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Industrial Storm Water Operator Training Manual
Industrial Storm Water
Operator Training Manual











Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor








State of Michigan








Steven E. Chester, Director



Michigan Department of Environmental Quality








Water Bureau
Constitution Hall, P.O Box 30273, Lansing, MI 48909


































The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will not discriminate against
any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, national origin, color, marital
status, disability or political beliefs. Questions or concerns should be directed to the MDEQ,
Office of Human Resources, P.O. Box 30473, Lansing, MI 48909. i
SUMMARY

The federal Clean Water Act requires industries with storm water discharges to
surface waters to obtain a storm water permit under the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES). The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) has been given the authority to administer this program. In addition,
Michigan law requires that anyone who discharges liquid waste to waters of the state
must have their pollution control measures under the supervision of someone who
has been certified by the state.

The Michigan storm water general permit requires permitted industrial facilities to:
Obtain the services of a certified storm water operator Develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Implement
all
pollution prevention measures described in the plan, including the
inspection and maintenance programs to ensure lasting effectiveness Eliminate all unpermitted or illicit discharges to surface waters Conduct at least two comprehensive inspections per year to evaluate the
effectiveness of pollution prevention measures Conduct routine inspections as part of the preventative maintenance program Update pollution prevention measures and the SWPPP as necessary Write an annual report summarizing inspections, problems, and changes to the
plan

This manual is organized in the following manner:
Basic information on water quality and storm water An overview of the federal and state regulations that relate to storm water The storm water permitting framework What industrial facilities need to do to meet the requirements of the storm water
general permit Components of an SWPPP

You should become particularly familiar with terms and concepts in bold italics.






You can also look for information on our Web site: http://www.michigan.gov/deq.
You can also call the MDEQ's Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278.

ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary....................................................................................................................i

Table of Contents.................................................................................................. ii

Water Quality and Storm Water ..............................................................................1

Regulations Related to Storm Water .......................................................................3
Federal
Regulations ......................................................................................3

State Regulations .........................................................................................3

Storm Water Permitting Framework ........................................................................6

Classes of Permits ........................................................................................6

Who Needs a Storm Water Permit? .............................................................6

Types of General Storm Water Permits .......................................................6

Applying for Storm Water Permit Coverage ................................................7

Industrial Storm Water Discharge Permit Requirements.......................................9
Storm Water Operator ..................................................................................9
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Development ...............................10
Prohibition on Non-Storm Water Discharges .............................................26
Inspections ..................................................................................................28
Plan Updates and Annual Reports .............................................................29

Short-Term Characterization Study of Storm Water Discharges ..............29
Monitoring
Plan
Submittal ........................................................................ 30
Sampling .................................................................................................. 30

Certification Statements to the MDEQ .......................................................31

Other Key Components of the General Permits ...................................................32
Special
Conditions
......................................................................................32
Reporting
Requirements ............................................................................34
Management
Requirements .......................................................................35

Storm Water Discharges not Authorized by the General Permits ............36

Review Exercise ....... .37
Review Questions .................................................................................... 38
Review Answers ..................................................................................... 44

Appendix A - SIC Code List - Regulated Industries ............................................ 46
Appendix B - MDEQ, Water Bureau District Office Contacts .............................. 50
Appendix C - Safety Regulations ........................................................................ 53
Appendix D - Glossary and Table of Acronyms .................................................. 55
Appendix E - Related Web Sites......................................................................... 60
Appendix F - Certification Statement .................................................................. 62

1
Preventing Pollution is the Best Solution
WATER QUALITY AND STORM WATER

Storm water runoff is part of a natural hydrologic process. However, industrial activities
can alter natural drainage patterns. Such activities can also add pollutants to the
rainwater and snowmelt that flows over the ground and enters our lakes, rivers, streams,
and wetlands. Storm water discharges from industrial facilities may contain pollutants
when operating procedures allow these materials to become exposed to storm water.
Thus, the goal of the storm water program is to reduce pollution entering
Michigan's waters by implementing controls designed to prevent the
contamination of storm water runoff. It is better for the environment and more cost
effective to prevent the contamination of storm water than it is to treat the storm water to
remove contaminants.






In 1972, the federal Clean Water Act was amended to require permits to limit all point
source discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States. The primary purpose of
this regulation was to eliminate the pollution problems caused by municipal sewage and
industrial wastewater. As pollution control measures were implemented for these point
source discharges, water quality problems were reduced but not eliminated.

To investigate another potential source of contamination to our waterbodies, a study
called the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program was conducted. In this study, storm water
discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems were analyzed from 1978 to
1983. The results indicated that storm water runoff contained many pollutants. In fact, it
was shown that a large percentage of streams and lakes had impaired uses, at least
partially due to the pollutants in storm water discharges.

As a result, the 1987 amendments to the federal Clean Water Act recognized that storm
water associated with industrial activity was a significant source of water pollution. The
amendments redefined point source discharges to include urban and industrial storm
water runoff directed to surface water through discrete conveyances such as a pipe, ditch,
graded lot, or constructed waterway. In addition, Congress directed the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to develop regulations for storm water
discharges associated with industrial activities, construction activities, and for municipal
separate storm sewer systems.