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Regulations & Permits

Storm Water Construction General Permit | Storm Water Multi-Sector General Permit | Storm Water De-Minimus Permit | Maricopa County Earth Moving Permit

History

In 1987, Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a regulatory program to address stormwater pollution. In response, EPA issued regulations in 1990 authorizing the creation of a permitting approach under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Specific polluting sources were targeted in a two-phase approach. Phase I went into effect in the early 1990's and regulated municipalities with populations greater than 100,000, construction sites disturbing 5 or more acres of land and specific industrial facilities. Phase II went into effect in 2003 and targeted smaller municipalities (typically with populations greater than 25,000) and construction sites disturbing down to 1 acre of land.

In Arizona , this program is called AZPDES, which stands for Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. An AZPDES permit is required for any point source discharge of pollutants to a water of the United States . Because stormwater runoff can transport pollutants to either a municipal separate storm sewer system or to a water of the United States, permits are required for those discharges.

Construction (AZPDES General Permit)

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has developed a General Permit for Construction activities that disturb 1 or more acres of land. Specific information about the permit and its requirements is available from ADEQ's website at http://www.adeq.state.az.us/environ/water/permits/stormwater.html. While the ADEQ permit establishes minimum requirements for covered construction projects, it is important to note that some municipalities have established additional standards that must be met. Please check with the appropriate municipality for these requirements.

Industrial (AZPDES Multi-Sector General Permit)

Stormwater discharges from specific industrial facilities (based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code) are regulated under the Federal Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is the permitting agency for the MSGP in Arizona. Specific information about the permit and its requirements is available from ADEQ's website at http://www.adeq.state.az.us/environ/water/permits/stormwater.html#multi.

Storm Water De-Minimus Permit

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) issued the AZPDES De Minimus General Permit (DGP) on March 17, 2004 to regulate the discharge of pollutants associated with potable and reclaimed water systems, subterranean dewatering, well development, aquifer testing, hydrostatic testing of specific pipelines, residential cooling water, charitable car washes, building and street washing, and dechlorinated swimming pool water. Detailed information is available directly from the ADEQ at http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/permits/gen.html#demi

Some helpful De-Minimus Permit links are listed below:

Maricopa County Earth Moving Permit

Maricopa County Air Pollution Control Regulation Rule 310 establishes limits for the emissions of particulate matter into the ambient air from any property, operation or activity that may serve as a dust source. Any site where earth-moving activities will occur that will disturb an area larger than one-tenth (0.1) of one acre must obtain an Earth Moving Permit and complete a Dust Control Plan. The permit must be available at the site and dust control measures must be implemented according to the Dust Control Plan. Specific information about the permit and its requirements is available from Maricopa County at (602) 506-6700 or via their website at http://www.maricopa.gov/envsvc/AIR/DUST/DustEM.asp