PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is in the process of reissuing its Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for storm water discharges associated with industrial activities and will hold a public hearing on the draft permit this week. The public may comment at the hearing or may submit comments on the draft MSGP anytime from now until January 11.
The draft permit would replace the MSGP authorizing the discharge of storm water from industrial facilities that was issued by DEM in 2013 and expired in August 2018. Proposed changes to the 2013 permit include the following:
• certifications for no exposure and no discharge • language clarifications for eligible non-storm water discharges • revised monitoring for discharges to impaired water bodies and benchmarks (parameters and frequencies) • non-numeric water quality based effluent limitations requirements for discharges to impaired waters • sector specific changes for sectors O and S • corrective actions framework • inspection requirements • recordkeeping and reporting requirements • revisions to the Notice of Intent form, and • electronic submission of permit documents.
The public hearing will take place on Thursday, January 10, at 5 p.m. in Room 300 at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, with written public comment being accepted by DEM until 4 p.m. on January 11. The hearing room is accessible to people with disabilities, and interpreter services for the hearing impaired will be provided if a request is made at least 72 hours in advance by calling DEM at 831-5508 (TDD).
The draft general permit and fact sheet can be found on DEM's website. The materials also are available by emailing margarita.chatterton@dem.ri.gov or by calling her at 222-4700, ext. 7605, on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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