Water Permitting
In order to satisfy the regulatory requirements established by the Clean Water Act (CWA), SEC can evaluate your facility for potential sources of stormwater pollution or wastewater effluent streams. Our goal is to ensure that you obtain the necessary permits that are most suitable to your facility. That includes:
- Multi-Sector Industrial Stormwater General Permits,
- Individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits for process wastewater discharges or stormwater discharges associated with Industrial Activity, and
- Permits for Wastewater effluent discharges to your local POTW.
All of these efforts will reduce the likelihood for a discharge of pollutants to “waters of the US” from your site.
General and Individual Stormwater Discharge Permits
Most States have a Multi-Sector General Industrial Stormwater Permit program for stormwater discharges from various industry “sectors” or groups of industries with similar activities or materials. SEC can help determine which sector (or sectors for co-located activities) applies to your nature of business.
In many cases, unique industrial activities (not covered by a multi-sector permit) or certain methods of handling stormwater discharges, including combined treatment with non-stormwater, require you to obtain an Individual NPDES Permit for stormwater discharges. SEC can assist with interpretation and development of systems to ensure compliance with these site specific permits, and negotiate strict permit conditions with local regulators.
Whether a General or Individual Permit is needed, a site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required.
Occasionally, a facility operates fully indoors with no raw materials, waste materials, products, or industrial activities exposed to precipitation and/or runoff. These sites can likely receive a No Exposure Certification (NEC) for exclusion from NPDES Stormwater Permitting. We can help ensure facilities with a NEC are meeting the specific requirements to maintain this status.
Wastewater Permits
Achieving compliance with wastewater can be a complex and difficult process. SEC will help you understand what categorical standards may or may not apply to your wastewater effluent streams. We assist with the application process to ensure your facility receives the proper permit based on the waste streams and can achieve compliance with the permit it receives.
SWPP Plan Preparation
Any facility that has a general or individual permit, is required to have a site specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) prepared and implemented. When developing a new, or modifying and updating an existing SWPPP, one of SEC’s experienced team members will make a site visit to determine facility specific drainage patterns, potential sources of stormwater pollution, chain of command, pollution prevention team members, etc. Regardless of whether the site has 2 outfalls or 20, SEC will prepare a SWPPP that makes compliance with training, recordkeeping, inspection, and outfall monitoring requirements easy to understand and implement.
SPCC Plan Preparation
The Oil Pollution Prevention regulations of 40 CFR 112 require any facility with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons of oil to prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC Plan). Only containers with a capacity of 55 U.S. gallons or greater are counted. When developing a new SPCC Plan, or making significant modifications to an existing SPCC Plan, one of SEC’s Professional Engineers or an experienced SEC team member will personally evaluate the facility. While onsite he will determine facility layout, secondary containment requirements, and gather site specific information related to personnel and procedures for managing oil.
Our plans are prepared to be easy to understand and implement for any facility.
Wastewater Design and Permitting
Wastewater Treatment for process effluent streams is necessary for many industries to achieve applicable effluent discharge limitations. Our team has over 20 years’ experience in designing solutions that best serve our clients and meet regulatory compliance. SEC will take the time to review and understand the existing Wastewater Treatment process in place at your facility. Our consultants will work to ensure your facility can achieve compliance with the Wastewater Discharge permit it receives, and make certain the permit is applicable to the process wastewater streams at your site.
Regular Inspections for SPCC and SWPP
SEC performs monthly, quarterly, or annual comprehensive site inspections to meet the regular inspection record-keeping requirements for SWPP and SPCC Plans. We also perform required stormwater outfall sampling and reporting to assist with the monitoring requirements in Stormwater Permits. SEC provides assistance with inspections from the state and local regulators, and comprehensive site evaluations included with our Environmental Audit service.