Program for Industrial Activity - Permit Options & Requirements

Two types of NPDES industrial stormwater permits, generic and individual, are available to operators of regulated industrial facilities, as explained below.

Generic Permit

The majority of industrial activities requiring an NPDES stormwater permit will likely qualify for an NPDES general permit, known in Florida as a "generic" permit. A generic permit is a general permit issued by DEP under the authority of Section 403.0885, Florida Statutes (F.S.), which is the provision authorizing the State to implement the NPDES program.In October 2000, Florida adopted under Rule 62-621.300(5)(a), F.A.C. the Federal stormwater multi-sector general permit for industrial activities (comprising the original September 29, 1995 issuance and subsequent corrections/modifications) and operates the permit as the State of Florida Multi-Sector Generic Permit for Stormwater Discharge Associated with Industrial Activity (MSGP) (note: this link provides a downloadable version of the MSGP by sector).

The MSGP divides the regulated industrial activities into 30 sectors of related activity and specifies both general and sector-specific requirements for each. In brief, the MSGP requires:

• An MSGP Notice of Intent (NOI) (DEP Form 62-621.300(5)(b)) | Word which must be submitted to the NPDES Stormwater Notices Center. Some Web sites that may be useful in completing the NOI include:
   
  • Latitude and Longitude Finders
  • Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes
  • U.S. Bureau of the Census Conversion Table From NAICS to SIC Codes
  • Mapping to Determine Receiving Waters

   

• A stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP), which must be kept onsite. The following link provides guidance for developing and implementing an industrial SWPPP:
  • Storm Water Management for Industrial Activities: Developing Pollution Prevention Plans and Best Management Practices (10/01/92)

   

• Analytical and compliance monitoring and reporting using industry-specific Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) forms, as well as visual monitoring.
  • Compliance monitoring is required of six types of stormwater discharges that are subject to numeric stormwater effluent limitations.
  • Analytical monitoring is required only for the industry sectors or sub-sectors that were determined to have a high potential to discharge a pollutant(s) at concentrations of concern. The permit specifies benchmark values for industry-specific pollutants.  Benchmark values are established to gauge the effectiveness of the SWPPP and determine whether there is a need to continue monitoring. 
  • Visual monitoring is required of all facilities covered under the MSGP (except for Sector S - Air Transportation Facilities). Visual examinations must be performed at least once per quarter for the life of the permit and results recorded in the SWPPP.

   

• A Notice of Termination (NOT) (DEP Form 62-621.300(6)) | (Word) which must be submitted to the NPDES Stormwater Notices Center to end coverage. Permit coverage may be terminated when the eligibility requirements for termination specified in the MSGP are met.

To obtain NPDES stormwater permit coverage, a regulated industrial operator must complete the following steps:

1. Read the applicable general and sector-specific permit language.
2. Develop and implement a SWPPP.
3. Complete an NOI (46.1KB) | Word (62.0KB)
4. Submit the NOI along with an application fee of $500 to the NPDES Stormwater Notices Center. The Notices Center will send an acknowledgement letter upon receiving and processing the complete NOI and fee. The fee is required by Rule 62-4.050(4)(d)(2), F.A.C. (159KB), which should be referred to before fee submission to confirm that the fee has not changed. Make checks payable to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
5. Re-apply for coverage every five years.

Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding generic permits and the MSGP, in particular.

Individual Permit

Stormwater discharges from industrial activities that are not eligible for a generic permit must be covered under an individual permit with requirements specific to the facility (as specified under Chapter 62-620, F.A.C. (142KB)) Applications for individual NPDES stormwater permits for industrial activities, excluding steam electric power plants, should be sent to the Industrial Wastewater Section of the appropriate DEP regulatory district office. Individual NPDES stormwater permit applications for steam electric power plants should be sent to DEP's Industrial Wastewater Section in Tallahassee. The individual NPDES permit applications require the submission of the following forms:

• Wastewater Facility or Activity Permit Application Form 1 General Information (DEP Form 62-620.910(1), Revised 10/23/00) (103KB)
• Permit to Discharge Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activity Application Form 2F (DEP Form 62-620.910(8), Revised 10/23/00) (120KB)