Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans

Industrial
Who Needs a Stormwater Permit?
Businesses identified as industrial in the Code of Federal Regulations 40CFR 122.26(b)(14) must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to comply with State General Industrial Permit for stormwater.

What Does the Stormwater Permit Require?
Businesses who submit a NOI must develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), complete with a monitoring plan to ensure the plan is effective.

What is the Purpose of the SWPPP?
The purpose of the SWPPP is to effectively reduce or prevent the discharge of pollutants into receiving waters with best management practices (BMPs). Through the SWPPP, sources of pollutants are to be identified, and the means to manage the sources that reduce storm water pollution are described.

What are the Requirements of the SWPPP?
The General Industrial Permit requires that an annual report be submitted to the State Water Board July first of each year. Copies of Annual reports and SWPPPs need to be kept on site and available to City inspectors upon request.

See the California Stormwater Quality Association’s Industrial and Commercial Handbook for assistance in preparing an industry SWPPP.

Construction
Who Needs a Stormwater Permit?
Dischargers whose projects disturb one or more acres of soil or whose projects disturb less than one acre but are part of a larger common plan of development that in total disturbs one or more acres are required to obtain coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Construction Activity.

Effective July 1, 2010, all dischargers are required to obtain coverage under the Construction General Permit Order 2009-0009-DWQ, adopted in September 2009. Construction activities subject to this permit include clearing, grading, and disturbances to the ground such as stockpiling or excavation. This does not include regular maintenance activities performed to restore the original line, grade, or capacity of the facility.

What Does the Stormwater Permit Require?
The Construction General Permit requires the development and implementation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). All construction in the City of Richmond must submit a SWPPP for review with the grading plan. View information about the State Construction General Permit.

What does the SWPPP require?
The SWPPP should contain:
  • A site map that shows the construction site perimeter, existing and proposed buildings, lots, roadways, storm water collection and discharge points, general topography both before and after construction, and drainage patterns across the project
  • Best Management Practices (BMPs) the discharger will use to protect storm water runoff, as well as the placement of those BMPs
  • A visual monitoring program
  • A chemical monitoring program for "non-visible" pollutants to be implemented if there is a failure of BMP
  • A sediment monitoring plan if the site discharges directly to a water body listed on the 303(d) list for sediment.

Section A of the Construction General Permit describes the elements that must be contained in a SWPPP. A copy of the SWPPPs need to be kept on site and available to City inspectors upon request.