SWPPP: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.
The SWPPP is a site-specific document that identifies industrial operations, and identifies pollution control practices that the industrial facility is implementing to minimize and prevent pollutants from reaching stormwater runoff.
The SWPPP (also referred to as SWP3 or SWP2 or SWPP) is required by Stormwater Permits pursuant to local permitting authority's adopted NPDES program (authorized by Clean Water Act).
The SWPPP is required under California's Industrial General Permit pursuant to California's NPDES program.
The SWPPP requires Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent or minimize stormwater pollution.
If your business is defined as Industrial and the facility operations contribute to stormwater runoff, you will be required to apply for California's Industrial General Permit pursuant to the EPA's NPDES (authorized by the CWA of 1972). A SWPPP is required for an Industrial General Permit to discharge stormwater. If the facility operation has no exposure to stormwater then you should certify for NEC General Permit coverage which does not require a SWPPP.
No. Dischargers that qualify for NEC are exempt from the SWPPP requirements, sampling requirements, and visual observation requirements.
Yes, the SWPPP is a living document and should be updated to reflect any changes in industrial operations and its pollution prevention practices.
The SWPPP should be implemented by July 1, 2015 or at the start of industrial operations.
Whenever it is necessary. The SWPPP is considered a living document. The SWPPP requires an Annual Comprehensive Facility Compliance Evaluation. SWPPP Implementation and Revisions must be submitted electronically via California's SMARTs program.
Some jurisdictions may require the discharger to file electronically. In CA, the SWPPP should be submitted electronically through SMARTS (Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System).
The SWPPP should usually be prepared by the Discharger before submitting a NOI (Notice of Intent) or General Permit application.
Within the SMARTS program, Dischargers are required to certify and submit Permit Registration Documents (PRDs).
PRDs include NOIs, NECs, SWPPPs, Annual Reports, NOTs, Level 1/2 ERA Reports. The Discharger must assign a LRP (Legally Responsible Person). The LRP is required to submit PRDs related to NOI permit coverage and NEC permit coverage via SMARTS. All other documents are to be submitted by the LRP or designated Duly Authorized Representative (DAR).
For NOI General Permit coverage, SWPPPs should be submitted by the LRP, since the SWPPP is one of the PRDs for NOI coverage. For NEC General Permit coverage, a SWPPP is not required.
- Identify Pollutant(s)
- Identify BMPs for Pollutants
- Identify and anticipate future changes in circumstances that will require changes in SWPPP
- Record Keeping: A copy of SWPPP needs to be at site.
In California, the Discharger must provide the following things:
- Site Map
- Facility Name and Contact Information
- Minimum BMPs
- List of Industrial Materials
- Description of Potential Pollution Sources;
- Monitoring Implementation Plan
- Assessment of Potential Pollutant Sources
- Signed Certification
- Advanced BMPs, if applicable
- Annual Comprehensive Site Evaluation, also called Annual Comprehensive Facility Compliance Evaluation (Annual Evaluation); and
- Date that SWPPP was initially prepared and date of each SWPPP amendment
- Identification and Description of Pollution Prevention Team
- Existing Facility Plans, Procedures or Regulatory Compliance
- Regular and Irregular Operating Hours
- Legible and clear map of site including legends and notes
- Drainage areas
- Areas of soil erosion
- Facility boundaries
- Direction of flow
- Nearby water bodies
- Municipal storm drain inlets
- Points of discharge
- Impervious areas such as paved areas, buildings, covered areas, roofed areas
- On-site water bodies
- Structural control measures
- Location of directly exposed materials
- Locations of significant spills and leaks
- Fueling areas
- Shipping and receiving areas
- Waste treatment / Waste disposal
- Vehicle and equipment storage and maintenance
- Storage areas / Storage tanks
- Material handling / Material processing
- Dust generation / Particulate generation
- Facility: Name, WDID, Review Date
- Facility Contact: Name, Title, Company, Street Address, City, State, Zip
- Consultant Contact: Name, Title, Company, Street Address, City, State, Zip
- Receiving and shipping location
- Storage Location of materials
- List of industrial materials
- Handling location
- Normal frequency of handling
- Normal quantities
- Dust and Particulate Generating Activities
- Material handling and storage areas
- Significant Spills and Leaks and list of toxic chemicals or industrial materials
- Erodible Surfaces
- Industrial Processes
- Non-storm water discharges
- Pollutant(s) likely present
- Areas of likely sources of pollutant(s)
- Direct and indirect pathways
- Relation to pollutants of state declared impaired water bodies and its TMDLs
- Sampling, inspection records, visual observation
- Degree of exposure
- Quantity of pollutant(s)
- No Exposure situations
- BMP effectiveness to address pollutant
- Inadequacies of any BMPs
- Advanced BMPs
- Minimum BMPs
- BMP Descriptions
- Design Storm Standards for Treatment Control BMPs
- Temporary Suspension of Industrial Activities; Discharge not required to:
- BMP Summary Table
- Description of discharge locations, monthly visual observation procedures and responses
- Chain Custody form example
- Designation of assigned pollution Prevention Team members to monitor
- Procedures for monitoring equipment used in the field
- Justifications for alternative locations, sampling reduction, or qualified combined samples
- Site Map
- Sampling data and visual observation records
- Effectiveness Assessment
- Control of all potential pollutants
- Prior Year Records
- BMPs and needed equipment