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Why do I have to get permit
EPA's Notional Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program regu
stormwater rvnoff fra^ co-sVuciiQn sites. On July 1, 2003, EPA reissued the
Construction General Permtt (CGP) *o extend coverage lo construction sites thai
disturb 1 or more acres, including smaller sites tha: are part ai a larger plan of
development. Forexcrnple, >f you ore budding a house on a half-acre lot in a
\ Q-acre deve'opmenf, you leed permit coverage, Construction site operators need to
sybmit on application cal'ed o Notice of Intenl |NOl) *o be covered w*der EPA's CGP
This brochure describes how Jo rneeJ *he requirements of EPA's permit which applies lo construction sites in
several states end territories [see list be'ow). Mas* sfci«s, however, are authorized to implement the NPD^S
sJormwaler program. Authored slales hove similar requirements for conshuction sites. IF you* construction
project is not in one of ihe oreos i-s^ed below, you will need to obtain permit coverage from Hie appropriate state
authority. A list of s:o:e permitting authorities can be found ai www epa.gov/npdes/stormwoter
SPA's Construction General Permit applies to the following areas:
Alaska
District of Columbia
Idaho
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Now Mcxko
Puerto Rico
Most Indian Country lands
Federal facilities in Vermont, Colorado,
Delaware, and Washington
Oil and gas operations and other
activities in Texas and Oklahoma.
U S. Territories (e g,, Guam, American
Samoa), except the Virgin Islands
£ jfcfew-<'*&••
Visit wwwxpa.gav/npdes/pybs/tgp^appendotb.pdf fora detailed lis* of the areas under EPA's luri
Why is storm wafer rt-noff so bod?
Runoff from rainstorms cno snowmeH picks up pollutants like
sediment, oil and greose, fiiiragcn and phosphorus, and olhcr
chemicals and carr es them «rto stof" drains or dVectly into
waterbocfies. Because most stor^ dram systems do not provide
any treatmen' Jo 'he water they caltecl, preventing cor-famina-
lion of stormwatet is cr tically important or polluted runoff will be
discharged untreated into tne warerbodies we use for swimming,
fishing, and drinking water.
Why b socHmunt harmful to c wsterbody?
Too much seaV.en: ir, a woterbody can cloud the water and molce
it difocutt or impassible for aquatic plants *o receive the Sunlight
they need to grow. Excess sediment olso smothers aq^o'ic hobitatj
clogs fish gil's, and impedes navigation m our waterways, which
car lead to expensive dredg ng
I need permit coverage. Where do I start?
1. Read EPA's Construction General Permit (CGP)
You can download g copy of tPA's pennil ot www.epo.gov/npdes/stormwofer/tgp. Seod EPA's peimit
carefully, and remember ihot operators ore legally responsible ior complying wiih oil ils provisions.
[> Who submits an NQI?
The "operator" submits 6 Notice o$ Ifitent [NOl] forrn. The opfercrfor" is the entity (^enerolly pornpany,
corporation, etc.) that ha£ opefalional conlrot over fhe conslrucficn pfons or day-to-day acitvifies that
ore necessary to implement the Siormwa^sr Pollution Prevention Plan {SWPPP} (see belnw^ On ^nm^
siis5, several entihes may meet ihe deBniiion of operator and alf must ftie NOfs. Oper<
owners, generofcontradors, and subcontractors, :
jf is the fcsponsibiJity of ihe opcralor(s) to develop and implement a SWPPP and maintain all best
mancgemenf practices jBMPs} during each sfoge of the prc-jad. Bes^ mnnagernenl pioctices ore the
lechniqties {buffers, silt fences, detention ponds, swales, etc.}, schedules of activities, prohibitions of
practices, and maintenance procedures lo prevent or reduce the discharge of-poHulante, ; ;
2. Develop a stormwqter pollution prevention plan {SWPPP} ;
Tlie SWPPP is o plori for how you will control stottr'iwater runoKirom your conslructfOn-.Sife. '' is brooder ana"'
more complicated than a typical erosion anH sediment control plan, so -operolors might want to eniisf the
ossislcnce of o professional to|$ave Hme, The SWPPP rnu$t be compleled before you kie on NC
coverage under EPA's permit, you donjf have To subtil the SWPPP with your NO1 to obtain pemw* Luveiugtr, u
the plon must be availabfe on^sire for review during inspection.
Because ever)' sit© is unique, 4very SWPPP is unique- The 5WPPP needs to be updated cs your work progresss;
Please visit www;epa.gov/npdei/stormwater/cgp for more information on hov/ to develop your SW^PR
O Bask SWPPP Principles
« Dfvert jtofmwoter owoy (rom disturbed or exposed oreos of ihe consifV'
ent and manage s
not effectively confroHing erosion and sediment,
* Minimize exposure of bore soi!s to precipitation to the extenf prodicable.
" Keep Ihe construction site deem by putting trash m irosh cans, keeping storage bias covoied, and
sweeping up excels sediment on roads and other impervious surfaces,
3. Complete an endangered species determination for the project site
The operator mus! assess the potential effect* of starmwater runoff on federally listed endangered dntJ threat-
• fined specfes and any designated crfficaf hobi'ot on of ngor the site, In rnoking fliis delermfrioSiion, the opa rotor
needs to consider areas beyond the immediate footprint of the construction activity and beyond ihe property
line — areas )haf could be affected direclfy or indirectfy by stocntwaJer discharges,
The local offices of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine f fsheries Service, and Stote or Tribal Heri- '
foge Centers often mamkjtn. lists of federally listed endangered or threatened species on their Websites, Visit
www.epa.gov/npdes/$(onmwafer/esa for msfR informatJon.
How to get a stormwater permit
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