Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans

General
Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming and other activities. As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that connected to a municipal system, using a septic system or not having a surface discharge do not need a NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. To obtain a NPDES permit, the LG must submit a storm water pollution prevention plan (SW3P). A SW3P is required for all projects that may discharge storm water into waters of the United States. These will primarily be construction-type projects, but may be other types of projects as well. The LG should coordinate early with the TxDOT district to determine if a permit is required.
Federal Requirements
  1. 23 CFR Part 650 Subpart B
    – Requires control of erosion, abatement of water pollution and prevention of damage by sediment deposition from all federally funded construction projects.
  2. 40 CFR Part 122
    – Implements the NPDES. Requires a permit to be obtained that includes a SW3P.
State Requirements
  1. 30 TAC, Chapter 205
    – Authorization for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to implement the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) as administrator of the NPDES.
Required Practices
The
LGPM Guide
provides procedures for the development and review of a SWPPP by the LG and TxDOT district, respectively.