Clean Stormwater Is Everybody’s Business
Compliance Assistance
The District provides compliance assistance for businesses subject to federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater regulations. This includes construction sites, industrial facilities and some commercial businesses. Many business activities are further affected by prohibitions on non-stormwater discharges to the storm drain system. Contact the Environmental Department for assistance at (559) 456-3292 or Environmental@fresnofloodcontrol.org.
Commercial & Industrial Stormwater Permits
- Revisions to the Industrial General Permit: New requirements for local industrial and commercials sites have been added to the State Water Resources Control Board’s Industrial General Permit. The Permit requires that certain industrial and commercial businesses get a permit to discharge stormwater from their facilities into the regional storm drain system.
- No Exposure Certification (NEC): The NEC is a signed statement from the facilities owner that the site is managed in such as way that stormwater cannot become polluted by the facility.
- Notice of Non-Applicability (NONA): Facilities may become completely exempt from the Industrial General Permit if a California licensed professional engineer completes a study of your site and confirms that you have enough on-site stormwater runoff storage capacity to avoid discharging pollutants to the local drainage system.
- Notice of Intent (NOI): If your site won’t quality for a NEC or a Notice of Non-Applicability, then you must file for full Industrial Permit coverage. You must submit a Notice of Intent to be covered by the State General Permit and an annual fee to the State Water Resources Control Board.
- Revised Industrial General Permit
- State’s Industrial General Permit ‘To Do List’ (English)
- State’s Industrial General Permit ‘To Do List’ (Spanish)
- Industrial General Permit Resources: New SMARTS (Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System) info from the State Water Board to assist the regulated community with electronic submission of applications and compliance documents. Discharger’s Guide to the Storm Water Multiple Application and Reporting Tracking System (SMARTS) Database. State Water Resources Control Board website – Industrial General Permit Toolbox
- Which industrial activities require storm water permits? The federal Clean Water Act identifies specific types of industrial activities that must secure storm water discharge permits. Many are identified by Standard Industrial Classification codes. In general, facilities involved in manufacturing, transportation, waste management, mining, and other heavy industries must secure a State General Permit for Industrial Activity. SIC codes added to the revised Industrial General Permit.
- What are the basic requirements of the permit? To comply with the permit, you must implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan prepared for the facility. A fill-in-the-blank and check box Model Industrial Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and BMPs is available from the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) to assist you in meeting permit requirements.You are also required to inspect and record your observations of your site and sample and analyze discharges from the site during rainstorms. You must implement and revise your Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan as necessary to ensure pollutants in storm water discharges are minimized. You must eliminate Non-Storm Water Discharges. The State General Permit and Model SWPPP provide the information you need. Contact Us for any additional assistance you may need.
- Getting a Permit: The state Industrial General Permit identifies specific types of industrial activities that must secure stormwater discharge permits. In general, facilities involved in manufacturing, transportation, waste management, mining, and other heavy industries must secure a State General Permit for Industrial Activity. The District has developed the Industrial Fact Sheet to provide additional assistance.You must submit a Notice of Intent to be covered by the State General Permit and an annual fee to the State Water Resources Control Board. The State General permit, which contains the Notice of Intent and all the information you need, can be downloaded here. To comply with the permit, you must implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan prepared for the facility. Model Industrial Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and Best Management Practices are available for a small subscription fee.
