CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRIAL GENERAL PERMIT (IGP)
A copy of the California Industrial General Permit (IGP) is available here for download and review.
Disclaimer: The frequently asked questions are intended solely as guidance. EMC makes no claims that the information is accurate or appropriate for any specific use. Also, regulatory interpretations may change over time as a result of new information, new court cases, or new laws. Consult with regulators for current interpretations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why was the Industrial General Permit (IGP) established?
Material handling and storage, equipment maintenance and cleaning, and other activities at industrial facilities are often exposed to the weather. Runoff from rainfall or snowmelt that comes in contact with these activities can pick up pollutants, and transport them directly to a nearby river, lake, stream or coastal water or indirectly via a storm sewer and degrade water quality.
As a result, Federal regulations at 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)(i)-(xi) require stormwater discharges associated with specific categories of industrial activity to be covered under NPDES permits (unless otherwise excluded).
- How do I know if I need coverage under the Industrial General Permit (Order WQ 2014-0057-DWQ, as amended by Order WQ 2015-0122-DWQ & Order WQ 2018-0028-DWQ)?
A broad range of industrial facilities are required to obtain permit coverage per federal regulations. Facilities that must obtain permit coverage include manufacturing facilities, mining operations, disposal sites, recycling yards, transportation facilities, and other industrial facilities. See Attachment A of the IGP for a complete list of facilities required to obtain coverage. The Regional Water Boards are also authorized to designate facilities that must obtain coverage under the Industrial General Permit (see details in Section XIX.F of the IGP).
- Who must apply?
All Dischargers that operate facilities that are described in Attachment A of the IGP or are designated by the Regional Water Board are required to submit either a new IGP application, referred to as a Notice of Intent (NOI), or a No Exposure Certification (NEC) certifying that no industrial pollutants associated with their industry are exposed to storm water. The NOI or NEC must be submitted at least seven days prior to the commencement of industrial activities.
The facility operator must submit an NOI for each industrial facility that is required by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) regulations to obtain a storm water permit. The facility operator is typically the owner of the business or operation where the industrial activities requiring a storm water permit occur. The facility operator is responsible for all permit related activities at the facility. Where operations have discontinued and significant materials remain on site (such as closed landfills), the landowner may be responsible for filing an NOI and complying with this General Permit. Landowners may also file an NOI for a facility if the landowner, rather than the facility operator, is responsible for compliance with this General Permit.
- Who is not required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) or a No Exposure Certification (NEC)?
Dischargers that operate facilities described below are not required to file for new IGP coverage unless the facilities have been designated by the Regional Water Board:
a. Facilities that are not described in Attachment A
b. Facilities that are described in Attachment A but do not have discharges of storm water associated with industrial activity to waters of the United States (see details in Section XX.C. of the IGP); or,
c. Facilities that are already covered by another National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for discharges of storm water associated with industrial activity.
- How do I file a new Notice of Intent (NOI) or No Exposure Certification (NEC)?
File the NOI or NEC through the Water Board’s Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS). Only a Legally Responsible Person can certify and submit the NOI application or NEC certification.
- What is required to file a new Notice of Intent (NOI)?
a. A completed NOI application
b. A Site Map (See details in Section X.E of the IGP)
c. A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) (See details in Section X of the IGP)
d. A signed Electronic Authorization Form.
e. Application Fee
- What is required to file a new No Exposure Certification (NEC)?
a. A completed NEC Application/NEC Checklist
b. A Site Map (See details in Section X.E of the IGP)
c. A signed Electronic Authorization Form.
d. Application Fee
- What is the IGP application fee?
a. The NOI application fee is updated annually. You can find information about the fees for water quality permits by visiting the Water Quality Fees home page. The NOI fee is paid annually and is on the billing cycle of when the IGP application was processed.
b. The NEC application fee is updated annually. You can find information about the fees for water quality permits by visiting the Water Quality Fees home page. Dischargers shall pay a fee each time a renewal of certification is submitted (Dischargers must annually re-certify the NEC).
c. Checks should be made payable to: SWRCB
- Will the facility be issued a permit number?
Yes, once the completed NOI, site map, SWPPP, and appropriate new IGP fee have been submitted to the State Water Board, the NOI will be processed and the applicant will be issued a Waste Discharge Identification (WDID) Number.
- How long is my coverage under the new IGP in effect?
Your coverage under the IGP is in effect until you submit a valid Notice of Termination (NOT) through the Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System or until Order 2014-0057-DWQ expires (without being administratively extended) or is superseded. The Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) however, may deny the NOT if the NOT is considered invalid.
- How do I transfer the WDID number to a new owner or operator?
The WDID number is not transferrable to a new owner or operator. The previous owner or operator must file a Notice of Termination and the new owner or operator must file a new NOI to obtain a new WDID number.
- What are the monitoring requirements of the Industrial General Permit (IGP)?
Dischargers are required to complete monthly Visual Observations and collect a minimum of four (4) storm water runoff samples per discharge location during each reporting year. Dischargers must take these samples to a certified laboratory of their choice where the samples can be analyzed.
Additionally, discharges who are participating in a Compliance Group or with Sampling Frequency Reduction Certification are only required to complete monthly Visual Observations and collect a minimum of two (2) storm water runoff samples per discharge location during each reporting year.
- Why am I required to collect storm water samples?
Dischargers are required to monitor storm water discharges produced by the facility for any exceedance of pollutants into waters of the United States that could affect human health or the environment. Collected samples must be representative of storm water associated with industrial activities, any NSWDs and contained storm water.
Contact Us, We’re Here to Help.
Learn how EMC can assist industrial facilities navigate the complex world of stormwater management and other regulatory compliance subjects.
Stormwater Management & Training
QISP Services
