Storm Water Management

The Issue

Storm water discharge from construction and development projects are regulated under the Clean Water Act and through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The NPDES controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Effluent guidelines are national standards that EPA develops on an industry-by-industry basis. They are intended to represent the greatest pollutant reductions that are economically achievable for an industry.

Position

NAIOP believes that additional standards for effluent guidelines are not warranted. Currently, states and counties have sufficient guidelines and standards that sometimes exceed federal protections. In order to minimize the duplicity of regulations, NAIOP believes that local controls should be maintained.

Resources

• EPA: Industrial & Water Pollution Controls Web site
  
• EPA: Storm Water Discharges From Construction Activities
  
• EPA: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program