The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the 2021 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activities. The 2021 MSGP took effect on March 1, 2021 and supersedes the 2015 version of the MSGP and has multiple revisions. Some of the more noteworthy changes include public signage requirements, enhanced stormwater controls for major storm events, monitoring changes, updated benchmark monitoring values, and impaired waters monitoring.
The new EPA’s 2021 MSGP applies in areas of the country where the EPA is the NPDES permitting authority. It is important to note that while the 2021 MSGP has been adopted federally by the EPA, the version of the permit most applicable to your facility depends on the state that the permit has been issued in. For the state of Florida for example, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection NPDES program continues to align to the 1995 version and does not have to incorporate any new requirements that EPA just finalized in the 2021 MSGP.
At KCI, our staff is knowledgeable on all the versions of the MSGP, including 2021. The most substantial changes to be aware of involve the analytical monitoring requirements and new timelines for submitting quarterly benchmark values. It is our role as your environmental consultant to inform you of the new EPA’s 2021 MSGP program to bring awareness in case Florida decides to adjust and align to the most updated NPDES program. Not sure which permit your state follows? Need help managing your stormwater program? Give us a call at (888) 346-7779.
