Storm Water Runoff Pollution Program

In 1972, Congress amended the Clean Water Act to prohibit the discharge of any pollutants into waters of the United States from a point source (e.g. industrial wastewater, municipal sewage, etc.) unless the discharge was authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) permit. In 1987, the Clean Water Act was further amended to require a comprehensive NPDES program that occurred in two separate phases.

Phase I, which started on November 16, 1990, addressed the most significant sources of pollution in storm water runoff, primarily the municipal storm sewers of medium and larger cities and construction projects that disturbed more than five acres of land. Under this phase, IDOT received a separate permit, ILR10, from the IEPA for each project that met NPDES requirements.

Under Phase II, which began on March 1, 2003, the requirements became more stringent. The threshold to trigger the NPDES permitting process was lowered to one acre of disturbance. Also under Phase II, operators of small municipal separate storm sewer systems or MS4s were required to have authorization to discharge pollutants from construction and maintenance operations as well as their storm sewer systems. In September of 2004, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued the IDOT an ILR40 permit. This reclassification simplified the permit process. Instead of having to apply for a permit for each project that disturbed more than one acre, the Department was given one permit ILR40 which was state-wide. However, being an MS4 has additional requirements. Some of these requirements are as follows:
 

• Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) - Addresses storm water pollution controls related to highway planning, design, construction, and maintenance.
   

  • The Illinois Department of Transportation Storm Water Management Plan
     

• Annual Reports - Discusses success of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) set up to fulfill the requirements of the six minimum control measures described in the permit. The six minimum control measures are as follows:

1. Public Education and Outreach

2. Public Involvement

3. Illicit Discharge and Detection

4. Storm Water Erosion Control

5. Post Construction Monitoring

6. Pollution Prevention – Good Housekeeping

• 2004 to 2005 Annual Report

• 2005 to 2006 Annual Report

• 2006 to 2007 Annual Report

• 2007 to 2008 Annual Report

Lastly, IDOT is actively involved in assuring compliance of NPDES requirements for state highway projects. We feel one of the best ways to do this is educating its staff and contractors. This is why we have regularly scheduled classes on NPDES requirements. The Department also works directly with the IEPA in a stormwater committee and regularly meets with those agencies that inspect projects for NPDES compliance.

Related Items

• IDOT’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Pamphlet

• Guidance for Completing the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan

• Example Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan

Web Links

• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 
   

• United States Environmental Protection Agency Storm Water Program 
   

• Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (USEPA Guidance)