NPDES Permits

Water pollution degrades surface and sub-surface water making it unsafe for drinking, and recreational activity. Under the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program was established to control water pollution by regulating the discharge of pollutants into the waterways of the United States. While private homes, in most cases, do not need an NPDES permit, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. With a few exceptions, the NPDES program is run by approved state governments. These regulations include storm water and waste water discharges for municipal, industrial and construction sources. AARC has established programs designed to cover all NPDES concerns for our clients. We emphasize maintaining high water quality standards while minimizing the possible harmful affects on the environment.

AARC's Storm Water Program

AARC’s Program Objectives

AARC‘s Storm Water Management program is designed to help our clients safely manage the risks associated with potential environmental liabilities. This is best accomplished by experienced professionals who know how to analyze existing site conditions and design a workable and cost-efficient Best Management Practices plan which will eliminate pollution as a liability at your facilities. Federal, state and local storm water management programs have one goal in common: they all aim to improve water quality by reducing the pollutants contained in storm water discharges. AARC‘s objective is to ensure that our clients meet that goal by:

  • Eliminating current and future discharge pollution
  • Conforming your operations to current federal, state, and local regulations
  • Keeping you abreast of changes in the regulations
  • Completing the state and federal permitting process to get your facilities into compliance and keeping them there

AARC tailors its Storm Water Management Programs to meet the individual needs and specific practices of every client.

Program Scope 

 AARC’s Storm Water Management Program includes:

  • Preparing and submitting all required storm water discharge permits including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems permits
  • Preparing and implementing a site specific storm water pollution prevention plan employing Best Management Practices
  • Reviewing historical data, aerial photographs, maps of the site and surrounding properties to determine past practices
  • Continuous review of current and pending federal, state and local storm water regulations to keep informed before changes in policy affect our clients
  • Preparing quarterly and annual reports summarizing the monitoring results and overall evaluation of the current pollution prevention plan, including recommendations for additional work, if warranted

Storm Water Services

Construction Storm Water Services

In 1987,the Water Quality Act established a schedule under which the EPA was required to institute regulations and issue permits for storm water discharges associated with construction activity.Under the EPA’s storm water program, all discharges associated with construction activity require a permit. To remain in compliance, permittees must have, among other things, a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.Construction permits focus on storm water runoff from disturbed land causing sedimentation in local waterways. AARC specialists can recommend the erosion and sediment control plan which will keep your construction activities uninterrupted and citation free.

Industrial Storm Water Services     Through the Water Quality Act of 1987, Congress established a schedule under which the EPA instituted regulations and issued permits for storm water discharges associated with industrial activity. Under the EPA’s program, all discharges associated with industrial activity require a permit. To remain in compliance with the terms of the permit, permittees are required to have a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, Pollution Prevention Training, and other industry specific requirements.EPA’s current permit for storm water discharges from industrial activities (MSGP-2000) expired on October 30, 2005. After EPA reissues the new MSGP, existing permitees will have 90 days to update their Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans and submit a new Notice of Intent (NOI) to continue their permit coverage for the next five year period. Many states have EPA delegated permits. These permits are issued by the state. Such permits vary in their requirements and expiration dates.These are just a few of the more than fifteen hundred facilities AARC has provided storm water services for:

  • manufacturing operations
  • concrete batch plants
  • asphalt plants
  • recycling operations
  • wastewater treatment plants
  • airports

Our environmental professionals can develop your storm water plan and provide all of the services necessary to help your facility comply with the terms of a standard industrial water permit. Our goal is to ensure that your facility is free from compliance problems and regulatory citations.In addition to storm water permit acquisition, AARC provides permit maintenance services such as pollution prevention training, quarterly inspections, annual plan reviews and effluent limitation sampling.

General Permit Requirements for Water Discharges from Concrete Production

Prior to discharging wastewater associated with the operation and maintenance of a concrete batch plant, a wastewater discharge permit must be obtained. Key requirements of the general permit include the establishment of effluent limitations and requirements to:

  • Conduct whole effluent toxicity testing once per year
  • Sample for specified metals once per year
  • Develop a pollution prevention plan

A Pollution Prevention Plan must be implemented for each facility which discharges contact storm water. AARC has developed hundreds of plans for concrete batch plants and is ready to develop one for you.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)
Polluted storm water runoff is often transported to Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4’s) and ultimately discharged into local rivers and streams without treatment. EPA’s Storm Water Phase II Rule establishes an MS4 storm water management program to improve water quality by reducing the quantity of pollutants that storm water picks up and carries into storm sewer systems. Common pollutants include oil and grease from roadways, pesticides from lawns, sediment from construction sites, and carelessly discarded trash, such as cigarette butts, paper wrappers, and plastic bottles. When deposited into nearby waterways through MS4 discharges, these pollutants can impair the waterways, thereby discouraging recreational use of the resource, contaminating drinking water supplies, and interfering with the habitat for fish, other aquatic organisms, and wildlife.
In 1990, EPA promulgated rules establishing Phase I of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water program. The Phase I program for MS4’s requires operators of “medium” and “large” MS4’s, that is, those that serve populations of 100,000 or greater, to implement a storm water management program as a means to control polluted discharges from these MS4’s. The Storm Water Phase II Rule extends coverage of the NPDES storm water program to certain “small” MS4’s but takes a slightly different approach to how the storm water management program is developed and implemented.Operators of regulated small MS4s are required to design their programs to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the “maximum extent practicable” (MEP), protect water quality, and satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act.Implementation of the MEP standard will typically require the development and implementation of Best Management Plans (BMP) and the achievement of measurable goals to satisfy six control measures. These measures include public education and outreach, public participation/involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control, post-construction runoff control, pollution prevention/good housekeeping. AARC professionals will perform a full site evaluation, design a Best Management Practices plan, help to cover all public participation provisions and satisfy the water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act. Our specific services include:

Public Education and Outreach on Storm Water Impacts

  • AARC will implement a multi-media public information campaign for public education. The program will distribute educational materials to the community or provide equivalent outreach activities about the impacts of storm water discharges on water bodies. The program will illustrate the steps that the public can take to reduce pollutants in storm water runoff.

Public Participation/Involvement

  • AARC will ensure that, in accordance with State, Federal and local regulations, all public participation requirements are fulfilled.

Illicit Discharge Detection/Elimination

  • AARC will establish a program to detect and eliminate illicit discharges (as defined at Sec. 122.26(b)(2)) into your small MS4. This program will be designed to effectively prohibit, through ordinance, or other regulatory mechanism, non-storm water discharges into your storm sewer system and allow you to implement appropriate enforcement procedures and actions. The plan will address all non-storm water discharges, specified by the regulation, that are identified as significant contributors of pollutants to your small MS4.
  • AARC will develop a map of the storm sewer system showing the location of all outfalls and the names and location of all waters that receive discharges from those outfalls.
  • Develop and implement a plan to detect and address non-storm water discharges.
  • Inform public employees, businesses, and the general public of hazards associated with illegal discharges and improper disposal of waste.

Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control

  • AARC will develop, and assist in the implementation of, a program to reduce pollutants in any storm water runoff to your small MS4 from construction activities in accordance with regulations and the requirements of your NPDES permit.

Post-Construction Runoff Control in New Development & Redevelopment

  • AARC will develop, and assist in the implementation of, a program to address storm water runoff from new development and redevelopment projects that fall under jurisdiction. The program, including a Best Management Practices plan, will ensure that controls are in place to prevent or minimize water quality impacts.

Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

  • AARC will develop an operation and maintenance program, which includes training, with the ultimate goal of preventing or reducing pollutant runoff from your municipal operation.
Sampling Program
Storm Water Permits require the submission of a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) at the end of the sampling year. This report interprets the findings of the facility’s quarterly sampling analysis. AARC is committed to helping your business through this complex process. We have years of experience in water quality issues and are ready to put that experience to work for you
AARC offers a comprehensive water sampling program which includes, at a minimum, the following:
  • Your company’s designated representative will be trained in the proper sampling techniques
  • Sampling kit will be provided with a cooler, bottles and sampling media. Protocol procedures will be included with sampling kit
  • AARC will review the chain of custody and confirm, with the company representative, that the proper sampling techniques were used
  • Samples will be picked up by Federal Express (or similar service)
  • Storm water samples will be analyzed by an accredited, AARC audited, laboratory
  • AARC will interpret the results and address any issues that the regulatory agency may raise
  • Laboratory results will be provided in tabular form, making it easier to understand and compare with EPA monitoring cut-off concentrations
  • All DMRs will be prepared by AARC for the company representative’s signature
  • All results will remain available in our data base for a period of five years
  • AARC will review the quarterly monitoring results and recommend corrective action, if needed
  • The overall plan will be reviewed and updated annually
AARC offers a comprehensive Storm Water Permit Maintenance Program designed to fulfill all Federal, State and local requirements
Storm Water Multi-Sector Sampling
  • provides training and sampling kits
  • provides pick-up and delivery of sample
  • interprets lab data and provides a report on findings
  • submits Discharge Monitoring Report
Pollution Prevention Training
The AARC pollution prevention program includes:
  • How to fulfill State and Federal Regulations
  • Records are generated for your files
  • Video and interactive slide presentation
  • Reviews and handouts provided
In addition, AARC will review your Stormwater Plan on a quarterly basis with an overall review at the end of the year to insure on-going compliance.
Wastewater Management
AARC combines site investigations with site planning to insure that municipal sewer systems, sewage treatment facilities and residential subdivisions properly handle and dispose of wastes and effluent from any type of facility. AARC works to ensure that waste waters are properly treated prior to their introduction into surrounding ecosystems. Our goal is to provide economical and practical waste water services while preserving the local environment.