Since the passage of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the quality of our Nation’s waters has improved dramatically. Despite this progress, however, degraded water bodies still exist. Phase I of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) storm water program was promulgated in 1990 under the CWA. Phase I relies on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage to address storm water runoff from:
(1)“Medium” and “large” municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) generally serving populations of 100,000 or greater
(2) Construction activity disturbing 5 acres of land or greater
(3) Ten categories of industrial activity
The Storm Water Phase II Final Rule is the next step in EPA’s effort to preserve, protect,
and improve the Nation’s water resources from polluted storm water runoff. The Phase II
program expands the Phase I program by requiring additional operators of MS4s in urbanized areas and operators of small construction sites, through the use of NPDES permits, to implement programs and practices to control polluted storm water runoff.
For more information on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA.) Phase II Storm Water Regulations, click
here to view links to a series of fact sheets.
To find specific information about the Storm Water Phase II Rule's six minimum control measures,
click here.
