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The general permit for industrial stormwater has requirements for 29 specific sectors. Review any requirements that apply to your facility to ensure you can comply.

Annual reports

Industrial stormwater permittees must submit annual reports to the MPCA via e-Services. You'll enter information about monthly inspections, training, TMDL and impaired waters review, and more.

Agency staff held a Webex session to guide users in using MPCA e-Services to submit industrial stormwater monitoring and annual reports:

Employee training

Employee training is an integral part of any SWPPP and control measures. Your employees must understand stormwater best practices, how to manage spills, and how to effectively prevent stormwater contamination. Training should cover:

  • spill response procedures
  • good housekeeping
  • material management practices
  • stormwater discharge monitoring procedures
  • BMP operation and maintenance

You should provide annual training to employees who implement or revise your SWPPP, install, inspect, or maintain your BMPs, conduct stormwater discharge monitoring, or work in industrial activities covered by the permit.

Document your training schedule in the SWPPP, including the trainer and trainer’s organization (internal or external), the name of employees trained and dates they received training.

The MPCA has joined with the University of Minnesota to offer a variety of training opportunities. For class options and locations, visit the University of Minnesota Erosion and Sediment Control Certification Program.

Monthly inspections

All facilities must perform at least one inspection each month. Facilities that have multiple significant materials and large exposed square footage should consider more frequent inspections. At least one inspection must be performed during a runoff event. Inspections must evaluate:

  • Does the SWPPP accurately reflect site conditions? At a minimum, inspect storage tank, waste disposal, maintenance, and loading/unloading areas, and raw material, intermediate product, by-product, and final product storage areas.
  • Have new exposed significant materials or activities been added to the site since the SWPPP was completed?
  • The effectiveness of all structural and non-structural BMPs
  • Whether, during a runoff event, stormwater is discolored or has other visible contaminants (e.g., oil and grease).

Document all your inspection in your SWPP and include:

  • inspection date, time, and weather conditions
  • inspector name
  • inspection findings
  • a description of any necessary corrective actions and a schedule for their completion

For more information and guidance: 

Impaired waters assessment

Every year, permittees must re-assess whether or not they discharge to impaired water(s). When a listing is added to the MPCA impaired waters list, permittees that discharge to that body of water must begin additional monitoring for the pollutant(s) of impairment or its appropriate surrogate, no later than 180 days following the approved listing.

Additional stormwater-related guidance