COLORADO STORMWATER PROGRAM z/02
<br />FACI'SHF.ET
<br />Ott November 16, 1990, EPA issued a final regulation on the control of stonnwater from municipal and industrial
<br />stormwater discharges. The stormwater program is under the NPDES (National Pollutant Dischazge Elimination
<br />System) part of the Clean Water Act. The regulation is meant to reduce the amount of pollutants entering streams,
<br />lakes and rivers as a result of runoff from residential, commercial and industrial areas. The regulation (40 CFR 122.26)
<br />covers specific types of industries, and storm sewer systems for municipalities with more than 100,000 population.
<br />)n Colorado, the program is under the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Water Quality Control
<br />Division. (The Colorado program is refereed to as the Colotado Discharge Permit System, or CDPS, instead of
<br />NPDES.)
<br />THE STORMWATER PROGRAM -PHASE I
<br />The program is currently operating under Phase I of the regulations. The regulation for Phase II was finalized in
<br />March 2001. A summary of the Phase II regulation begins on page 3.
<br />1. MUMCIPALITIES -PHASE I
<br />Under Colorado's progtstn, Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and CDOT are currently covered by the
<br />municipal permitting process. All other municipalities less than 100,000 population have been under a temporary
<br />exemption, but as explained below, may be brought in during Phase II of the program,
<br />Municipalities in Phase [ had a two-step application process. Part I required an inventory of all their outfalls. It also
<br />included a substantial amount of monitoring, and gathering information about existing programs that control
<br />stormwater quality.
<br />In Part II of the municipal application, the cities developed a Stotmwater Management Program. in general, this
<br />included controls on cross-connections and illicit discharges to the storm sewer system, developing policy on such
<br />things as street sweeping, roadway deicing, erosion control during construction, etc., and establishing along-term
<br />monitoring program. It also involved developing educational programs, such as one to raise the awareness level of
<br />residents about where their used oil or antifreeze goes if they dump it in the storm drain.
<br />2. INDUSTRIES -PHASE I
<br />Industrial facilities which discharge industrial stormwater either directly to surface waters or indirectly, through
<br />municipal separate storm sewers, must be covered by a permit. The industries covered by the program include most
<br />manufacturers, mining, transportation facilities, power plants, landfills, auto recyclers, and construction projects that
<br />disturb five or more acres of land. (See Appendix A for a complete list of covered industries.)
<br />A. Exemptiou for Small Mumicipalities
<br />During Phase [ of the program, under the industrial portion, there is now a temporary exemption for industrial
<br />facilities owned or opetated by municipalities with less than 100,000 population (small municipalities). This
<br />designation also includes counties with below 100,000 population. (These facilities are not permanently
<br />exempted from the regulation. See Phase 1[, Section 2.B, below.)
<br />Stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity (except for airports, powerplants, or uncontrolled
<br />sanitary landfills), that are owned or operated by a small municipality are mot required to apply for or obtain a
<br />stotmwater permit at this time. So, for example, a small municipality would not
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