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May 2, 2011 |
USEPA Publishes New General NPDES Permit for Construction Stormwater Discharges for Public CommentOn April 25, 2011, USEPA published for public comment a new draft NPDES construction general permit applicable to stormwater discharges from large and small construction sites. The proposed permit incorporates the new effluent limitations guidelines and new source performance standards for the construction and development point source category promulgated by USEPA on December 1, 2009 ("C&D rule"). The C&D rule requires site operators to install and implement stormwater measures to prevent erosion and control sediment runoff, pollution prevention, site stabilization, and, for certain larger construction sites, to meet a recalculated numeric turbidity limit and conduct compliance monitoring of stormwater discharges. For sites that discharge to waters where additional controls are necessary to ensure compliance with applicable water quality standards, the draft permit includes new water quality-based effluent limits. Please see our December 3, 2009 environmental update for a more detailed summary of the 2009 rule. The proposed draft permit can be viewed at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgp.cfm. Comments must be submitted by June 24, 2011. The numeric effluent limitation for turbidity applicable to certain sites has been contested and stayed. USEPA states it plans to propose a new turbidity limit and revised compliance dates soon. USEPA has included a placeholder in the proposed draft permit for the new effluent limit with the expectation that the new limit will become effective prior to issuance of the final construction general permit. Also on April 25, 2011, USEPA proposed to extend the expiration date for the existing general construction permit, set to expire June 30, 2011, until January 31, 2012 to allow USEPA enough time to finalize the proposed permit. RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLICATIONS"USEPA Describes Newly Proposed 316(b) Standards as 'Common Sense' and 'Flexible' ," Environmental Update (April 1, 2011)"Clean Air Act "Solid Waste" Definition and New NESHAPS for Industrial Boilers," Environmental Update (March 30, 2011) "USEPA Proposes New Mercury and Other Hazardous Air Pollutant National Emission Standards and Revised New Source Performance Standards for Power Plants," Environmental Update (March 23, 2011) "New Nationwide Permits Pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act are Aimed at Renewable Energy Production," Environmental Update (March 15, 2011) ABOUT SCHIFF HARDIN LLPSchiff Hardin's diverse environmental practice advises clients engaged in a wide variety of industries and commercial endeavors such as electric generation, natural gas distribution and production, chemical manufacturing, auto and auto parts manufacturing, consumer goods manufacturing, real estate development and investments by financial institutions and equity investors. |