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PA EPA REISSUES STORM WATER CONSTRUCTION GENERAL PERMIT

Release Date: 02/06/98
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, FEB. 6, 1998

EPA REISSUES STORM WATER CONSTRUCTION GENERAL PERMIT

EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10 have reissued the general permit which authorizes the discharge of storm water from construction activity disturbing five or more acres. The general permit will apply on a case-by-case basis to storm water discharges from construction activity disturbing less than five acres (referred to as Phase II storm water sources) when required by the Agency. This permit replaces the Baseline Construction General Permit issued by EPA in September 1992 and will not affect areas where the state is the permitting authority. Separate construction general permits for EPA NPDES-regulated areas in Regions 4 and 6 are under development and will be available in the near future. The 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act require EPA to control pollution from storm water discharges. Phase I storm water regulations were issued in 1990 and storm water general permits for construction sites disturbing five or more acres were required in 1992. The general permits provide EPA with an effective mechanism to regulate discharges from tens of thousands of construction sites, protecting and improving surface water quality across the nation. The most significant changes include different requirements dealing with endangered and threatened species and, critical habitats, as well as a requirement to post the confirmation of permit coverage including a brief description of the project at the project site. The permit will be published in the Federal Register in early February, and is available at this time on the Internet at: www.epa.gov/owm/cgp.htm . The general public can get additional information by calling the appropriate Regional office; those individuals in Region 2 can call 1-800-245-6510.

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