The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have developed requirements for specific industrial activities. Industrial facilities are identified through a variety of methods and include facilities that are permitted under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination (TPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) whether operating under a Notice of Intent (NOI), or a No Exposure Certification (NEC).

Environmental Management addresses industrial facility stormwater discharges to the MS4 through a comprehensive industrial program. The Industrial Compliance Program includes reviewing facility records, routine facility inspections, responding to complaints and water quality monitoring. 

As a regulatory agency, the City of Arlington has the authority to ensure compliance from all operators engaged in industrial activity within the city limits. This program is a required element of the City's own TPDES Permit to discharge stormwater from the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4).

Industrial permittees must be knowledgeable of the requirements for the TPDES Multi-Sector General Permit, familiar with the industrial facility, knowledgeable of the stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWP3) the industrial facility, able to assess conditions and activities that could impact stormwater quality at the facility, and able to evaluate the effectiveness of control measures. 

Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)

Stormwater Discharges from Industrial Facilities: Am I Regulated?

Determine if you must obtain coverage under the general permit for point source discharges of stormwater runoff associated with manufacturing, processing, material storage, and waste material disposal areas of industrial activities.

The table SIC Codes Subject to TPDES Multi-Sector General Permit (TXR050000)lists the SIC codes and industrial-activity codes under each of these sectors.

2021 Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Facilities.

Permittee Responsibilities

This is an overview of permittee’s responsibilities, not an exhaustive outline of every mandate:

• Adhere to the requirements of the Multi-Sector General Permit
• Monitor your stormwater discharges to determine compliance with
  • Discharge Monitor Sampling
  • Benchmark Sampling
  • Water Quality Sampling
  • Federal Effluent Limitation Sampling
• Record and submit appropriate sampling and monitoring records to TCEQ (NetDMR)and the City of Arlington ([email protected]) by March 31st annually.
• Recordkeeping
• Perform quarterly visual monitoring at each outfall.
• Perform monthly inspections of the controls and measures included in the SWP3 (per City of Arlington Ordinance) and an Annual Comprehensive Site Compliance Inspection to determine the effectiveness of the SWP3.
• Pay annual Water Quality fee to TCEQ
• Submit Notice of Intent (NOI), Notice of Change (NOC), and/or Notice of Termination (NOT) to TCEQ and the City of Arlington as required for the facility.

Monitoring and reporting records, copies of all other records required by the MSGP, and records of all data used to complete the application for the MSGP must be retained at the facility and must be made readily available for review upon request by authorized TCEQ personnel as well as any local pollution control agency with jurisdiction (City of Arlington) for a period of three (3) years from the date of the record or sample, measurement, report, application, or certification.