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National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES) Permit

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES) Permit. The Problem. 25 years ago 1/3 of the waters of the US were safe for fishing or swimming Wetland Losses were estimated at 460,000 acres annually

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National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES) Permit

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  1. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES) Permit

  2. The Problem • 25 years ago 1/3 of the waters of the US were safe for fishing or swimming • Wetland Losses were estimated at 460,000 acres annually • Agricultural runoff resulted in the erosion of 2,250,000,000 tons of soil and the deposit of large amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen

  3. Foundation of Modern Water Laws • 1948 Water Pollution Control Act- focused on protection of human health not environment. Had few if any federal goals, objectives, limits, and or guidelines. • Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1956 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1961- focused on funding for municipal wastewater treatment plants. • Water Quality Act of 1965 – required States to develop water quality standards for interstate waters. About half of states complied. • Refuse Act Permit Program (RAPP)-permitting program to control water pollution. Required facilities discharging wastes into public waterways to obtain federal permits.

  4. Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) Amendments of 1972 • Distinct change in philosophy of water pollution control in the United States • Requirements for water-quality based controls • Emphasis on technology-based or end-of-pipe control strategies • Maintained discharge of pollutants to a navigable water is not a right. • Effluent limits must be based on treatment technology performance, but more stringent limits may be imposed if the technology-based limits do not prevent violations of water quality in the receiving water. • Created the NPDES Program

  5. Clean Water Act • Established 126 pollutants that are toxic • Defined conventional and non conventional pollutants. • Adjusted technology based standards to reflect a shift towards controlling toxics. • Goal was to restore all waters of the US to a fishable and swimmable quality

  6. What is an NPDES Permit • All facilities which discharge pollutants from any point source into waters of the US must obtain a permit. • Two levels of control 1) technology based limits 2)water quality based limits • Categorized Point sources vs. non point sources

  7. Point Source • Discharges from publicly owned treatment works(POTWs), discharges from industrial facilities , and discharges associated with urban runoff.

  8. Non-point Source (Non-regulated) • Majority of agricultural facilities • Exempt from NPDES regulations

  9. Non-point Source (Regulated) • Urban Runoff from citizens going about their everyday or rainfall activities • Includes sediment, nitrogen, fertilizers, pesticides, motor oil, and household hazardous wastes. • Reports show that this is the leading cause of water pollution in the US

  10. What is Jefferson County? • Phase I municipalities are all cities or counties over 100,000 people. • Jefferson County has a Phase I Municipal Separate Sewer System (MS4) Permit.

  11. Permit Requirements for Construction Sites • Home sites must be submitted to the local agency for review prior to construction. • Commercial Sites less than one acre must be submitted for review • All sites greater than 1 acre must have an Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Permit as well as be submitted to local agencies for acceptance. • THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO KEEP SEDIMENT ON YOUR SITE!!!!

  12. Primary Pollutants of Concern on Single Family Residential sites • Sedimentation • Nitrogen • Common chemicals such as paint, toxins, and other building chemicals • Debris • BE RESPONSIBLE KEEP YOUR SITE CLEAN

  13. Questions

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