide a focus
 for public comment on draft permits and
 subsequent phases of the permitting
 strategy for storm water discharges.
   Initially, the coverage of the baseline
 permits will be broad. However, it is
 anticipated that coverage will become
 more specific and targeted as other
 permits are issued for storm water "   '
 discharges associated with industrial   :
 activity pursuant to tier n through tier. .
 IV activities. The Agency believes that
 tier I permits can establish the
 appropriate balance between monitoring
 requirements and implemehtable
 controls that will initiate facility-specific
 controls and provide sufficient data for .
 compliance monitoring and future '  •
 program development Baseline general
 permits are flexible enough to allow the
 inclusion of tier n, in or IV types of .
 permit conditions, such as industry
 specific monitoring or control conditions
 into the baseline general permit     .
   b. Tier II—Watershed permitting.   '
 Issuing permits on a watershed basis is
. potentially a desirable way to cost
 effectively use Agency resources to '.' . ".
 satisfactorily address risk. Facilities
 within watersheds shown to be
 adversely impacted by storm water
 discharges associated; with industrial'
 activity will be targeted for individual
 and more specific general permitting
 activities. This process can be initiated
 by identifying receiving waters (or
 segments of receiving waters) where
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activity have been identified
 as a source of use impairment or are
 suspected to be contributing to use   '
 impairment Information developed
 under sections 304(1), 305(b). and 319{a)
 of the CWA along with information
 from, other sources (including
 information developed under the
 baseline general permits for storm water
 discharges), can be used in evaluating •
 impacts on receiving waters. This
 information may identify classes of
 storm water discharges that are of.
 particular concern and portions of
 watersheds where the sources of
 concern are located. Appropriate
 classes of storm water discharges in '
 these locations can be targeted for
 additional permit conditions which may
 provide for additional information to  .
 characterize the discharge (e.g..
 additional monitoring and reporting.
 requirements) or, where appropriate, for
 • more stringent-controls.       '  *"  •  '• '
   Information gathered under initial
 permits for storm water discharges as
 well as information from other sources
 can be used to reassess water quality-
 based controls. As discussed In more
 detail below. State storm water
 permitting strategies are expected to
 have a major role in this process.
   c. Tier III—Industry-specific
 permitting. Specific industry categories
 will be targeted for individual or . .
 industry-specific general permits. These
 permits will allow permiting authorities
 to focus attention and resources on
 industry categories of particular concern
 and/or industry categories where
 tailored requirements are appropriate.
 The Agency will work with the States to
 develop model permits for selected
 classes of industrial storm water
 discharges. In addition, the group
 application process adopted in the
 November 16,1990 regulation, (55 FR   .
 47990) will provide an additional
 mechanism for developing industry-
 specific general permits. Group
 applications that are received can be
 used to develop model permits for the
 appropriate industries.   .  • •     -  . •
   d. Tier IV—Facility-specific
 permitting. Individual permits will be
 appropriate for some storm water.
 discharges in addition to those   •
 identified .under tier II and tier HI
 activities. Individual permits should be   '
 issued where warranted by the
 environmental risks of the discharge, the
 need for additional, and more complex
 individual control mechanisms, a
 facility's compliance history or the
 potential to consolidate permit
 requirements for a particular facility. For
 example, individual NPDES permits for
 facilities with process discharges should
 be expanded during the normal process
 of permit reissuance to cover storm
 water discharges from the facility. This
 •provides an opportunity to  develop more
 facility specific individual controls .
 without greatly increasing incremental
 administrative burdens. '

 2. State Storm Water Permitting Plans

   EPA believes that State Storm Water..
 Permitting Plans provide an effective
 basis for ensuring adequate public input
 evaluating program activities and.
 priorities, and providing program
 oversight during the earlier .stages of  •.-...
 program development These plans will ,
 provide an effective coordination and
• tracking mechanism for evaluating the •
 initial permitting activities  for.storm
 water discharges required under section
 402(p) of the CWA. In addition. State .   .
 Storm Water Permitting" Plans will .    '. .
 provide a framework within which.to' '  ,
 'coordinate and asses the relationship

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•.Federal .Register I VoL 57..
                                                           April  2. 1992  /  Rules and Regulations      31399
 J appropriate priorities between
 Strolling storm water discharges  '
W3er the'NPpES.prbgram with other '
jorVto address diffuse sources of
"Ir pollution, such as State Nonpoint
  •ce Control Programs developed
 3er section 319 of the CWA.
  PA has outlined below a number of
 {'components .and elements of State
             ! are essential to assure
        lu^~-ful implementation of the storm
        ater initiative called for Jn section
          p) of the CWA. At a minimum. State
        ,.m Water Permitting Plans should
        dude a description of an oversight"
       	ategy regarding fhe implementation of
     ENPDES permits for discharges from large
     ,&and medium municipal, separate storm
     Ksewer systems; storm water discharges
     £ associated with industrial activity; and
     ^case-by-case designations of storm
     £water discharges needing a permit
     £Plans. should be developed for each
     ; State by the NPDES authority (e-g. either
    _£an authorizeANPDES State, or, where a:
    ^:- State does not have base program
    f authorization, by EPA).
    |;;  EPA: is requesting that draft State
    |f Storm Water Permitting Plans be
    ft';' provided to the Office of Waste water  .
    £' Enforcement and Compliance by April 3,
    ^'1995. EPA anticipates that States will
    £ update these plans on a regular basis.
    I^These plans will assist EPA in
    "* technology-transfer activities with other
     \ States, evaluating the progress of States
    < in implementing storm water permitting .
    * activities, and in-identifying both
      successes and difficulties with ongoing
    •• .program implementation. The initial  ..
     . State Storm .Water Permitting Plan will
     also entail prisliminpry planning,
 ,-,  assessment and tracking that will be
,vj£;- essential to developing phase H State
     Storm Water Management Programs  •
     called for under section 4O2(p)(6) of the
     CWA.
       The basic framework for the Plan
     should include the following elements
     on a State-wide-basis:

     Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
     Systems

       • A list of municipal separate storm
     sewer systems serving a population of
     100,000 or more within the State;
       • For systems identified, a summary
     of the estimated pollutant loadings as
     initially provided in the permit  .
     application for such discharges, and as
     otherwise updated;
       • The status of the issuance of
     permits for discharges from municipal
     separate storm sewer systems serving a
     population of 100.000 or more, including
     any NPDES permit number for such
     discharges; and
   • An outline of the major components
 of municipal storm water management
 programs required under permits for
 discharges from municipal separate
 storm sewer systems, including a
 detailed description of the
 implementation of any innovative or
 model municipal program components.

 Storm Water Discharges Associated
 With Industrial Activity

   •_ A description of the status of
 activities to issue and implement
 baseline general permits, including a
 copy of any final general permit for  .
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activitiy;'
   •  Alistof categories of industrial
 facilities that have storm water
 discharges associated with industrial  •
 activity that are being considered for
 industry-specific storm water general
 permits;    •      • •
   •  A description of procedures,
 including activities conducted under any
 general permit (such as inspections,
 review of notices of intent or review of
 monitoring reports) to identify specific
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activity that are appropriate
 for individual permits;
   •  A description of how permits for
 discharges from municipal separate
 storm sewer systems require the
 development of muncipal storm water
 management programs addressing the
 control of pollutants in storm water
 discharges associated with industrial
 activity.  '    . :   . .

 Impacted Waters

   • A description of procedures to
 identify receiving waters where
 discharges from municipal separate
 storm sewers, storm water discharges
 associated with industrial activity, or
 any other class of storm water
 discharges are, or have the potential to.
 cause or contribute to a violation of a
 water quality standard, including a list
 of waters identified by these procedures.
   • A plan to evaluate improvements to
 water quality resulting from controlling
 storm water discharges.

 Case-by-Case Designations.

   • A description of procedures to
 identify storm water discharges (other
 than those currently subject to
 requirements for obtaining a permit) that
 contribute to a violation of a water
 quality'standard or significantly
 contribute pollutants to the waters of
 the United States.
  • A list of storm  water discharges
 (and associated receiving waters) that
have been designated or are being
 considered for designation under section
                                                                  402(p)(2)(E) of the CWA as needing a
                                                                  permit.
                                                                    EPA strongly encourages public    •
                                                                  participation and comment including
                                                                  efforts to coordinate with appropriate *
                                                                  Federal and State land managers, at the
                                                                  State level during the development of
                                                                  these plans.   •   ',-•''"'
                                                                    These initial State storm water plan
                                                                  components will assist the .  '."    •
                                                                  implementation of permitting efforts for
                                                                  storm water discharges associated with
                                                                  industrial activity and other priority
                                                                  storm water discharges by creating a
                                                                  framework for planning and prioritizing
                                                                  State storm water permitting activities,
                                                                  tracking State permit issuance efforts,
                                                                  and providing EPA information for
                                                                  technology transfer purposes among
                                                                  NPDES permitting authorities and other
                                                                  State agencies. The State Storm Water
                                                                  Permitting Plans will provide a    ...
                                                                  framework for implementing die tiered
                                                                  long-term strategy for permitting storm
                                                                  water discharges associated with .
                                                                  industrial activity, and so noted above,
                                                                  it will assure preliminary State-wide
                                                                  planning and assessment that will be   ,
                                                                  essential to developing phase n State
                                                                  Storm Water Management Programs
                                                                 required under section 402fj){6) of the
                                                                  CWA. In reviewing State Storm Water
                                                                 Permitting Plans, EPA will coordinate
                                                                 with Federal Agencies -mat may .be
                                                                 affected by components of the plans. "

                                                                 3. States without NPDES General Permit -
                                                                 Authority     -.      ...••'    .: ,  ,

                                                                   As noted, the issuance of general
                                                                 permits is an important component in
                                                                 the recommended permit issuing.
                                                                 strategy. Presently 38 States {and-1-
                                                                 territory) have been authorized to'.
                                                                 implement the NPDES permit program.
                                                                 However, only 29 of these States have
                                                                 been authorized to issue general
                                                                 permits. If NPDES authority is not
                                                                 obtained for any of the remaining 1O
                                                                 States, individual NPDES permits based
                                                                 on the submission of individual or group
                                                                 applications will have to be issued for
                                                                 storm water discharges associated with
                                                                 industrial activity. It is important to
                                                                 emphasize that under the CWA, EPA
                                                                 cannot issue general permits in States
                                                                 that have been authorized to administer
                                                                 the base NPDES program,
                                                                   EPA strongly recommends authorized
                                                                 NPDES States without general permit
                                                                 authority to obtain general permit.
                                                                 authority as soon as possible. EPA is
                                                                 currently working with these States to •
                                                                 provide technical assistance and
                                                                 support and to expedite the
                                                                 authorization process.
                                                                                                                    i
                                                                                                                    Fi
                                                                                                                    ft

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11400      Federal Register / Vol. 57. No. 64  /  Thursday. April 2.  1992 /-Rules and Regulations
4. Response to Comments
  a. Tiered priorities. Many commenters
agreed that EPA and authorized NPDES
States should prioritize permit issuance
efforts for storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity, and
indicated that the tiered priorities
identified byEPA generally establish an
appropriate conceptual framework for'
such efforts. These commenters
generally indicated that the four tier
strategy provides appropriate •
opportunities to identify high-risk
discharges. In response, the Agency
agrees and is retaining the four tiered •
set of priorities as discussed-in the
August 16,1991 proposal.'
   Some commenters indicated that they
thought EPA and authorized NPDES .
States should be bound to implementing
the tiered priorities consecutively in the
order reflected by the four tiers. These
commenters indicated that the draft
general permits noticed on August 16,
1991 by EPA violated the tiered priority
approach bacause the permits contained
some permit conditions which were
 above a tier I baseline set of pollution
 prevention measures. EPA disagrees'
 with these comments. The Agency
 wants to clarify that it only intends the
 four tiered set of priorities to be used as
 a general conceptual framework'which
 can be used to describe efforts to issue
 permits. The strategy for setting storm
 water permit issuance priorities is riot
 intended to be a set of regulatory
 requirements binding on EPA, States, or'
 industrial dischargers. Articulating
 tiered priorities does not legally restrict
 conditions in permits issued by EPA or
 authorized NPDES States:-Rather all
 NPDES permits, including permits for
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activity, must be in
 compliance with sections 301 and 402 of
 the CWA. A major purpose of •    •  •
, articulating tiered priorities is-to assist  •
 in identifying and developing
 appropriate permit conditions for high-
 risk facilities. Tier I baseline general
 permits which have some of the
  characteristics of tier II or in permits are
  consistent with these objectives.
    b. State Plans. Some States supported
  the concept of Plans, but were ,
  concerned that scheduling plan
  development one year after the date of .
  today's rule would hinder the initial _ • .
  development of storm water programs in
  a number of States. These commenters .
  indicated.that the NPDES storm water
  program would be in its initial stage of
  implementatipn-.and authorized NPDES
  States would be busy conducting a
  number-of critical activities,such as.  .
  obtaining general permit authority.
  issuing baseline general permits, and
issuing permits for discharges from large
and medium municipal separate storm
sewer systems. They indicated that
these activities could be disrupted if
States placed top priority on developing
and submitting plans within a year of
today's action. EPA agrees with these
concerns, and believes that while
development of these plans should begin
early in the storm water permit issuance
process to help guide implementation,
draft plans do not need to be prepared
for submission until April 3,1995.
   One State stressed that permitting
plans were necessary to assure national
equitability and prevent economic
disincentives in States with progressive
storm water management programs.
EPA believes that one of its goals in
overseeing the development of the
NPDES program is to ensure that NPDES
permits for storm water discharges
reflect the requirements of the CWA in
 an equitable manner that reflects  the '
 technology-based and: water quality-
 based requirements of the CWA. At the
 same time; the Agency recognizes the
 need to provide sufficient regulatory
 flexibility to allow States to make
 rational and reasonable permitting
 decisions. For example, today's rule
 provides permit writers with additional
 flexibility to target high risk discharges
 and establish group or facility specific
 monitoring and reporting requirements
 in NPDES permits for'storm water
 discharges associated with, industrial
 activity. In addition, permit conditions
 for most classes of storm water
• discharges will be. established on- a,
 case-by-case basis. Nonetheless, the
 Agency agrees with the commenter that
 State Storm Water Permitting Plans can
 provide an important tool to ensure that
 NPDES storm water programs in   .   - .
 different States reflect pollution control
 requirements.consistent with the CWA
• while maintaining the adequate
 flexibility necessary io successfully
 implement the NPDES storm water
 program.
    Several authorized NPDES States did
 not support the idea of State Storm
 Water Permitting Plans, but rather
 indicated that annual EPA/State
 agreements could be used as a tool for
 oversight of the NPDES storm water
 program. In response; the Agency
  believes that the approach.in the Plans • •
  is consistent with and can be- ••-   - ••
  implemented- as a component- of  annual '•
  EPA/State agreements if there is an - • •
  adequate level of detail and specificity
  and the State and EPA Region agree on
  including the elements noted above 'as  •
  part of the annual oversight process: The
  Agency believes that .by publishing a •• -
  framework for these [Plans, it will"
provide States with notice of necessary
Plan elements, provide a nationally
consistent approach for evaluating
program progress, facilitate technology  '
transfer activities, encourage public
participation, and ensure that risks are
evaluated ion the conjext of the entire
NPDES storm water program..
  In the August 16,, 1991 notice; the   .
Agency requested comments on whether
the guidelines for Plans sh'ould:be made
requirements that are incorporated into
EPA regulations, or remain non-binding
recommendations for States. Most of the
commenters that responded to this issue
urged EPA to make the guidelines for
Plans non-binding recommendations for
the States. While EPA notes mat it may
require preparation of such Plans '•',
pursuant to Section 402(p)(6) of the '
CWA. the Agency agrees with the
commenters that establishing guidelines
 for Phase I storm water permitting plans
 as non-binding recommendations      • :
 provides an amount of flexibility that is
 appropriate at this point in the       . •
 program's development'Therefore, the
 Agency is clarifying that the guidelines,
 for Phase I Plans and the request to  -'. .
 prepare and submit Plans to E3PA-are -.".'
 non-binding recommendations at this  ....
 point hi time.  .       .' -   •;.'••  -..i"-
 B. Minimum Monitoring and Reporting :'x
 Requirements for Storm Water-   :•_.- •="
 Discharges---   '•._•;''•.  •'  '   "V:'.;;
   Current NPDES regulations at 40 CFJL ,.
 122.44(i)(2j provide .that all NPDES .';" _
 permits are to establish requirements to ':
 report monitoring results with a '..'..'  .
 frequency dependent on the nature arid.. j
 effect of the discharge, but in ho case  '_ '
 less than once a year. In the August 18, J
 1991 proposal, EPA requested comment
. on six-major options for modifying 40'•
 CFR 122.44(i)(2) to provide mboimum' ]:.;
 monitoring and reporting requirements ~"
 specifically addressing storm' water'   :-:
 discharges associated with- industrial
 activity.           *'  .   •   •  '
   In the August 16,1991 proposal the
 Agency identified a number of-factors   -
. that it would consider when evaluating ••
• this issue:                   ••• ,".;.  -.-•<•'''
   Difficulties in Sample Collection-- '•>••
 Collection-of storm water samples may;--
 pose a number of potential difficulties.--.
 • These difficulties.include detennining -: .
 when a discharge will--occur;".safery- -.= ~^-
 considerations, the potential for a:--;^-:-.
'••  multiple discharge points at a single
  facility, the intermittent nature of the., -
  event the limited number of events that-
  occur in some parts-of the'country. and_;
  variability™ flow rates." '_'""".' ".'..*.'!"
    Variability b/pato-7-The.types .'an
  concentrations of pollutants, in atdrjn -•
  water discharges associated with -•*"
.' •"-•*%
 a-,.

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                                    l.  57..No. J64/Thursday. April 2. 1992 / Rules and .Regulations
                                                                       11401
  industrial activity depend on a number
  of factors, including the nature of
  industrial-activities-occurring at ihe site.
  the nature of the precipitation event
  generating the discharge, and the time'
  period from the last storm. Variations in
  these parameters at a site may result in
  variation from event'to event in the
  concentrations and types of pollutants'
  in a given discharge."  '  • -. ;  ,
   Types 'of Permit Conditions-^Permits
  for industrial process discharges and
  discharges from PQTWs" traditionally  "
.' have incorporated ^numeric and/or '
  toxidty effluent limitations as  V.."
  conditions. Monitoring reports'for these
  discharges provide a direct indication
  whether the discharge-complies with
  permit conditions. However, it is
  anticipated that permits for storm water..
  dischargers will contain a variety of
  types of;controls. While -numericor :•. , ..
 toxidty limitations are expected to be
 appropriate for some.storm water-..-. -•. .
 discharges^permits for other storm
 water discharges are expected to
 contain requirements to implement best
 management or pollution prevention  •
' practice's. In these cases, discharge
 sampling information may not provide1
 as direct a link to compliance, with .   .
 permit conditions. However, effluent
 monitoring-data can still play-an .;.-.. . •
 important role in identifying priority
 facilities/providing information on
 sources and types of pollutants which
 can be evaluated when-designing or
 modifying best management orpollution
 prevention practices, and evaluating the
 effectiveness of best management    .
 practices and pollution prevention • •
 measures.
  Administrative Burdens on Permitting
 Agencies—^Requiring each fatilitythat
 discharges storm -water associated with
 industrial activity to submit monitoring
 data at least annually would result in a
 significant increase in the number of
 discharge monitoring reports received
 by EPA Regions and authorized NPDES
 States.7 Receiving annual monitoring
 reports containing complex technical
 information from each facility with a
 storm water discharge associated with
 industrial activity would require a
 significant amount of permitting
 resources dedicated to reviewing and
 filing these reports.
  7 EPA estimates that if all facilities with storm
 water discharges associated with industrial activity
 other than oil and gas facilities and inactive mining
 operations were required to submit a discharge
 monitoring report annually, almost 15% of all
 discharge monitoring reports collected annually
 under the NPDES program would be for dorm water
 discharges associated with industrial activity.
 Focused Permitting Efforts   ...
   The long-term permitting strategy
 discussed earlier in today's notice   '.
 provides for a flexible, risk-based
' system for issuing permits and targeting
 priority discharges. Flexibility has been
•incorporated into the strategy to
 facilitate efforts by EPA and authorized
 NPDES States to identify priority
•discharges and conduct permit issuance
 activities which reflect Regional and
 State priorities. Discharge sampling data
 from targeted facilities can support the
 development of priorities and cari: be :
. used to assist in assessing the
 achievement of water management .  •
 goals. As priorities and risks'within a
 State are identified and evaluated,
 classes of facilities will be targeted for
 more specific permit issuance activities
 (tiers n, HI arid IV of the strategy).

 1. Overview of Proposed Options and ,
 Comments      ....       ..'••..
• -In the August 16,1991 proposal, EPA
 identified six major options (plus a no
 change option) for establishing minimum
monitoring requirements in NPDES
permits for storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity;
.These options only addressed minimum
requirements for discharge monitoring in
NPDES permits. All options retained  '.'
authority .for NPDES permit authorities
to require more stringent monitoring
requirements where appropriate. The six
options (plus the no change option) were
as follows:.    .       :
  No Change Option: Case-by-case :  '"
monitoring conditions in permits for.'
storm water discharges, with a minimum
requirement to report monitoring'results
at least annually.               "'-...
  •Option 1: Case-by-case monitoring
conditions in permits for storm water  '
discharges with a minimum requirement
to report monitoring results at least
twice per permit term.   :
  Option 2: Case-by-case monitoring
conditions in permits for storm water •
discharges with a minimum requirement
that facilities conduct annual sampling.
Facilities would  not be required to  '•.
report monitoring information unless the
information was requested in a permit
or by the Director, but would be
required to retain information.
  Options: Case-by-case monitoring
conditions in permits for storm water
discharges with a minimum requirement
that facilities (other than those from oil
and gas exploration or production
operations and inactive mining • •
operations where a past or present mine.
operator cannot be identified) conduct
annual sampling^ Facilities would not be
required rto report information .unless the
information was requested in a permit
  or by the Director, but would be .
  required to retain information. For
  contaminated storm water discharges
.  from oil and gas exploration or  •--
  production operations or from inactive
  mining operations where a pastor .
- present mine operator cannot be
  identified, either, case-by-case - • :v
  monitoring conditions in permits for v'
  storm water discharges with a minimum
  requirement of annual sampling (without.
:.reporting)or, instead of sampling,.a . • ••
  ProfessionaLEngineer's (PE) certification
  attesting that good engineering practices
  were being employed to meet:   ;.-':;.   -.
  appropriate permit conditions;
   Option 4: Case-by-case monitoring
 conditions in permits for storm water
 discharges with a minimum requirement
 that monitoring reports be submitted at
 least annually for targeted classes of
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activity located'ih the
 watershed of receiving waters that are  -
 sensitive to or impacted by storm water
 discharges.'    '         "	•
   Option 5: Case-by-case monitoring
 conditions in permits for storm water
 discharges with -no minimum  :     •
 requirement to report monitoring results..
   Option 6: Case-by-case monitoring
 conditions inipermits for storm water  . •
 discharges, with a minimum requirement
 for the first permit for the discharge that
 monitoring results be reported at least  '
 once a year. After a facility has
 submitted five years of data, monitoring
"conditions:for storm water would be
established oh a case-by-case basis with
-no'minimum requirementto conduct
annual sampling. '•       .•'.-•••
  • In addition, the Agency indicated that .
'it would consider developing,a final: •  •'
regulation Which combined aspects of::
several of the articulated options (see
August 16,1991 (58 FR 40957)}. The
various'benefits and  concerns with each •
option were discussed in the August 16,
1991 notice.  ..,         •
   The comments received on the options
reflected differing opinions regarding the
need and use of .monitoring in the'
NPDES.storm water program. Some of
the comments expressed views on the -
benefits and drawbacks of different:  •
monitoring strategies in different •
situations. An underlying theme that
emerged from the comments' was that -a
number of factors,  such as the -risk to
water quality that different types and
classes of storm"water discharges  :  •
associated with industrial activity
present, the nature of permit conditions
(e.g. such  as numeric limitations and  •
best management practices), and the .' •
nature of .the operation of the facility  '
should be considered when establishing

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•f 11402     -Federal Register /• VbU 57. No. 64 ./.Thursday. April- £-1992 / Rules  and -Regulations
  monitoring conditions' in- NPDES permits
 tforstorrri-waterldischarges.-  .--•-•  •
  i  Other-commenters'suggested that-EPA
  should allow, alternatives to monitoring.
  Some commenters urged the Agency to
  expand option 3 to allow other- classes-
  of facilities in addition to oil and gas -
  operalions.to obtain a PE certification.
  to allow facUHy.operators to conduct .. .
  inspections,, or certify compliance with a
  checklist of pollution, prevention
  measures or best management practices "
  (BMPs) in lieu of sampling-Other-
  commenters suggested'.that other
  individuals were as-tjualified or more
  qualified than PEs to, perform site
  .inspections and that .additional ..
  flexibility, should.be provided with ...
  regard to the inspection requirement
  For example, .some commenters.
  indicated thdt.certiSed construction \
  Jnspectpjjs'were more appropriate for  .
  ' conducting jrispeciitms.at construction .
  ,. sites than-PBs. Who might not be   -: .
  familiar with" soiliand erosion practices  •
  oKntorm/w^r management '. !r   ,.,:
  technolo'gie's.'Othercominenters    .
  suggested'.&at site.perspnnel would
  typically hjeiri the bei* position tq. .
  i e valuate/the1' impjementatio'n of pollution
  prevention measures 'and BMPs.  .
    Other comments urged EPA to.
  consider the costs and technical
  difficullies,of*ample collection and
  analysis "when establishing minimum
  monitoring requirements, and
  encouraged Ihe'Age'neiytp' 'consider
  alternative^' to 'clistliaigeVampIihg.Bucli
  as allowing site inspections inljipu of "
  n3tonlforuig..In the &ugust:iB. 1991 ,
  notice. EJPA had requested  Comriients'on
  monitoring requirements foruiactive '" '
  mining operations', and: some comments
  spedficallyadidreBssS-'tHls issue:' '
      , • " '.,$'-,.•>.•••.•' V."-..- --- •? .  ',:•. •-...-'. .-•
  Z-Todsy's-Rule-,.-,  --.^f-f.r.- ••. . •?.:•-.. .-
     In response to -connneRts, today's- ;•••
   rulemakmg adopts'aft approach -that is a
   combination or- hybrid -of -a number'of •-
  ' options identified'in the August 18, -1991
   proposal, particularly options 3 and 5.
   The final rule provides for establishing
   monitoring conditions in NPDES permits
   for storm water discharges associated •
   with industrial activity-mi a case-by-;
    case basis. At a minimum, a permit for
    such* a discharge must require ther ••  , - •
    discharger to conduct. an annual   ,•  .
    inspection of- the. facility .site to identify
    areas contributing to. -a..stonn. water  • .
    discharge associated with industrial - •
    aclivity_and_-eValuate. whether measures
    to reduce pollutant loadings identified in
    a stbrm.water pollution-prevention plan
  '  ODC adequatetiiMi.pxoperJy implemented
    in nccoolance.with.the. lenna of the ..'. ,.
                     .                ..
                   l, measures are needed.
   The dischargee must be required to  .
maintain for a-period of-threeyears a ,-:
record summarizing the results of the -
inspection and-acertification.that-the
facility-is in compliance, with-the.plan
and the permit or identifying any >.  •=.
incidents of non-compliance. Such.:-<,.. •••
report and certification must.be signed. .
by 9 corporate official.in accordance •• •
with-40CER12Z22.   .].-,  ;  ..;''-
 ' Today's rule -establishes, a minimum •
requirement for annual inspections  for
most storm water discharges associated
with industrial activity. The Agency
believes-that a minimum frequency of at
least annual inspections is appropriate
to ensure evaluation of changing
conditions and practices-at a site.."
(especially-those caused by wet weather
and winter conditions occurring- •  . •
throughout a year) and-to ensure •'
adequate implementation of pollution' ;
prevention measures on a regular basis.
While option .3 of the August 18,1991
proposal, had requested comment on a
minimum frequency .of «very three years
for a PE-cerufication for oil and gas -. -
operations and certain inactive sites, the
Agency believes that.providing .-  .-,.....
additional flexibility.in.who conducts -.
site inspections will sufficiently lower.
compliance costs in some cases to  allow
a higher frequency of inspections to be .
 feasible. As discussed below, the.   .-,
 Agency is providing additional	
 flexibility  in estabh'shing monitoring or .
 inspection.requirements for storm water
 Hifffji^rgpy fnnm inflgti"" 'mining -. . ,.'  .
 operations, No.commenters on the draft
 general permits ia.the .August IS. 1991..
 Federal-Register notice, specifically
 indicated  tha.t it would be infeasible to- -.
 comply.with-requireineats in. the draft  ,.
 general permits to conduct annual -....  -.
 inspections- The Agency believes mat a
 minimum annual frequency of • .-. --•:•'-
 inspections compensates £orJes» formal
 requirements with respect 4o specifying.
 who must conduct--the .inspection. A. - .:'
 minimum annual frequency is also
 Consistent with the minimum
 requirements for discharges other  than
 storm water-to report monitoring'.
 information at least annually. ..
   ; A minimum of an annual inspection or
 report of monitoring results is not
 required for storm water discharges
 associated vyith.industriaL activity from
 inactive mining operations where   •
 annual, inspections are impracticable. .-
 Rather.:permits for-stonn water.:.  .-
 discharges from inactive mining.-'
 operations may .require certification ... :
 once every.-three years=by a Registered -.
 Professional.Engineer that the facility is
  in compliance^vith the permit;or  ••,.-••.
  provide for.altemativerequkements;  ;.t
  This provision will provide Additional ..
  flexibility to address inactive mine .
•operations. Muring activities-have a- •  •
somewhat unique history-of--'- -••••>••
development and inactivefnining sites
can be dispersed diffusely fat remote. -
hard to reach locations-where     = •:
.employees may typically not beonsite
to-conduct site-evaluations. In addition.
the inactive natureof these sites may:.
limit changes to potential-fofslonh- "•
water discharges from the'site to
contain-pollutants, thereby warranting
less frequent inspections. The Agency
anticipates that certification by   •
Professional Engineers may often be
appropriate for the'se sites given the  "
nature of typical coritrbls for these sites.
and the Knrited-amount of activity
occurring' at them.-Alternative • -  •   "'
requirementa may be appropriate for  '
 storm water dferfiarges 'from'inactive  "
 mining opetetions in some •'•"• '
 circumstances-. For'exam'ple, storm-
 operaterCTnndt-beldentifiedipresent-
 unique circumstahces.becautk! ofthe :  •
 remote nature and high' number of sites •
 on large Federally owhedareiis. •'•"•" '" '.
   The'Agency; believB'ithat-'ftils nile will -
 provide sufBcient flexibility ftff permit
 vmters to lestabUsh monitoring  • '  •
 requirements tiiait reflect the potential -
 risk of the discharge'and that are.'  •''  ..
 appropriately related to the nature of the
 permit eoaditions fora discharge.;•- v.
 Today's regttlatory'modification does;" -
 not preclude discharge sampling aWol'* _
 reporting requirements iri'NPpES •'; """
 pernjtsforfitbrm'watefdischargea'' '•'
 associated with'fadustriatactivity/:. \  ;
 While' today's rufe'change'proyidfes   '
 additionalfJexibiTity;toestablish. • •"'_'
 monitoring requirements, ft uoe's not,
 lunit the authority of EPA: of iiuthoriized
 NPDES States'to establish^amp&ng "^
 requirements" where Appf^pnate basecf
 onacohsideraKbnotnskicfr'bther
 factors. ..''"'"'".    '
    The Agency recognizes that different.
 types of permit conditions .an?..
 appropriate for different types of storm
 water discharges, filumeric effluent
 limitations are appcbpriatp for some .  ,r
 classes of storm.water discharges.'End-'
 bf-pipe numeric isffluent" limitations are.'
 ' typically used foi'some types'or!, classes
 of storm water discharges a88qciated_ ^
 'with industrial activitjr.'Tyjpically, ^ v.
  NPDES permits for these'clasises of '."^ ".'
  discharges 'will, contain numenc'efflue^it
  limitations,' and sampling requirements
  will be appropriate' fdrth'ese permits."
    * For example, the Agency-bu unwdwunaric -
  effluent limitation guideline* lor tan cUwei of.
  discharge* (bet-ate coopoiodlentfaeljrirf »»«tn • '
  water or ofotorinr water cocobtocd «rl«h prece**;. -•
  water..

-------
-Regi»t«r: / -Vol;
                                               64 »/ Thursday. -'April  2-:1992;V'-au!es and -Jtegu)atJc)nA"-:
 However, for many;other types of storm
 water discharges associated with  •
 industrial activity. NPDES pennita for'"
. the discharge will require the  < '• ' •   '
 •implementation of pollution prevention
 measures and/or BMPs. Where permits
 require the implementation of pollution
 prevention measures and/or BMPs, and.
• do not establish numeric.-effluent • •  : • •• •
 Kmltations. conducting inspections to
-. identify sources of pollution '-and to '-••;' '•' ••>
 ! evaluate whether •fee' pollution ' '•: '•< «• •-'••<
 prevention-measuresahd/ortBMPs :<>*;
 -required by:the permit1 are being---.: -:i *• -•
 •.effectively implemented and are in }••••• ^:
 '. compliance with the terms of the permit"
 may provide.a better indication than  • -
• discharge sampling of whether a facility;
• is complying with the permit. As a  -  •
 result the Agency believes that today's
 rule will also reduce discharge-sampling
 burdens on some industrial facilities
 with -storm water discharge permits that •
 require the'implementation'of pollution
 preventionjneasurea and BMPs rather
 than numeric effluent limitations, while
 providing more effective and efficient
 environmental benefits.  •  - '     •. •
  '  Today's rule does not affect the
 manner in which'the NPDES regulations'
 address discharges other than storm  < :• -•
••'•water associated witn'ihdustrial'-:s •'';-- -.. ;>
 .=activity:Tle-provision8.df40CFR •• '.••.•••
  '•'
 than storm -water associated with -   •
 industrial activity  establish ••
 requirements to report monitoring   "  '
 results with a frequency dependent on
 • the nature and effect of the discharge,
 but in no case less than once a year. In
 addition, today's rule does not change
  the manner in which the NPDES
 regulations address storm water-
 discharges which are subject to an
  effluent limitation guideline (e.g. a '
  minimum of annual monitoring is still
  required for these facilities}.
 • 3.Response to Comment '\, .'.,." .   :. ..

    Somecommenters-questionedithe - ;
 •value of sampling data-for storm :water:  •
'• : discharges in certain situations'. In -  •
 • response; the Agency believes that, in
  certain instances.' storm water 'discharge
  monitoring data will play a number of
  critical roles in the NPDES program. As
  discussed above, some permits for storm
  water discharges associated with
  industrial activity will establish
  technology or water quality-based
  numeric limitations. Discharge    •  .
  monitoring reports will be an important
  means of assessing compliance with
  these requirements: -Discharge
  monitoring, including monitoring
  requirements in permits that do not
  establish numeric limitations, plays a
                   number of other functioria-in the-p'ermit •" •
                   program; '• • • '• •  .-•:".-••  .Vy "••'.'•'•'•• :••'••••
                     Discharge monitoring data «an be '-' '-'
                  • used to assist:in the evaluation of the ' "-  '
                   risk of discharges by indicating the " • '"'
                   types and the conoentralioris of ": •' ••••' ' ' • ":
                   pollut ant parameters in the :discharg₯.- '•>'
                  • Discharge monitoring data 'clan also 'tie' ' ' •' -"
                   used to support the development -of '• *<>•'*•
                  ' future permit conditions' and controls,^ ' v-
                  •" assist iri1dentifying86urce%r6f' <: vi;7'"4:-  '•
                  • pollutants at-aiadlity;'aB8ist;tri th'ey? •• -"-
                  : evaluation -of the'effectiveriess of :'« ;'•''•"•;•
                  - pollution prevention measures :arid :-> ' "''•
 'of facilitieSibut'Aat'across^th'e-board. =•:- :;-
. monitoring requirements forall facilities  ; -
• Vithr storm waterdischargeaf'ass'ociated • r..
 with industrial activity may not be an.  *;.: •;
 'appropriate orcost-«ffective:U8e of •'< •.*':, >••
 tesotirces: A number of )ustincatid'rtsw:;
                 >( water •quality-based ImpactsVStorm'- ::'"-"'
                   water discharge m'pnitbririg.da'ta ^wlll » '•••''
                   have an important role, along with other
                   information, in ideritifymg'fciciHtiesor
                   classes of facilities where tier II. HI and  •
                  • IV permit issuance activities are ' '• " ; ' • '
                   appropriate. .   •  •" •   ' *'• -';:'  '•' "'•_ ['
                    ' Several 'commenters offered'a number
                   of suggestions for monitorhtg-p'rograms • •
                   for storm water discharges. In response; '
                   EPA generally recognizes thfrt'theryare "
                   a number of innovative arid Hsk-ba8ed: :
                   approaches to developing monitoring   ;
                   strategies for storm water discharges
                  ' assbciatedwth industriaifactivity: Por ;
                 - example,'monitoringTequlrement8 -for r  •
                 -:• storm water-discharges •associated with
                   that are impacted by 6r sensitive tp;:;:-'";{;'
                   storm water discharges aa proposed'iia'~.
                   option 4. In order to encourage States'to
                   explore efficient, innovative and cost-
                   effective monitoring programs, today's
                   rule provides flexibility to establish •• r  .
                   different monitoring strategies and does:
                   not adopt option4t although.the-.= -;  • .-
                   minimum requirements adopted today •••'
                   do not preclude the use of. an option 4  •
                   type approach'where appropriate. (The
                   same is true'for options 1,2, or 6; EPA or
                   authorized NPDES States retain the-
                   flexibility to use these types of
                   • approaches on a permit-specific basis}.;"
                   "The Agency b'eiieves'that-this approach
                   ' offers the'greatest potential for using
                   1 permits to generate information on '-• •"•••
                   '• prioritystorm'-watef discharges .that can
                   ' be used:t6 assist-in the development of
                   controls: *':' •  ~. •' •	• ••	--  -
                     Many commeriters urged-EPA to ' •
                   provide sufficient regulatory flexibility
                   to permit writers to 'establish discharge
                   sampling and reporting requirements for.
                   storm water discharges 'associated with'
                   industrial activity 'on a .case^byrcase'
                   basis. Many commenters favored-
                   establishing-discharge sampling
                   requirements in a risk-based manner. A-
                   number of-these commenters suggested
                   that it was important-to sample storm
                   water discharges  associated-with'  ' '•'  :
                   - industrial-activity from priority classes •
     ibility could-aTldw-establishing:-'
:-monitoring and reporting'reqinrements:•-••-,-;.- ~
 in a'risk-based'raannen^soirie' types *••«••«• 2-
'.of facilities may.not be significant ','<; '•' J- -"' :>
rrcontribii'tors ofipoUutaritSAwherilhey '* x X:- '.; •*.
•:-were in cpiiipliance'withL^ollutiorii•$ j."«•**., s-
^prevehtiori measures or.plansi<3) mr^-^ ;:"-ik'.-'
' sbme'situatibris site inspections would -V-7^ •
 be more appropriate thaninonitoring-for
 determining permit compliance; (4};EPA •."  •
• arid authorized NPDES States-have .  : -':
 limited ability-to effectively review data;
'• {5}'the potential burdens on small ~,, -:.< -.- -•  j
: businesses arid facilities in arid climates-.' •
 could be significant; {6} tiiere wouldbefy; -:.;.
 •difficulties in cnaracterizing storm-water. •..'"'
: disteharges with'sampUng data; and (7}' •' : ••••:
 •EPA needs to focus on storm water ••'".•«•   ' •
• discharges with the'highest'riak. Some '• •:
 cpmmenters summarized: these concerns • • ••
 by indicating-that they beHeved that for:; >;
; :spme storm  water .discharges associated''...'.
'-with industrial:abtivity. oyeriy-broadC; v;f •
.idiBcharge monitoriiig.requirements- •; -: ;!'£ : •.': .
 ;could'be'cburiterproductive toward .the!'- i.-.-, •'..
 goals of therprpgram, as?significani.«'-;r v/si ...
•iiresourceswbuid have-to be expended ;'-;k^ »•-
 'cpllectingand analyzing discharge.::  .'.:'.;/,/.
 samples.'thereby limiting available ;>-•• •: ":••
 •'resources at some facih'tiea,-such-as••.. :: - •
 certain small businesses.'to implement: •
• measures that would result to the;:-<^ '••*••> '• '•
 removal: pi pollutants ui:their storm   ? ::• .
-. -water' discharges. .Other.commenters "-'  . •
 raised concerns regarding sainphng .  ' • -.;
 storm water discharges from^specific;' =" = ..
. classe8;of industries. For .example,- . -
. 'representatives of the construction -  - ' •-. •
 industry contended that'mbrritoring .  ; • • •.
 'storm- water from construction sites has -
 'limited usefulness due to the changing '..'.'....
•" nature of the activity. •  •  '.••.•„•• ',-.-• - .
 -   As discussed above' EPA has  •: • '•• '• * > - •
 '-designed today's rule to address all of.- T -:''.
. these concerns; Since today'sTule >; : "-;-;','' •'•
• provides'additional flexibility-in'the:"-.-. •  ;
 NPDES regulatory framework to  •••'•••?•
 establish monitoring requirements for -: ' •
 storm water discharges associated with
 .industrial activity, .the Agency believes ••  •
  that the concerns raised by the- •••'•:  '•  •:" • •
  commienters^ where appropriate.'can be • •
  addressed during the permit issuance
  process under.the flexible regulatory;
••  framework  eatabliehed by'today:s rule;  •'
 •In particular: the Agency believes that  •
 . today's rule, which relies on'site' •' " '      :
  inspections as minimum requirements.
• • provides a  more!efficient  and-cost- ••  ':  '••  •
 ' effective approach for evaluating the

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31404      Federal Register / VoL 57. No. 64 / Thursday. April 2. 1992 / Rules and Regulations;'
effectiveness of permit program
implementation. The Agency notes that
site inspections are typically an integral
part of pollution'prevention measures
and best management practices for .
storm water discharges associated with
industrial activity.9
  Option 3 of the August 16.1991
proposal would have provided flexibility
when establishing monitoring •
requirements for storm water discharges
from oil arid gas exploration or
production operations or from inactive
mining operations where a past or
present mine-dperator cannot be
identified by allowing either a  minimum
requirement of annual sampling (without
reporting) or, instead of sampling, a
Professional Engineer's (PE) certification
attesting that good engineering practices
were being employed to meet
appropriate permit conditions. The
Agency requested comment on whether
the PE certification was appropriate and
whether it should be extended to other
classes of facilities.  . ' ]    .          . .
   Some commenters suggested that
other individuals were as  qualified or
 more qualifierd than PEs to perform site !
 inspections and that additional
 flexibility should be provided with
 regard to thelnspection requirement.
 For example^ some commenters
 indicated that certified construction'
 inspectors were more appropriate for • ~
 conducting inspections'at construction "
 sites than.PEs *ino might not'be familiar
 with soil an'd'erosion practices or storm
 water management technologies. Other
 commenters suggested that site
 personnel would typically be in the best
 position to evaluate the implementation'
 of pollution prevention measures and
 BMPs. In response,' today's rule provides
 flexibility to allow site'mspections to be
'conducted by persons other than PEs.''
 While the Agency believes it is
 appropriate to require PE certifications
 in certain circumstances, the approach
 taken with today's rule will provide ••
 additional flexibility in developing these
 requirements. »"-.,:•       • ,   ;
    A number of commenters suggested . •
 that PE certifications were appropriate -•.
    • For example.EPA noticed tfraft general permits
  for8toanwaterUUU^a^ud ULC4X. (56 FR/. .•
  40906)). Under the draft general.pennil*. permittee*
  Out operate corntrtxAion activities are lequlied to
  Inipect alt eroatoa controb'oa «w> tito at leewt onoe
  every sevencaicxiar-day*"(«cepai* rflCSb^S).SB
  FR 409S9).        ,   ....••
for classes of storm water discharges  .
associated with industrial activity other
than those from oil and gas operations. •
These commeaters indicated that such a
certification could, in many cases, be
less burdensome than discharge
monitoring, and that such certifications
could provide a.closer link to..-.
compliance with pollution prevention
measures and-best management .
practices. As discussed above..today's
rule provides that requirements to
conduct annual site inspections can .be
established as minimum monitoring-   . •
requirements in permits for storm water'
discharges. The Agency agrees with
these, comment* to the.extent that it is .
convinced that site inspections can  . .
provide an appropriate means for
 evaluating compliance, with pollution  .•
 prevention measures and best
 management practices for storm water.
 discharges.from different types of-.. .. • •••
 facilities. In addition, site inspections
 can be less .burdensome than sampling •• .
 storm water discharges for some
 facilities. Requiring annual inspections  .
 and reviewing documentation as part of
 routine compliance inspections or at the
 time of permit reissuance also makes .
 effective iise of Ihe limited resources of i  .
 permit issuance; authorities, by allowing  .
. permit issuing agencies more time .to. •.;.
. focus raissues other than receiving,,   •-..-
 re vie wmg and filing monitoring data- ... ••
   Pom? 5y»m,nn»Tirar» indicated .that EPA
. and authorized NPDES States Bhould,..
 only require facilities to monitor storm:. •
 water discharges associated with
 industrial activity where the permit
 issuing agencies can evaluate the data. •
 The Agency, recognizes that EPA and   .
 some authorized NPDES States .cannot.  '
 provide adequate .resources to ensure.  ;
 that all yliffr.lv rg^ monitoring 'data-can  ..
 • be. inspected. However,! the Agency .
. believes that even where, discharge. -..-
 monitoring  data is not reviewed on an
 .ongoing basis by a permit issuing •     ..:
 authority,, the data can still be very
 usefuLfacilities which [discharge should
 , review their discharge sampling data to
.... identify sources and types of pollutants. .
..in discharges, and to evaluate, the; •.< •.> .-.,
 • effectiveness of pollution  prevention
 . measures and BMPs. Where an NPDES
 . permit does not require &  discharger to  .
 .report sampling data, EPA or an: ..,   .. ..
j  authorized NPDES. State.will typically -
\  be able to .request .the data on a case-by- •
'... case basis, or request .that the data ;be.  ..
",..'. submitted for consideration prior to-
  permit reissuance. . .....: .- ...   , .
 •   Some commenters expressed concerns
... . about minimum monitoring requirements
., > for storm water discharges from inactive
 . mining operations. EPA agrees that in  -
 '.some circumstances, discharge sampling
or annual,inspection* may be
particularly burdensome at inactive
mining operations, because mining •
operations often are found in remote
areas that are not necessarily supported
by infrastructure that allows easy
access. In addition, at some inactive
mining operations, inspections may not.
be as integrally related to pollution.   ".
prevention-measures for storm water  •
discharges associated with industrial
activity, as pollution prevention
measures wiltnot focus on day to day
management activities. EPA'has  :.  .
modified today's rule accordingly.
   A number of commenters addressed • •
 the specific monitoring requirements in • •
 the draft general permits for storm water
 discharges associated with industrial' •:
 activity in the August 16,1991 notice.
 The Agency wants to clarify that the
 amendments to 40 CFRl22.44{i)(2} in
 today's rule establish minimum •"•''••
• monitoring and reporting requirements •••
• for NPDES permits for storm water  .  •
 discharges associated with industrial
 activity. The Agency will respond to
 comments on the specific monitoring'
 requirements in the draft general :..-..-
 permits jn the August 18,1991 notice as
- part of the fact sheets and/or :•:. .  •  .-•
. administrative records for those.permits.
 C. ApplicationReq'uirements-for. .  '...,..  .'.
 General Permits ... '  .._ .  . /.'..I,:,,'.,/' •••"•
   Theprovisioasof40CFR122.Zl(a)  .
 exclude persons -covered by general. ...:'  •
 permits from requirements to Btibmit
 individual permit applications.. - •   ;  •
 Currently, the general permit regulations
 at 40 CFR 122^8, however, do not
 address the issue of how a potential
 permittee is to apply to be covered
 under a general permit Rather, ,  •  -  ..
 : conditions fbrfiUng an application .to be  '
 covered by a general permit (typically
 called a Notice of Intent (NOI)) have •
 been established on a case-by-case    .  •
 . basis. NOI requirements established in •-
 general permits operate uisteadi of
 individual permit application -•    .• . •
 requirements for the discharge* covered
 : by the general permit.^:-..;.- •.•••••;'..-  •;.. v-.-  • -• .

 " 1. August 18,1991 Proposal / ' '      '  "

    The August 16.1991 notice proposed  •
  several modifications to the NPDES  ;
 regulatory framework for general • • •• •
  permits. (Theproposedchangea   '•' ••  •
 ' addressed NPDES general permits for all
 .classes of discharges and sludge
  disposal, and-was not limited to storm
 • water discharges). The proposal ••
  addressed procedures for becoming
 • authorized to discharge under a general
 • permit minimum requirements for NOIs
  to be covered by a general permit and   •
  deadlines for submitting NOIs.

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             Federal Register / Vol. S7. No. 64 / Thursday.  April 2. 1992 / Rules arid Regulations      11405
 2. Today's Rule      ..
   Today's rule finalizes modifications to
 the NPDES regulatory framework for
 general permits addressing procedures
 for becoming authorized to discharge
 under an NPDES general permit,
 minimum requirements for notices of
 intent (NOI) to be covered by a general
 permit, and deadlines for submitting
 NOIs.
   The regulatory framework provided
 by today's rule requires that, except for
 in two situations, an NOI must be
 submitted by a discharger (or treatment
 works treating domestic sewage) in
 order to be authorized to discharge (or
 in the case of a sludge disposal permit
 to engage in a sludge use or disposal
 practice) under an NPDES general
 permit The first situation where an NOI
 will not have to be submitted to
 authorize discharges under a general"
 permit is where the Director notifies the
 discharger that its discharge is covered
 by the permi^The second situation
 where NOIs are not required under a
 general permit is where the Director
 provides in the general permit that a
 submission of an NOI is not required,
 where the Director finds that an NOI
 requirement is inappropriate for that
 general permit
   In making a .decision that an NOI is
 inappropriate for a general permit the
 Director will consider the type of
 discharge, the expected nature of the
 discharge, the potential for toxic end
 conventional pollutants in the
 discharges, the expected volume of the
 discharges, other means of identifying
 discharges covered fay the permit and
 the estimated number  of discharges to
 be covered by the permit. Also, in
 making this decision, the Director is
 required to describe the reasons for not
 requiring an NOI in the fact sheet of the
 general permit Under  today's rule, such
 a finding could only be made for.
 discharges other than discharges from
 POTWs, combined sewer overflows
 (CSOs), primary industrial facilities, and
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activity. The Agency believes
 that given the potential environmental
 significance and NPDES program
 priorities associated with discharges
 from POTWs. CSOs, primary industrial
 facilities, and storm water discharges
 associated with industrial activity, it is
 appropriate la require NOIs in all
general permits for these discharges.
  Today's rule establishes minimum
 requirements for NOIs in NPDES general
 permits at 40 CFR 122.28(b)(2)(ii). This
 provision requires that the contents of
 the notice  of intent be specified in the
general permit and shall require the
submission of information necessary for
 adequate program implementation,  . -
 including at a minimum, the legal name
 and address of the owner of operator.
 the facility name and address, type of
 facility or discharges, and the receiving
 stream(s). This provision specifies
 minimum NOI requirements. General " ••
 permits may require that additional  ,;
 information be reported in NOIs where
 appropriate!.,  --...•-   '-.'•;.--.  ;
   The NOI provisions of this mle allow
 the Director to establish alternative
 notice of intent requirements for general
 permits for storm water discharges
 associated with industrial activity from
 inactive mining inactive oil and gas •
 operations, or inactive landfills
 occurring on Federal lands where an
 operator cannot be identified. The
 Agency is currently developing general
 permits for storm water discharges from
 inactive mines, inactive oil and gas •
 operations and inactive landfills
 occurring on Federal lands. During the
 process of developing and issuing these
 permits. EPA will work with authorized
 NPDES States to determine appropriate
 NOI requirements for these permits •
 given the unique nature, distribution.
 and occurrence of these discharges.
  Today's rule also provides that
 general permits requiring the submittal
 of NOIs shall specify deadlines for  -
 submitting notices of intent and the
 date(s) when a discharger is authorized
 to discharge under the permit
  The Agency believes that deadlines
 for submittal of an NOI are an important
 part of NOI requirements, and that
 general permits should state when NOIs
 must be submitted. In addition, the
 permit should,clarify when a discharge
 is authorized under the permit In many
 cases, the Agency anticipates that
 general permits will provide that a
 discharger obtains coverage under the
 general permit after a specified time
 period passes after the date of submittal
 of an NOI. This' approach will provide
 the NPDES authority with an
 opportunity to  review the NOI prior to •
 the authorization'of the discharge. In
 other situations, it may be appropriate
 for general permits to provide that a
 discharge is authorized as soon as a
 complete and timely NOI is received.
  The August 16,1991 notice proposed
 in 40 CFR 122^8(b)(2)(iii) that unless a
general permit provided alternative time
periods, an NOI was to be submitted 60
days before the date of intended permit
coverage. The final rule amends this
paragraph such that no default deadline
for submission is specified. Rather, the
deadline for NOI submission will be
established on a permit-specific basis.
Today's rule simply requires that this
issue be addressed in the general permit
 but leaves the permitting authority this
 decision of which approach is most ••' -•
 appropriate. The approach in the final -
 rule will avoid the confusion that arose
 with the proposed regulatory language
 used in the Augustie, 1991 notice. >
 Today's rule also requires that NPDES -
 general permits shall specify whether a '•
 discharger that has submitted a;--:'  • •'- -
 complete and timely notice of intent to-"
 be covered in accordance with the.
 general permit and that is eligible for
 coverage under the permit is authorized
 to discharge either in accordance with
 the permit upon receipt trf the notice of •
 intent by the Director, after-a waiting'
 period specified in the general permit
 on a date specified in the general permit,
 or upon receipt of notification of
 inclusion by the Director. EPA has
 rewritten the proposed language in 40'
 CFR 122JZ8(b)(2}(iv) to make this
 provision clearer,-but has not changed
 its  intent The Agency believes that the
 approach taken in the final rule retains
 the flexibility of the proposal while
 accomplishing the same purpose.
  The Agency is finalizing this
 regulatory framework for NOIs with
 NPDES general permits to encourage the
 use of general permits, to provide for
 more consistent NOI requirements, and
 to ensure that dischargers covered by
 general permits provide appropriate
 information. Further, the Agency
 believes that today's regulatory
 framework provides a regulatory
 framework that is consistent with
 existing practices of EPA and authorized
 NPDES States.

 3. Response to Comments
  Most commenters addressing the
 proposed framework for NOIs supported
 the concept as a useful tool for the
 NPDES program. Some of these
 commenters urged EPA to use NOIs as a
 tool to minimize burdens on the
 authority issuing permits and reduce
 costs relative to submitting individual
 permit applications.'Commenters
 indicated that an additional reason for
 using NOIs was to assist in clarifying
 whether a facility was covered by a
given general permit.
  The Agency agrees with these
 comments. NOIs  serve a number of
functions. NOI requirements in general
permits can establish a clear accounting
 of the number of permittees covered by
 the  general permit, the nature of •
 operations at the facility generating the
 discharge, and their identity, location
and receiving waters. NOIs can be used
 to develop a data base of facility-
 specific information. NOIs can be used
as a screening tool  to identify discharges
•where individual permits are

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        11406      Federal Register / Vol. 57. No. 64 /  Thursday. April 2. 1992 / Rules and Regulations
I
«i;
\  •
 appropriate. For example, the
 identification of discharges to receiving
 waters with impaired water quality can
 be used to target facilities for priority
 permitting efforts. Also, the NOI can be
 used to identify classes of discharges
 appropriate for more specific general
 permits covering a more limited set of
 discharges. The NOI can provide
 'information needed by the Director to
 notify dischargers that a more specific
 general permit was issued. The NOI also
 can identify the permittee to provide a
 basis.to develop and implement
 enforcement and compliance monitoring
 strategies and priorities. In addition, the
 administrative burdens on the
 permitting issuing agency and the costs
 to dischargers can be reduced by
 replacing more complicated permit
 application requirements with simplified
 requirements.
   One State commented that EPA
 should not mandate by regulation the
 information required in an NOI, which it
 believed should be left to the State or
 EPA Region issuing a general permit In
 response, the Agency believes that
 today's regulatory framework provides
 sufficient flexibility for developing NOI'
• requirements, and that the minimum
 information requirements of today's rule'
 represent essential information
 necessary formeeting the'program
 objectives outlined above. Under
 today's rule, the minimum requirements
 for NOIs include the legal name of the
 owner or operator and the facility name-
 and address. EPA believes that this
 information is essential to identify the
 location of the facility for compliance
 purposes and to provide mailing
 addresses necessary to Conduct any
 correspondence. The minimum NOI
 requirements also include a description
 of the type of facility or dischargers.
 This description is necessary to provide
 information to screen whether the
 discharge is eligible for coverage under
 the general permit.and to allow  the .
 permit writer to begin to identify priority
 discharges. Finally, the minimum NOI
 requirements include the receiving
 stream(s). This information is necessary
 to adequately identify the discharges to
 impaired receiving waters where water
 quality-based permits are necessary.
   Some commenters indicated that they
 believed that all discharges should be
 required to submit an NOL Various
 reasons were provided to support this
 approach, including that .the  NPDES   .
 authority needed to know of all facilities
 that discharged storm water to a given
 water body, and that dischargers should
 not be required to comply with a permit
 unless they submit a notification. In  .
 response, the Agency'believes that most •
                     i
 general permits will require the
 submittal of NOL However, there may
 be some situations where it may be
 more appropriate to have the Director
 notify dischargers that they are covered
 by a general permit or( that NOI
 requirements are otherwise not
 appropriate.         '
 For  example, issuing a general permit
 without NOI requirements may be an
 appropriate way for EPA and authorized
 NPDES States to minimize
 administrative burdens and compliance
 costs in permits for small discharges .  "
 which have been determined to have  •
. minimal or no. impacts on receiving
 waters. Today's regulation provide some
 flexibility to address these situations.
   In the August 16,1991 notice. EPA
 requested comment on whether it is
 appropriate to require NOIs for the large
 number of contaminated storm water
 discharges associated with industrial
 activity from oil and gas exploration and
 production operations. Most
 commenters on this issue indicated that
 they thought NOIs should be required in
 general permits for storm water   '
 discharges from oil and gas operations.  '
 One State commented that it believed
 that it would be inappropriate  to
 exclude a class of discharges from the
 requirements to submit an NOI unless
 there is. an alternative method that can •
 and will be used to track these
 discharges. A different commenter
 indicated that oil and gas operations
 were adequately monitored through the
 Spill Prevention Control and • '  •
 Countenneasure (SPCC) program and
 that NOIs for NPDES general permits
 would not be necessary. A luunber of
 the  commenters expressed confusion
 over the relationship between this
 provision and section! 402(1X2) of the  -
 CWA10, and suggested that requiring
                                                  »° Section 402(1)(2) of thejCWA provides that   '.
                                                NPDES permit, shall not be, required for storm
                                                water runoff from mining operation* or oil and gas
                                                exploration, production, processing or treatment
                                                operations or transmission facilities, composed
                                                entirely of flows which are from conveyances or  •
                                                systems of conveyances (including but not limited  .
                                                to pipes, conduits, ditches, and channels) used for
                                                collecting and conveying precipitation runoff and
                                                which are not contaminated by contact with or that
                                                has not come into contact with, any overburden,
                                                raw material, intermediate products, finished
                                                product, byproduct or waste product* located on the
                                                site of such operation. EPA published permit
                                                application regulations consistent with section
                                                402(1)(2) on November 16.1990 (55 FR 480030).
                                                These regulations require permit applications for
                                                discharges composed entirely of storm water
                                                associated with industrial activity from oil or gas
                                                exploration, production, processing, or treatment
                                                operations, or transmission facilities only when a
                                                discharge of storm waters results In a discharge of a
                                                importable quantity for which notification is or was.:.
                                                required pursuant to 40 CFR11721.4O CFR 302-8, or .
                                                40 CFR lias at anytime smfce November 16,1987. or.:
                                                the discharge contributes to a violation of a water-' •
NOIs in NPDES permits for storm water
discharges from oil and gas operations
would minimize this confusion.
  After evaluation of the comments.
EPA believes, that except for the
situation of inactive oil and gas
operations on Federal lands discussed
below, it is not appropriate to exclude
contaminated storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity from
oil and gas exploration and production
operations from the minimum NOI
requirements, and therefore, today's rule
does not treat storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity from •
oil and gas operations differently than
other storm water discharges associated
with industrial activity in this regard. As
a result, today's rule does not contain a
specific reference to storm water
discharges from oil and gas operations.
The Agency believes that NOI
requirements in general permits for
storm water discharges from oil and gas
operation will provide  for a dear
tracking mechanism that is currently
unavailable under the SPCC program ".
In addition, as was pointed put by  .  ;.
commenters, the NOI process can be ..
used to identify facilities with
contaminated runoff, and therefore
minimize confusion with respect to the •
provisions of section 402(1)(2] of the
CWA.   .   .   .
  One commenter requested  -.
clarification on the procedures that
would-be followed to ensure that     .   •
permits requiring Director notification
instead of facility submission of an NOI
are in compliance with the procedural
requirements of the CWA and the
NPDES regulations. The Agency does
not believe that today's rule  Conflicts .
with the NPDES regulations or the
CWA. The Agency believes that the
existing NPDES regulations provide for
adequate public notice and public
comment opportunities when general
permits are issued. (See 40 CFR 124.10,
                                         quality standard, (see 40 CFR 122-28{c)(l)(iii)).
                                        . Permit applications are not required for a discharge
                                         composed entirely of itbrm water from a mining
                                         operation unless the discharge comes into contact •-
                                         with any overburden, raw material, intermediate
                                         products, finished product, byproduct, or waste
                                         products located on the site of such operations. • '
                                          1' EPA requested comment on using Information  •
                                         collected under the SPCC program to (Tack storm
                                        'waterdischarges. However, this approach has*. . .
                                         number of limitations. Including that the SPCC
                                        ; program currently does not require facilities nub|ect
                                         to SPCC requirements to submit notifications. In
                                         addition, many facilities subject to the SPCC
                                         program are not subject to the NPDES storm water
                                        " program either because they do not have a storm
                                         water discharge to waters of the United States or
                                         because they are not activities that ara addressed   '
                                        . by the regulatory definition of storm water
                                         discharge associated with industrial activity at 40
                                         CFR 12i28(b)(14) (e.g, certain pipelines).

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             Federal,liegster:/;.VoL.S7f^o.:^4i/.'r
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I1     11408       Federal Register / Vol.. 57. No. 64  /  Thursday. April.2.. 1992./ Rules and Regulations
        receives notice of approval of the part 1
        anplication.            " .-  '.
         ' EPA notes that the extension to'
        October 1,1992 provides authorized
        NPDES States with additional time to
        issue general permits for storm water'  • •
        discharges associated with industrial
        activity. On August 18,1991. (56 FR  . '
        40948); EPA published a proposal    '.  •
        requesting public comment on draft •
        general permits for storm water   •
        discharges associated with industrial
        activity in States and territories without
        authorized NPDES programs.12 The
        Agency intends to make every effort to
        issue these general permits in the spring
        of!992.
          However, EPA has decided against •
        basing the deadline for submitting part 2
        of the group applications on the date
        that general permits are issued by
        Individual States because of the
        potential confusion and uncertainty that."
        would arise. Although the Agency      "^
        proposed draft general permits, for storm
        water discharges in States without
        authorized State NPDES programs in
       • one nqtice«'it may not finalize all of
        these permits on the same date. The   .
        Agency expects  that various region-
        specific, State-specific, or industrial
        category-specific issues may take
        different amounts of time to address. It .
        should also be noted that the August 16,
        1991 proposal does not address general
        permits in authorized NPDES States.: .
        Each authorized NPDES State that will -.
        issue general permits for storm water.  .
        discharges associated with industrial
        activity-will have to go through the  ••• .
        procedures for issuing general permits of
        that State. Different permit issuance
        procedure?,, along with other factors, •• .
        will .result-in these permits being-issued.
        at different .times. All of .these factors
         indicate that a tremendous amount of  . •
         uncertainty and confusion would result .
         if EPA attempted to tie regulatory   .  .
         deadlines for submitting permit
         applications to the dates when general
         permits are issued for particular States.
         This is particularly important to the
         group application process where ,
         facilities from many different States
         may be in the same group.
           In addition, the'Agency anticipates
         that there will be situations where the
         permitting authority determines that
           "Thcr'notice addmies'draft general permits In
         12 Slate* IMA. ME.-NH. PL. LA. TX. OK. MM, SD.
         AZ.AK. ED),1 and six Territories (District of| '   '
         Columbia,' the Commonwealth of Puerto Rioo,
         Guam. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of tha"
         Northern Marianalilands. and the Trust Territory '
         of tha Pacific blind*) without authorized NPDES'
         State programs; on Indian lands In AU CA, GA. KY,"
         ML MM. MS."MT. NC. ND.TIY. NV. EC. TN, UT. WL.
         and WY: located within federal facilities and Indian
         landi to CO indWA:«nd located within federal • '
         facltlliei in Delaware.   • ' •      '
general permits, are inappropriate for a
given class of storm water discharges.,
Additional confusion would arise in
these situations if application deadlines,
were tied to the dates of general permit
issuance.,The Agency is also concerned.
that unacceptable delays may result
under this approach in States where the
issuance of a general,permit is delayed.
  EPA also disagrees with the ' •     .
suggestion that' the deadlines for
submitting part 2 of the application
should be based on .the date on which a
part 1 application is accepted. EPA
believes that establishing a fixed    ..'  ,
deadline of October 1,1992 for.part 2 of
the group application is warranted for
the same reasons that the Agency
articulated above and in the proposal.
Tfiis approach provides an equitable
deadline for these facilities, reduces
confusion and uncertainty in the
regulated community, and provides
sufficient time to complete the sampling .
necessary to obtain quantitative data.

EL Clarification for Pap 2 of Group
Applications  .  .'.' -::--.' '." .•

  The November 16,1J990 regulations
established procedure's for group    .
applications for storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity. The
group application process allows for.-.  '-.
facilities with similar storm water, • "•:   •
discharges to file a single two part
permit application. Part 1 of a .group • '.
 application includes a list of the ....
 facilities.applying,:a narrative; ...  ,  ..  .-. ••
 description summarizing the industrial
 activities of participants of the group, .a
 list of significant materials exposed to.
 precipitation that areistored by - r  . .. .
 participants and material management
 practices employed .to diminish contact .
 of these materials by precipitation (see.:
 40 CFR 122JJ8{cH2)(i)), In addition, the.
 part 1 application must identify-the
 group participants that will submit • .
 quantitative data (sampling data) in part
 2 of the group application. These
 participants must be representative of •
 the group.- .  •   ^ ..-•-•  ..:,.. . • • . > ,,
   In part 2 of the group application, the
 subset of facilities identified.in the Part
 1 application must submit quantitative
 data. -The provisions of 4O CFR      ' •
 122.28(c)(2)(ii) establish a minimum
 criteria for identifying facilities from
 which sampling data must be'submitted!
 EPA had proposed thati'in general,
 groups submit data-fronvat least 10 -": •'• '
 percent of the facilities to the-grpup.'
 •With a rninimiinv'nf.10 facilities' " ••" "V .
; submitting data' (December /V1988 (53" ~'
 FR49435)).In the-finalrule,i EPA, V;/.;.'
 • allowed groups'of'4 to 10 members to..
 apply if 60 percent of me ^facilities ": -••''"
submitted data (November 16,1990 (55
FR 48067)),
  During the group application process.
the regulated community exhibited some
confusion regarding the minimiim
number of facilities that must submit..
sampling data for groups, with 11 to 99
members. For groups with.ll to 99  .
members, some groups have interpreted
the language in the November 16,1990.
regulations to require 10 percent df.the
facilities to submit sampling data, while
other groups have interpreted fhe
language to require a minimum of 10 .
facilities to submit sampling data.
   In today's action,.EPA wants to clarify
that for groups with 20 or fewer     . :
members, at least 50 percent of the
dischargers participating in the group
must submit quantitative data.. For
example, at least nine facilities must •
submit quantitative data if a group is
composed of 17 members. For groups  •
with 21 to 09 members, at least 10
dischargers participating in the group  •  .
must submit quantitative data. For
 example, at least ten facilities must..   '
 submit quantitative data if a group is
 composed of 25 members. For groups- • • • •. •
 with 100 to 1,000 members, at least 10
 percent of the dischargers participating- •
 in the group must submit quantitative. •. ••
 data. For groups with more than 1,000   .-
 members, no more than 100 dischargers - ._
 participating in the group must submit . •
 quantitative data. .'. ; >   	v". .  :'",
   For groups witla more than 10  • "'•/•'••.
 members, either a minimum of two
 dischargers from each precipitation zone
 indicated in appendix E of 40 CFR part  .
 122 in which tenor more members of the
 group'are located, or one discharger •
 from.'eachprecipitatiorizqneMndicate.d '•"• •
 in appendix E of 40 CFR part 122 in ' ' .
 which'nine or fewer inembera; of the    "-
 group are located,'must be identified to
 submit quantitative data. For groups of 4
 to 10 members, at least one'facility in
 each precipitation zone in which
 members of the group are located must  '
 submit data. EPA has made a correction • -
 to the group application requirements to'
 reflect the .above, which represents   -
 EPA's original intertt in the November-;  j -'
 16,1990 rule.         ' '    , " :'.   '..;'
 F. Transportation Act Deadlines   •  •'  .
    Section 1068 of the Transportation' Act •
 addresses permit application deadlines, ..
 for. storm, water discharges assoc&tejl ;. J
 with industrial activity'that are 6wned:,:.
 or operated by municipalitiejL Today's.  .
' rule codifies three changes to\ existing  .  '
 regulatory deadlines to reflecitjhe new .
  mpdification8-ad.dres8 .individual.;,' '^^,-.'..
  application deacUines, and the third .,. r
  addresses group'application'deadlines.' •,

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                                                                 April 2,'.1992  / Rules arid'Regulations      11409
    The deadlines for submitting
  individual permit applications for storm
  water discharges associated with
  industrial activity that are owned or
  operated by municipalities are
  consistent with the October 1.1992
  regulatory deadline that EPA :''-.-
  established on November 5,1991 (58.FR
•  56548) with two exceptions:  "'
    (1) Municipal facilities that have been
  identified in a parti group application
  that has been submitted in a timely
  manner where eithef.the-group.-:--.  ;..
  application  is denied or the particular ••
. .facmty.is-rejectedlromtb.e.group, are -:.
  not required to submit an individual
  application until the 180th day following
  the date on which the denial or rejection
  is made; and . . -.   ,
    (2) Facilities owned or operated by a
  municipality'with a population of less
  than 100,000 other than an airport,
 powerplant, or uncontrolled sanitary
 landfill are not required to submit a
 permit application at this-tune unless a
 permit is required under either section
 402(p)(2) (A) or (E) of the CWA.
   With regard to facilities that are either
 part of a.group that has been denied or
 which are individually rejected from' a
 group, today's rule codifies alternative
 deadlines for storm Water discharges
 associated with industrial activity from
 facilities that are 'owned or operated by
 a municipality and that .are rejected as
 members of-a part 1 group application.
 Such dischargers shall submit an
 individual application no later than 180
 days after the date of receipt of the
 notice of rejection or October 1,1992, •
 whichever is later.    • A '  '•'•.•'•' '-•'
   With respect to facilities owned or
 operated by municipalities with a
 population of 100,000 or less, EPA
 believes that Congress intended this
 language to. place all of their storm
 water discharges (exceptlor those from
 airports, powerplarits and uncontrolled
 sanitary landfills) into Phase n of the
 storm water program.     •
   Today's rule also codifies the
 Transportation Act's alternative
 deadlines for group applications for
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activities that are owned or
 operated by municipalities with a
 population of less than 250,000.
 Reflecting the new provisions of Section
 1068 of the Transportation Act, the
 group application deadlines for these
 facilities are now May 18,1992 for part 1
 applications and May 17,1993 for part 2
 applications.
   EPA also wants to clarify that the
 Transportation Act did not affect any of
 the regulatory application'deadlines  for
 storm water discharges associated with
 industrial activity from facilities that are
 either not owned or operated by a
 municipality or that are owned or
 operated by a municipality With a;'
 population of 250,000 pr.mbrei'The  ''•'•;; •
 legislative history for the Transportation
 Act clarified that "nothing In the
 conference report affects most of the
 dates for submitting stormwater permit
 applications established in EPA's recent •
 rulemaking published in the Federal -   •
 Register.on November 5^1991^ ..*• .• The
•conference report, while silent on the   .
 deadlines for these privately owned .   •
 industries, is not intended to override ••'-.'
 the dates established in EPA's ••:.   .   '-'.='
 rulemaking action^'CVok137Cong. Rec.
H11509 (daily ecL November 28,1991),
Rep. Hammerschmidt). .Thus, the permit
 application deadlines for storm.water
discharges associated with industrial
activity from privately owned and  ' '
operated facilities, including those that
discharge through a municipal separate
storm sewer to waters of the United   •.
States, are not changed by today's rule -
with the exception of the part 2 :  :
application deadlines discussed
elsewhere in today's notice. Also, where
a facility is privately owned and
operated, but has a service'contract !
with a municipality, the  facility is not
considered .to be "municipally = ". -. -  . '.
operated". For example, a privately •
owned and operated landfill that •'••••'..
receives municipal waste pursuant to a
contract'With a municipality or some
other form of reimbursement .from a   . :
municipality can not avail itself of the
application deadline extensions in the
Transportation Act; which apply only to
facilities owned or.operated by
municipal governments.  !       ' '
  As outlined above, section 1068 of the
Transportation Act contains special
provisions for municipalities with a .
population of less than 100,000. Section
1068{c) of the Transportation Act       ' .
defines two classes of industrial
facilities that are owned or  operated by
municipalities with a population of less. •.
than 100,000. The first group of facilities.
is comprised of airports, powerplants,
and uncontrolled sanitary landfills that
are owned or operated by a municipality.
with a population of less than 100,000. It.
is clear that Congress did hot intend,hi
section 1088(c) to change.the existing
individual application deadlines for
these discharges. Group  application
requirements for storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity from
these facilities are addressed by section
1068(b) of the Transportation Bill. As
discussed above, the group  application
deadlines for these facilities are May 18,".
1992 for Part 1  applicaitons  and May 17,
1993 for part 2 applications.
  The second group is comprised of •   •
facilities with storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity other '
 than airports, powerplants or   '
 uncontrolled'sanitary landfills that are
' owned or bperated by municipalities
 with a population of less than 100,000.
 Section 1068(c) provides, that EPA shall
 .not require this second-group of " '  •'
 industrial facilities to apply for or obtain
 a permit before Octobe'rl, 1992, unless a
 permit is required under either section
 402(p)(2)  (A) or (E)  of the CWA.   '
'; .-With-respect to this second group of ••
 facilities, today's rule reserves the •'  •'
.regulatory deadlines for stbmvwater
 applications. The Agency'intends to  -. •
 address these fatilities'in a -manner that
 is similar to other storm water    ••'• '.
 discharges addressed by section  ' ':
 402(p}(l) or the CWA." Currently, the
 Agency intends to evaluate storm water
 discharges associated with industrial
 activity that are owned or operated by a"
 municipality with a population -of less
 than 100,000. (except for thosefrom '
 powerplants, uncontrolled sanitary
 landfills and airports) along'with other
 storm water discharges addressed by
 section 402(p)(l) in two studies required
. under section 402(pj(5) of the CWA.
 These studies will be used to:support
 the development of regulations'under   :
 section 402fp)(6).14 It is dear front the *  ;
 legislative history of the Transportation
 Act that Congress intended to address:'
 these discharges hi -this"manrief, l.e^'as
 discharges subject to the permit • '
 moratorium of section 402(p)(l) of the
 CWA. ''EPA defined industrial activity
 in such a way as to require'many cities '
 with a population-under 100,000 to make'
 application for stonnwaterprmitsi   /  '
 notwithstanding the moratorium on ;:
 permit'requirements that the Congress
 thought it was puting hi place "* *  * This
 legislation will clarify that small cities'
 need not apply for permits associated '
 with some of the industrial facilities' '.'
 they own or operate until October iv    '
 1992,. [the] date.for the general.
 moratorium on their permit ...
requirements." (Vol. 137 Cong. Rec.
S18596 (daily "ed. November 27,1991),.:
Sen. Chafee).4;iM]unicipalities with  ".'
populations of less than lOOJOOO would  .'
  1' Section 4CZ(pMl) of th« CWA,creales a
moratorium on Issuing NPDES permits uh.lij October
1.1992 for'storm water discharge* that are not
identified in section 4O2(pK2) of the CWA. •
  " Section 402(p)(6) of the CWA requires EPA,in
consultation with State and local officials, la
required to issue regulations by no later than
October 1,1992. which designate additional storm
water discharges to be regulated to protect water •
quality.and establish a comprehensive program to
regulate such designated sources. This program
must establish, at.a minimum. (A) priorities. (B)
requirements for State Storm Water Management
Programs, and (C) expeditious deadlines. The
program may include performance,standards.: -.;
guidelines, guidance, and management practices •  .
and treatment requirements as appropriate.

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        '11410      Federal Register / Vol. -.57. -No.--64 •/."Thursday;' April X;:1992:'/ 'Rules and 'Regulations
"i
c
not be;required lo apply-forperinits'for '•'
stormwater discharges associated with "'
industrial activities except'for power  '  •
plants, uncontrolled sanitaiy landfills;   '
and airports." (Vol. 137 Cong. Rec:  :
H11509 (daily edj-November-28.199t)f'
Rep. Haminerschmidt):       -   •

1. Determining" the Population of  ''  "  '"
Municipalities'   '" _  '_ .   '".'." _.;v .
  The Transportation Act establishes
phased requirements for NPDES permits
for storm water discharges associated - :
with industrial activity from facilities
that are pwned or operated by .
municipalities with specified
populations. However, the .     .'-..•..
Transportation Act uses a different
classification; scheme than-is used in"
section 402(p) o.ftthe CWA.to define .. •
classes'of municipal separate storm  •   ;
sewer systems'.. Under!section.402(p) of. .
the CWA.'municipal separate stormv". _j
s'ew^rsysteniB.ir& classified on;.the:     1
basis.of.ppptdatipiijierved.by the  . .. .'.'.
system, yniiejc.tfie "transportation Act r .
the po'p'ulatibh used;for classifying. . .•
industrial pperatioitt} owned.oi: operated.
by municipalities is*the population of the..
municipality. This distinction is        .
Important because" a number of  .',.
municipal entities with a population of .:'
100,000 or more are not addressed by the
regulatory definitions of large and  '  •.
medium municipal separate, storm sewer-
systems.   .Y..,'  '••'-.  ,\;  •'•  '.•
  40 CFR. 12228(b){4) 'ami {7) Specifically':
identify*173 cities'and 47 couhties:as .';•  •
having large or medium municipal-  .    ' •''
separate storm sewerjsystems (ereyent-flawont&tlie active: .,  •
                                           portiori'of th'»MSWLE;unit during .the; ••' ~
                                           peak discharge from a 25^yeaj- storm. In. •••-
                                           addition, all MSWLF units ani required
                                           to design,. cons.tiiict, and-matEitaini a run-
                                           off control  sysiera from the active-: •  •>• •••
                                           portionxif the landfill to collei^ and -;'•••
                                           control "at least the vrajerypl^inie! '_ '"'.' '. '
                                           resulting from a S4rlipur,;25^yi3aiS storm.- -'
                                           Runoff from4he active portion-of-the-\- "-••'
                                           unit must be haniiled In accordance with ;.
        122.
        municipal separate storm sewer systems only ... •
        ipecincaUy Identify counties with a population of •
        10OOOO in nnlnobrponitod;tirbaniz»d arearof tbe'":
        county.      -j-.-',-- -.«».-•..-   . -•  .
 : •  >? For example, if a district with acummuUtiv*..-•:
  service population of 3SOOOO operates two sewage. •„
  trtatment pIaAts.'on> br.whidb serves SOOOOa and' -  '
 ' the other which serves 'swob/DotS blank wiU be^ ' '"'
 . considered to. be a fadUty that to owned or operated  •
 ., by a municipality .with a populatioaof 2SOOOO or ,-•
  more.   .        '*,  ~... i '.':-'..".:   '•'' .....
    '• Under tUs approach.'^A would base the' ''Z.',' .
"population of faciliHeiD operated Tjy a State'DOT on7' ''
• v the entlra State.popolatibn rather.lhan flier -' r-V- ^V
 . population of the local government entity with tend:U
 •r use authority (e^.city. towni'township.,connty>in.'•:.-..;;
 - which the facility U'physically Tocatod. EPA ....
 , believes that this approach U;appropriafe Because":-';:.
 " the State DOT facflity.witttyi>icaUy:be operatedf:'"-';.':
 . fa Wy indepe.ndenU>.ot ,'•;.„
                                                                                 notice wa« fajiied. EPA wa§ lii the proces* pt'*. .'.""
                                                                                 implementing' NPDES requirements for storm water" .
                                                                                 dlscharges-asKK^tad'witn'mdiis'Maljictryity'rrom*
                                                                                                    r             ~    '
                                                                                 explainedi-that firf'NPDEgpermlt undi»"Uie dWA.[ ^
                                                                                 would be the appro^iatip'mectianisni lor eiuiuring •'. >.,
                                                                                 that poinVsdorce ditjchargeir of nrnoff lijdm MSWtFo" ,
                                                                              ;^t,::are protectivo <>fhuih«nTie«lai:aiia'VMi ehvlroranenr'':
                                                                               '.-.- (see October 9,' 1991. (56 FR 51054)). .•'-' -.-^ i •'••-.-  -

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•Federal Register-'4 :VoL S7^No; .64? / -Thursday.-April  2. 1992,- J -Rules and..Regniatioas •-•,  A35421
    effective date for these requirements are
    October 9.1993.     .        •  -...-  -.
      Operators of landfills that are owned.
    or operated by a municipality with.a  •' ...
    population of less than 100,000 with a
    .storm water discharge associated "with •
    industrial activity ?° that are -  ?: i    ;
    'uncontrolled'.jnust submit an NPDES.
  .  permit application lor their .discharge, or
    obtain coverage under .an appropriate.'
,..f . generaljiermit.'.--..r:^..t^--v.L.:i,".,-; .--•:"* v!1'-
 •. .  .EPAremains.concerned about the  .;...;
 .>••  risks tp .surface water quality posed .by.-- •
..:.: landfills,ai.The Agency wants to.darify-
 .   that storm Water.diBcharges from -., .f.I?t-
 :.. •_- landfills :that are owned or operated by .-..-
    a municipality with a population of less.
    than 100,000 can-still be required to   ...
    obtain an NPDES permit even .where. •
    they are hi. compliance with subtitle D
    requirements where .they are designated
    under section 402(p)(2HE} of the CWA
    as needing an NPDES permit because
    they.are significant contributors of  •
 .   pollutants to waters,of :the United States
  .  or they contribute to a violation of a.    ,
    water quality standard, i .   . .

    m. Economic Impact
 '. .__. EPA has preparedIan Information i.t :;
 .   Collection Ileguest (ICR)'.for the purpose
                             permits, and for States to submit State  .:
                             Storm Water Permitting Plans. -•.  .. . A ,.
                              .EPA estimates that the total-annual" -.- •
                             cost of complying with the revised .! -.. • ••• :
                             monitoring reporting requirements for =;
                             storm-water discharges is $l£756446.i ;< •:•
                           •  .The -Agency/estimates that today's .rule.  -
                           •  results in a annual reduction in costs to. •
                             the regulated community of $8*873,520 i- j
                             over, the priorregulatory ^requirement- ±'<-.•-.
                           -. -EPA estimates that the annual fcosts of •- i
                           •  complying with NOI submissions- v -.-..- -,. (.-,
                           •s  required by NPDES permits-to be .•> -s :•>•* * •;
                           •-  $28234&ifowever, EPA believes that--:  >
                           -today's rule will not Increase the-i *v.. .>•; -.
                           '•••  exitifcig burdens of complying with-'NOI >..
                             requirements.  .; • , -v    *>••;-? '. ••'-.- •' ; .-
                              •EPA estimates (hat the annua} costs to'
                             State governments and EPA of .... -• •>   • =•
                             reviewing monitoring reports-for storm :
                             water discharges is $136,156. The:  :• ;' •«
                             Agency estimates thai the annual costs- •-
                             to States and EPA of reviewing NOIs is  .-•
                             S21O9ia However. EPA believes that -:  •?
                             today's rule will not increase the . • - - .  •
                             existing burdens of reviewing NOIs.    : '••
                             EPA estimates the total annual costs of
                             preparing and reviewing State-Storm : '
                             Water-Permitting Plans to $351348.   =  .-:
 industrial process, and stormwater .   ,. ,
 dischargers. For. storm water -.-•.• •  . •- .
. discharger*, the average burden,per, .. . .
; response will decrease by 3JJ hours per • ,
 repondent •:-. .• •  :.-•. ^  ,...5. •; ... • s. ..  '_..
  •• Send comments regarding :the:burden ..
 estimate-or any other aspect of ihia •?• : J
-<»Uection of infonnation.:inchiding , -  '. ,•
.^uggestiona-for reducing this-imrden. to; ••
.Chief,: Information Policy 'Branchu-PM*. .
^723Y.4J.S.-Er»vironmentd Election1 -j&-
 Agency. 401 M Street SWj Waahuigtonvo
•.DC 20460; and 4o the Office-of * ••- -i- s . •: «i v
:information«n3 Hegulatqry-Affairs,'i'..i,iy.
.Office, of Aiariagement and'Burjgeti:!.r-.'^ %.
^Washington;  DC 20503, taarked^ .i:.; nvov :
rAttentiontDeskOfficerforfiPA,",  •  :•
     •".The existing landfill .criteria in part 257 address
    all landfills except those covered by the revised
    criteria in'part 258; which address municipal  •
    landfills which receive household hazardous wastes
    or hazardous wastes from small quantity  •   •  •*
    generators. By contrast the NPDES regulatory
    definition of "storm water discharge associated
    with industrial activity" addresses landfills that
    receive or have received any industrial wastes
  •  (wastes received from any of the other classes of  '
    facilities addressed by the regulatory definition of
    storm water discharges associated with industrial
    activity)(see40CFR 12Z28{b)j[14J)."' ;.'  .      ".
     »» Surface waterimpacts associated with solid  '
 ;   waste landfills-are well characterized: hi the August
    30.1988^63 FR 33317) NPRM addressing solid waste
    disposal, facility criteria under RCRA subtitle .D..;
  .  EPA noted that state inspection data, case study
    evidence, rislc'charactenzation studies, and the  •'•
    current limited use of design controls indicate that
    some solid waste landfills have degraded surface
    water quality and that this degradation could
    continue. Older landfils are of most concern
    because they may Have received large volumes of
    hazardous waste and. in general, their use of design
    controls was very limited. States-reported that of
    the 1.100 municipal solid waste landfills which
    monitored discharges to surface water. 860-were
    cited for surface water impacts. EPA believes that
    newer and future solid waste landfills may present
    lower risks because subtitle C regulations keep
    moat hazardous waste out of solid waste landfills.
    In addition, design controls for solid waste landfills
    have improved, and are expected to continue to
    taprove with the implementation of subtitle D
    requirements (see October 9.1991 (68 FR 50981)).  ,
 .• " burclen imposed on'federal. Stateland' _'
   ,. local jjoyerhzngpto. andjntjusfiy byj.., ~..,-,.
'.'  ] te^ay's.reyiskJns'torequlr^entotqV^iV
    submit annual monitoring reports,
   . minimum notice of intent (NOI)
    requirements for NPDES general
                            '•• :   '-'}:''••':•••>••  •• •*.-•" -•••.•..«,.*•.'^i •;.-,•-. '-..:- •:'
                           . =  .-Executive Order 12291 requires EPA;  -s
                           ••and other agencies'to perform regulatory-.
                           .. analyses, of major regtilationa.Jvfa^or »:'-..•-
                           tregulationsare those^vhich impose a  .
                            cost on the economy of $100 milHon or . .•
                            more annually or.have certain other  ,.
                            economic impacts. Today-SiTegulatory.   •
                            amendments generally make &e NPDES .-
                            permit applications more flexible and I  ;
                            less burdensome for the regulated  . :
                            community. These regulations do. no.t ,
                            satisfy any of the criteria specified in:,', •
                            section l(b) of the Executive Order anck :.-
                            as such, do not constitute a major rule.
                            This regulation was submitted to the  ; -.
                            Office of Management and Budget  ;
                            (OMB) for review.              .       ..

                            V. Paperwork Reduction Act          .

                              The information requirements in this
                            rule have, been approved by the Office   .
                            of Management and Budget (OMB)  -:;
                            under provisions of the. Paperwork: •   ..-..
                            Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 350J et.seq-s.rid
                            have been assigned OMB Control  .   :   .
                            number 2040-O004.      -...,-•
                              Public reporting burden for. this   :
                            collection of information is -.estimated to  •
                            average 17.46 hours per response, an  • -
                            increase of 1.50 hours. This mcludes
                            time for reviewing instructions,  -• ;
                            searching existing data sources,
                            gathering the data needed, and    .  -
                            completing and reviewing--the collection
                            of information. The 17.48 figure  is an  .:
                            average for all dischargers under the    ;
                            NPDES program, includuig POTWs.
v * Under the Regulatory Flexibility; Act, 5
-U.S.C. 601 etseg^i EPA is jequired to    •
 prepare a Regulatory Flexibility  .  v
 Analysis to assess the impact of rules on..
: amallentities. No" Regulatory Flexibility ..
-.Analysis is required, however, where. .-
 the headof. the. agency certifies, that the ..
"rule will not have a significant economic '•
 impact on a substantial number of .small:
.entities:-, -f-. ..     -. •  {s~..r,:*.t... \.i ?,..
 -.:• Today's .-amendments to the .J.-i-jt  .:•••••.-:;•;
• regulations iwo.uldigenefally make the::>c.
 NPDES regulation* more flexible ^^ and i«;.:-
 kss burdensome forpermitteesK-::.:-iv,';i.-ii-::
. Accordingly. I hereby certify* pursuant ;-...• =
 Tto^US-C 605{b).,that these := .. \\£? -.,*..&$•*
 .amendments .will not have a- significant  .:
; impact on a substantial numberof small:.-
•entities.  • • .-   .;  •  '    ; = ..;.  :?r
 \T[I.:APA Requirementa  ;'' "-~-'-~ '-'"'- ';::>'

 .-  The. amendments to permit •,'.!•• .. .-. ;  -. .; ..
 application deadKnes for storm water   : ,
 discharges associated with industrial    :
 •activity from -facilities' owned or - : ,   :.;  . :
 operated by. municipalities are. being ". :•••
 -adopted without notice and comment. :
 As .they merely codify the provisions of .
 • section 1068 of the Intermodal Surface ^ .-
 Transportation-Efficiency Act of 19914;.: ;-.
 they constitute interpretive rules for.  '' • . : ': •
 which notice and comment is not-. .->?.;«,•'-•.-
 . required. EPA requested  comment on^'f •&•*
 -..the issue of the minimum number -of rr-..<.-'..
 facilities that must submit sampling data .-
 . in a group application in  a December 7.- '
 1988 notice (53 FR 49416). Additional  : .
 notice and comment is not required for.
 the clarification  to the .group -application .
 regulations made.in today's rule because
 the Agency has already -taken comments- ••
 on this issue and today's action only- • - • • .
 clarifies -the- approach that .was intended
 by the November 16. 1990 rule. - .   .   • i

 List of Subjects in 40 CFR:Part 122  ;

   Administrative practice- and: .-.•..:_  • •.  -
 procedure;- Environmental protection. •
 Reporting and record keeping  - - ;

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                                                             j                   - -

11412      Federal  Register / Vol. 57. No. 64  / Thursday, April  2. 1992 / Rules  and Regulations
requirements. Water pollution control.
General-permits, Storm water.
  Authodtyt'CIean Water Act. 33 U.S.C. 1251
eticq.  ' •   •    '
  Dated: March 23. 1992.
William K.Rellly.' :
Administrator.
  For the reasons stated in the       .
preamble, title 40 of the Code of . .
Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 122— EPA ADMINISTERED
PERMIT PROGRAMS; THE NATIONAL
POLLUTANT DISCHARGE
ELIMINATION SYSTEM   .

  1. The authority citation for part 122 •
continues to read as follows:        .  .
  Authority: Clean Water Act. 33 U.S.C. 1251
       '•'•
 Subpart B— Permit Application and
 Special NPDES Program Requirements
 § 122ifi              .-,
   2. Section i?!?.,7fl is amended by
 adding paragraph (b)(15), and revising
 paragraphs (c)(2)(i)(D). (e)(l). (e)(2]{i).
 (e)(2)(«i) and (e)(2)(iv) to read as
 follows:     -,;••;.•'   .    .      •"
 S122L28 .Storm Water dt*charg«s  ••'
 (appUcsbto to State NPDES programs. wxs
 §12325).          ••        •  '  •
 located, or one discharger from each •  •  '<
 precipitation zone indicated in appendix
 E of this part in which nine or fewer   -.
 members of the group are located, must
 be identified to submit quantitative
 data. For groups-of 4 to 10 members, at
 least one facility in each precipitation - .'
 zone indicated in appendix E of-this part
 in which  members of the group*are   •
 located must be identified to submit  .  .
 quantitative data: A description of why
 the facilities selected torperform
 sampling and analysis are'' . '•'  .     •  •
 representatives? the group as a whole in
• terms of  the: information provided in .:: -
 paragraphs (c)(l)(i)fB> and (c)(l)(i){C) of
 this section, shall accompany this •   .  •
. section. Different factors impacting the
 nature of the .storm water- discharges,- •,,'
 such as the processes- used and material-
 management shall be represented; to
 the extent, feasible,  in a manner roughly
 equivalent to their proportion in-the . ^ •
• grOUD. •  .  ~<^l^ ;':.'<-:' -KT  '  •=<•:••:• J;iV. V '
      *,.?•;
             - .; •' I '
   fb)* • *   •••*»"-•"  •' •'"•••  ' "   ••
   (15) Uncontrolled sanitary landfill
 means a landill or open dump, whether-
 in operation or closed, that does not
 meet the requirements for runon or
 runoff controls established pursuant to
 subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal •
 Act     •     -"   '•   '•
   (C) ••--••-..!•     .
 '  (2)	-,.   •-   . •
   (i) ••*..•.-   .
   (D) For groups of more than 1,000
 members, identify at least 100
 dischargers participating in the group
 application from which quantitative
 data will be submitted. For groups of 100
 or more members, identify a minimum of
 ten percent of the dischargers
 participating in the group application
 from which quantitative .data will- be
 submitted. For'groups of between 21 and
 S3 members identify a minimum of ten
  dischargers participating in the group
  application from which quantitative
  data will be submitted. For groups of 4
  to 20 members,-identify a minimum of 50
  percent of the dischargers-participating -
  in the group application from which ••
  quantitative data.will be submitted. For-
  groups with more than 10 members.
  either a minimum'of two dischargers
  from each precipitation zone indicated
  in appendix E of this part in which ten
  or more members of the group are  •
    (e)	•••••.": :';T •;'>•-••• ••" ; '
    (1) Individual applications, (i) Except
  as provided-lit paragraph (e)(lKii).of this
  section, for any storm- water discharge
  associated with industrial-Activity - , -.
  identified in paragraphs (b)(14) (i)
  through (xi) of this section; that is not
  part of a group application as-described
  in paragraph fcj(2j oftnist section or "r: ~~
  which is not authorized by a storm- " ";-'
  water general permit-Hiperinit" ""' -'••
  application made pursuant to paragraph
  (G) of this section'shall be  submitted to
  meDirect6rbypctobejlV1992;:_;'   :
    (ii) For any storm wajer discharge
  associated with industrial activity from
  a faculty that is owned or operated by a
  municipality with a 'population, of less.  '
  than 100,000'other .than; an airport,
  powerplant or'uncontrolled.sanitary.  .
  landfill, permit applications    '_."•''
  requirements are reserved.   •' '    ;
    (2) * * *    .        !
    (i) Part 1. (A) Except;as provided iii' -
  paragraph (e)(2)(i)(B) of this section, part
  1 of the application shall be submitted to
  the Director.-Office of Wastewater. •-,-
  Enforcement and Compliance by  .  ....
 ' September 30,' 1991; ....•>  .  ~r .,.. : v  -
     (B) Any municipaiity-with a...  .;. .
  population of less than 250,000.shall not
  be required to submit a part 1 - -,.....: - • .
  application before May. 18.199£;.c.: ,-••.-
     (C) For any-storm.water discharge;;-.--
  , associated with industrial activity from-
  a facility that is owned or operated by a
  municipality with a population of less-
   than 100,000 other than an airport,'  •  >-i
   powerplant or .uncontrolled sanitary,--;:
   landfill,-permit applications,.'.':•':• •  ."•••'•
   requirements, are, reserved. "••. > ..• .--.•;.-•...
  (iii) Part 2. (A) Except as provided in
paragraph (e)(2)(iii)(B) of this section.
part 2 of the application shall be
submitted to the Director. Office of  ; •
Wastewater Enforcement and
Compliance by October 1,1992;
  (B) Any municipality with a.
population of less than 250.000 shall not
be-required to'submit a part 1 '••••• •
application before May 17; 1993.
  (C) For any storm water discharge
associated with industrial activity from
a facility 1hat is owned or operated by a
municipality with a population of less •
than i.00.000 other than an airport," :. '
powerplant or uncontrolled sanitary'  •'
landfill, permit applications-'••
requirements are reserved.  •••".••••
   (iv) Rejected facilities. (A) Except as  .
provided in paragraph (e)(2)pv)|B) of • •
 this section, facilities that are rejected
 as members of-the group shall submit an
individual application {or obtain '" "••" ".
 coverage under an applicable general -••' •
 permit) no later than 12 months after the
' date of receipt of tlie notice of rejection""'
 or October 1.1992, whichever comes
'first.       .        • ,^j,-.\\j:.:.-.f-i -.-.J.. ."'
   (B) Facilities that are owned or    .^.
. operated by. a municipality and "that are
' rejected as members of part I group" . '.
 apph'cation stiall submit an individual'
•• application io later than 180 &&jfs after ^
- the date of receipt" of the notice of ';?.""'
 rejection'or October 1.1992,. wliichever"
 is later.
   2a. Section 122.28 is amended by
 redesignating current paragraph (b)(2)  —
 as (b}(3) and by adding a new paragraph
 (b)(2) to read as follows:
 §122.28  GanaraJ permits (appljcable to
 state NPOESproflram»,««»5
               ,   .     .     .
    (Q Authorization to discharge, or •
  authorization to engage in sludge use
  and disposal practices, (i) Except'as'. :;'"
  provided in paragraphs (b)(2)(v) and -.
  (b)(2)(vi) of this section, dischargers (or
  treatment works treating domestic •' •
  sewage) s'eeklng coverage under a   ;;.'.
  general permit shallVubmit to the ....-." .i..'
  Director a written notice of intent .to be- .-
  covered by the general permit'A '• ..-•-••*•
  discharger (or treatment works treating
  domestic sewage) who. fails to submit a_..
  notice of intent in accordance with the   •
 : terms of the permit ia not authorized to •= •;
  discharge, (or fa the case of shidge.";;. :.
  disposal'permit to engage in a sludge" •.
  use or disposal practice), under the  •
 ' terms of the general permit unless the
  general permit in'accordance-with •   '' "
 •• paragraph [b)(2)(v) of..this'section.   ' .','. i
 • contains a provision that a notice of-
  intent is not required or the Director

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             Federal Register '/ Vol. 57, No.  64 / Thursday, April 2. 1992 /  Rules and Regulations      11413
 notifies a discharger (or treatment works
 treating domestic sewage) that it is
 covered by a general permit in
 accordance with paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of
 this section.  A complete and timely,
 notice of intent (NOI), to be covered in
 accordance with general permit
 requirements, .fulfills the requirements
 for permit applications for.purposes of
 §§ 122.6,12Z21 and 122L26.       :
   (ii) The contents of the notice of intent
 shall be specified in the general permit
• and shall require the submission of
 information necessary for adequate
 program implementation, including at a
 minimum, the legal name and address of
 the owner or operator, the facility name
 and address, type of facility or
 discharges, and the receiving stream(s).
 General permits for storm water
 discharges associated with industrial
 activity from inactive mining, inactive
 oil and gas operations, or inactive
 landfills occurring on Federal lands
 where an operator cannot be identified
 may contain alternative notice of intent
 requirements. All notices of intent shall
 be signed in accordance with § 122.22.
   (in) General permits shall specify the
 deadlines for submitting notices of
 intent to be covered and the date(s)
 when a discharger is authorized to
 discharge under the permit;
   (iv) General permits shall.specify
 whether a discharger (or'treatment
 works treating domestic sewage) that
 has submitted a complete and timely
 notice of intent to be covered in
 accordance  with the general permit and
 that is eligible for coverage under the
 permit, is authorized to discharge, (or in
 Qie case of a sludge disposal permit, to
 engage in a sludge use or disposal
 practice), in accordance with the permit
 either upon receipt of the notice of intent
 by the Director, after a waiting period
 specified in the general permit on a date
 specified in the general permit or upon
 receipt of notification of inclusion by the
 Director: Coverage may be terminated
 or revoked in accordance with
 paragraph (b){3) of this section.
   (v) Discharges other than discharges
 from publicly owned treatment works.
 combined sewer overflows, primary
 industrial facilities, and storm water
 discharges associated with industrial
 activity, may, at the discretion of the
 Director, be authorized to discharge
 under a general permit without
 submitting a notice of intent where the
 Director finds that a notice of intent
requirement would be inappropriate. In
making such a finding, the Director shall
consider the type of discharge: the
expected nature of the discharge; the
potential for toxic and conventional
pollutants in the discharges; the
expected volume of the discharges;
other means of identifying discharges
covered by the permit; and the
estimated number of discharges to be
covered by the permit The Director
shall provide hi the public notice of the
general permit the reasons for not
requiring a notice of intent.
  (vi) The' Director may notify a
discharger (or treatment works treating
domestic sewage) that it is covered by a
general permit, even if the discharger (or
treatment works treating domestic
sewage) has not submitted a notice of
intent to be covered. A discharger (or
treatment works treating domestic
sewage) so notified may request an
individual permit under paragraph
(b)(3)(iii) of this section.
§12226  [Amended]
  3. In redesignated paragraph
12Z28(b)(3)(u). the reference: "(b)(2)(i)"
is revised to read "Cb)(3)(i)".
  4. In paragraph 122^8(c)(3), the
reference; "122.28(b)(2)(i) (A) through
OF)" is revised to read "122J28(b)(3}(i) (A)
through (GJ-

Subpart C—Permit Conditions

  5. Section 122.44 is amended by
revising paragraph (i)(2) and adding
paragraphs (i)(3) through (i)(5) .to read as
follows:

§122.44  Establishing limitations,
standards, and other permit conditions
(applicable to State NPDES programs, see
§ 123.25).
 *****
   (0* * *
   (2) Except as provided hi paragraphs
 (i)(4) and (i)(5) of this section,
 requirements to report monitoring
 results shall be established on a case-
 by-case basis with a frequency
 dependent on the nature and effect of
 the discharge, but in no case less than
 once a year. For sewage sludge use or
 disposal practices, requirements to
 monitor and report results shall be
 established on a case-by-case basis  with
 a frequency dependent on the nature
 and effect of the sewage sludge use or
 disposal practice: minimally this shall
be as specified in 40 CFR part 503
(where applicable), but in no case less
than once a year.
  (3) Requirements to report monitoring
results for storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity which
are subject to an effluent limitation
guideline shall be established on a case-
by-case basis with a frequency
dependent on the nature and effect of
the discharge, but in no case less than
once a year.
  (4) Requirements to report monitoring
results for storm water discharges
associated with industrial activity (other
than those addressed in paragraph (i)(3)
of this section) shall be established on a
case-by-case basis with a frequency
dependent on the nature and effect of
the discharge. At a minimum, a permit
for such a discharge must require:
  (i) The discharger to conduct an
annual inspection of the facility site to
identify areas contributing to a storm
water discharge associated with
industrial activity and evaluate whether
measures to reduce pollutant loadings
identified in a storm water pollution
prevention plan are adequate and
properly implemented in accordance
with the terms of the permit or whether
additional control measures are needed:
   (ii) The discharger to maintain for a
period of three years a record
summarizing the results of the
inspection and a certification that the
facility is in compliance with the plan
and the permit and identifying any
incidents of non-compliance;
   (iii) Such report and certification be
signed hi accordance with § 122.22; and
   (iv) Permits for storm water
discharges associated with industrial
activity from inactive mining operations
may, where annual inspections are
impracticable, require certification once
every three years by a Registered
Professional Engineer that the  facility is
in compliance with the permit, or
alternative requirements.
   (5) Permits which do not require the
submittal of monitoring result reports at
 least annually shall require that the
permittee report all instances of
 noncompliance not reported under
 § 122.41(1) (1). (4). (5). and (6) at least
 annually.
 *    »    *     «     •
 (FR Doc. 92-7279 Filed 4-l-fl2: 8:45 am)
 BILUNQ COOE 6SCO-SO-M

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     Alabama
     California
     Cojowdp
     Connecticut
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
   Kansas
   Kentiwlcj'
   Louisfcffis
   Maiyland
  Nchfaskg
 •Nevada
  New Jersey
  NewYoric    •
 North Carolina
 North Da&m
 Ohio
 Oklahoma
 Oregon
 South CatoJina
 South Dakota
 Tennessee
iVyomiag
                    Approved State
                   •NPDESPemiit
                        Program
     10/19/79
     11/01/86
     05/14/73
     03/27/75
     09/26/73 '
     04/01/74
     05/Q1/95
     06/28/74
     11/28/74
     10/23/77
    01/01/75
    08/10/78
    09/30/83
    08/27/96
    09/05/74
    10/17/73
  - 06/30/74
   05/01/74
  •10/30/74
   Q6/IQ/74
   06/12/74
   09/19/75
  04/13/82
  10&8/75
  10/19/75
  06/13/75
  03/11/74
  •11/19/96
  09/26/73
  06/30/78
  09/17/84
  06/1Q/75
  12/30/93
  12/28/77
 07/07/87  '
 03/Z1-/74
 06/30/76
 03/31/75
 11/14/73
05/10/82
02/04/74
01/30/75
                    .43
                                      Approved to
                                      &5guJateF    06/26/91
     11/01/86
 . .   09/22/89
 i    03/04/82
 '    03/10/92
 :    10/23/92
 ;    05/01/95+
 !    PI/28/91
 !   09/30/91
 i   01/04/84
 ;   04/02/91  '
 !   08/12/92
 '   11/24/93
 I   09^30/83
 [   08/27/96
 :   09/30/91
 :   11/29/93
i   12/15/^7
;  09/27/91
|  12/12/85
i -04/29/83
  07/20/89
: 07/27/92
  04/13/82
  10/J5/92
  09/06/91
  01/22/90
  08/17/92
    *«
 02^>3/82
 08/02/91
 09/17/84
 09/03/92
 12^0/93
 04/18/91
                                                                            04/2P/91
                                                                            09/26/89
                                                                            05/10/82
                                                                            12/19/86
                                                                                                         •Program
                                                                                41
                                                                                                    02
                                                                                                          12/31/96

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