Industrial Storm Water

Industrial Program Overview

Owner and/or operators of industrial facilities require regulation of its stormwater discharge. The Federal Clean Water Act prohibits certain discharges of stormwater containing pollutants unless those discharges comply with a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The permit regulating industrial stormwater discharges is the NPDES General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activities, NPDES No. CAS000001. The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted this permit (also known as the Statewide Storm Water Industrial General Permit, or IGP) on April 1, 2014 as State Water Board Order No. 2014-0057-DWQ . The NPDES Permit and IGP allow industrial facilities to discharge clean stormwater to surface waters. Without the permit, it is unlawful to discharge even clean stormwater from regulated facilities. Within the Central Coast Region of California, the Central Coast Water Board administers the IGP, which went into effect on July 1, 2015. However, the State Water Board maintains the electronic reporting system for the IGP, so you will interact with both the State and Central Coast Water Boards in complying with the IGP.

Requirements of the IGP

The Central Coast Water Board finds that proper housekeeping and proper stormwater management is essential in protecting water quality. The IGP requires enrollees to implement the Best Available Technology Economically Achievable and the Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BAT/BCT) to achieve performance standards . The IGP also requires development of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a monitoring plan. Regulated facilities prepare a SWPPP to identify site-specific sources of pollutants and describe the measures applied to reduce stormwater pollution.

In addition, enrollees must comply with the IGP via electronic submittal of applications and reporting to the Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS). Electronic reporting is required to reduce the State’s reliance on paper, to improve efficiency, and to make IGP documents more easily accessible to the public and the Water Boards.

Copies of the IGP and Fact Sheet are available online at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/igp_20140057dwq.shtml

Associated attachments, how to apply for the IGP, information on electronic reporting, and a list of qualified California IGP trainers are also available online at this above webpage but scroll down to SMARTS Resources and click open the Industrial tab.  The Industrial Help Guides provide several step-by-step instructions.

We provide more directions to start enrollment and for complying with the IGP below.  You can contact our staff via email at the addresses below too.

How to Comply with the Storm Water Regulations for Your Industrial Facility

1. Review the IGP requirements and follow the instructions in the Attachment to this letter to sign up and register in SMARTS and electronically file a Notice of Intent (NOI). Please contact the appropriate staff below so we can email an electronic copy of this letter to ease your access to the registration information.
2. The NOI must be completed online in the State Water Board’s on-line SMARTS database at: https://smarts.waterboards.ca.gov/
3. Once the Legally Responsible Person (LRP) completes the NOI, print the Electronic Authorization form. Sign the form in blue ink and mail to State Water Board at address on the form.
4. Consistent with this option, you are required to develop and implement a Facility/Site Map (per section X.E on pages 26-27 and IGP Attachment D) and a SWPPP specific to the operations of your facility (see IGP Section X, page 24), and to comply with other requirements of the IGP (refer to footnote 3).
5. Additional information about the requirements for all of the permit registration documents can also be found in Attachment D of the IGP.
6. Once Electronic Authorization form is accepted at State Water Board and the SWPPP and Map are uploaded (attached) to the NOI, the LRP certifies the application by completing “Perform Completion Check” under the Certification tab in SMARTS.
7. After certifying, mail the Fee Statement and check made payable to “SWRCB” for the application/annual fee (currently $1,400, but subject to change). On-line payment via SMARTS is another option, but you must mail the wet-signature Electronic Authorization to complete the NOI application and certification if paying on-line.
8. To verify that the NOI application was properly submitted, the “Status” of the application should display “Submitted to the Water Board.” Note: the Electronic Authorization form, Fee Statement, and payment must be mailed before the State Water Board can issue a Waste Discharge Identification (WDID) number. Receipt of the WDID by email completes the NOI application process. Central Coast Water Board staff may review the documents and submitted information for accuracy and completeness, and require additional information.

For questions about the SMARTS database or fees, email State Water Board at: stormwater@waterboards.ca.gov.

All mailing goes to:
State Water Resources Control Board Division of Water Quality
Attn: Storm Water Permitting Unit
P.O. Box 1977
Sacramento, CA 95812-1977

Directions for Enrolling in the Industrial General Permit

See Attachment 1 – Directions for Enrolling in the Industrial General Permit

Instrucciones para inscribirse en el Permiso General Industrial

Central Coast Water Board Staff Contacts