In 1990, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Program in response to the 1987 Amendments to the Clean Water Act. Phase I regulations address stormwater runoff in medium and large communities, identified 11 industrial categories required to obtain permits (with some exemptions) and addressed statewide land disturbance on five acres or greater. EPA published the national Phase II Stormwater Rule in the Federal Register Dec. 8, 1999. Phase II regulations expanded the program to include smaller communities covered under municipal stormwater and land disturbance on one acre or greater. Since March 10, 2003, municipally operated industries exempted by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 were required to obtain permit coverage. Provisions within the Act temporarily delayed the deadline for Phase I sources (industrial activities with the exception of power plants, airports and uncontrolled sanitary landfills) operated by municipalities with populations of less than 100,000 people to obtain an NPDES stormwater discharge permit to allow additional time to comply with requirements.
EPA delegated authority for the NPDES permitting program to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Under this authority, Missouri published its own stormwater regulations (10 CSR 20-6.200) in 1992. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system describes 11 industrial categories, covering 30 sectors of activity, that are required to obtain stormwater discharge permits. Recently a more detailed classification system, the North American Industry Classification System, was established. Facilities review either system to choose one code based on its main type of activity or income source. If a facility has all industrial activities not exposed to stormwater, they may request a no exposure certification instead of a permit.
The department issues permits for discharging regulated stormwater. Most of these permits are written to be site-specific, issued to that one location to reflect the unique nature of the stormwater or receiving water. These permits are normally effective for five years. As a permit nears its expiration, it is redrafted, modified if needed and made available for public review and comment for 30 days on the departments Water Public Notices webpage. After the public comment period ends, the department reviews the comments. The permit is then either issued with needed changes or modified and put on public notice again to resolve any concerns.
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Contact Information
Water Protection Program
Division of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
United States
