NPDES Permit

The Clean Water Act (CWA) was enacted in 1972 with the objective of “restoring the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.” Among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) efforts to achieve this objective is implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. This program is designed to control toxic discharges, implement water quality standards, and restore and maintain “fishable and swimmable” designated beneficial uses in waters of the United States. In the 32 years since the CWA was enacted, EPA and States authorized to administer EPA’s NPDES permitting program have made significant progress toward achieving these goals.

An industrial facility that meets following criteria is required to obtain an NPDES permit:

• Has point source discharges

• Has regulated areas

• Has regulated activities

Point Source Discharges

Based on 40 CFR 122.2, the definition of point source is any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any of the list below, from which pollutants are or may be discharged:

• Any Pipe

• Ditch

• Channel

• Tunnel

• Conduit

• Well

• Discrete fissure

• Container

• Rolling stock

• Concentrated animal feeding operation

• Landfill leachate collection system

• Vessel or other floating craft

This term does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture or agricultural storm water runoff. (See 40 CFR 122.3).

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Copyright @ January,2005 Prepared by Transportation Environmental Resource Center (TERC)