This week we welcomed Amy Kronson, a Senior Environmental Scientist at the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), to share her knowledge of California’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit and answer our questions following the 2018 amendment to the permit that went into effect on July 1, 2020.
In the recent amendment, the State Water Board adopted Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) into the Industrial General Permit that establish the maximum concentration of pollutants allowed in a water body to ensure that the water body may continue to maintain its beneficiary uses. Amy noted that the most impactful TMDLs for industrial facilities are those that carry a Numeric Effluent Limitation (NEL).
Amy described the trending increase in inquiries and concerns regarding NELs, as they add additional limitations of a pollutant that can leave a facility, and also carry with them mandatory minimum penalties.
As the state continues to implement the new requirements of the IGP, Amy recommended facilities get to know their site well, continue to investigate their stormwater issues, and focus on pollutant source control to support compliance and to ultimately reduce the risk of financial implications following stormwater exceedances.
For more information about the CA stormwater permit changes, check out these blog posts:
TMDL Impact on Companies Through Their Stormwater Permits: Effluent Limits & Penalties
What You Need to Know About the New TMDL Implementation in CA’s Industrial General Permit