Stormwater Regulation Updates Affect Auto Salvage Businesses
If you own or operate a Vehicle Dismantling Facility– a business that disassembles or wrecks used motor vehicles for parts recycling, resale, or scrap– please note that you must conform to multiple New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) regulations associated with environmental compliance and reporting. Besides your obligation to submit an Annual Waste Report to the Regional and Central NYSDEC offices by March 1, 2018, you are also subject to the State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for stormwater discharges related to industrial activities.
Why Do Vehicle Dismantling Facilities Need a SPDES Permit? Environmental Protection
Vehicle dismantling activities have a potential to discharge pollutants directly into nearby water bodies or indirectly, via separate storm sewer systems, which can impact water quality. The MSGP is intended to provide regulatory oversight of industrial facilities to control stormwater runoff and prevent pollutants from reaching water bodies.
NYSDEC Compliance
In order to obtain coverage under the MSGP, you must develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), which identifies the ways you will prevent pollutants from being discharged from your facility and describes stormwater best management practices (BMPs), their design, and implementation schedule. After that, you need to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the NYSDEC.
Additional Stormwater Permit Requirements for New York City Businesses
Please be aware that if your facility is located in New York City and there is a potential to discharge pollutants from your facility into the municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4), you are regulated by the first MS4 SPDES Permit (issued by the NYSDEC and effective August 1, 2015) and required to develop a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP), unless you are covered under MSGP.
Failure to Comply with Industrial Runoff Regulations
If your facility is discharging stormwater into the surface water body (directly or indirectly) and fails to obtain a MSGP, you could be subject to enforcement actions, including, but not limited to, financial penalties up to $37,500 per day per violation.
NYSDEC Is Currently Updating Their General Permit Application
Please note that the NYSDEC is currently finalizing the revised MSGP (GP-0-17-004) and it soon will be available on the NYSDEC website. The NOI form for GP-0-12-001 has been removed from the website and is no longer available to obtain coverage under the MSGP.
Industrial Stormwater Permit Requirements Help
Environmental regulation compliance is our specialty. Walden has over 20 years of experience providing stormwater management solutions to our clients in New York City and across New York State. If your facility is required to obtain coverage under MSGP and if you have questions regarding the industrial stormwater permit requirements and the application process, contact Walden at (516) 624-7200 and check out our New York State Updated Solid Waste Regulations Webpage for more information.