EPA Administrator Orders Overhaul of Clean Water Act Enforcement Program - More Reporting, More Inspections, More Public Oversight!

AGC Invited To Help Shape New Action Plan Aimed at Improving Water Permit Compliance U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has directed the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance to examine its Clean Water Act enforcement program and report back to her in early October with an action plan to strengthen and improve the Agency's enforcement efforts.  This new initiative comes in light of information showing that water quality goals are not being met, there are too many violations in too many places, and the level of EPA enforcement is unacceptably low, according to Administrator Jackson's memo to key Agency officials. AGC met with EPA officials last week to discuss the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System stormwater permit program and how it is enforced on construction jobsites.  AGC suggested positive incentives and expressed concerns about any potentially punitive measure; AGC plans to provide EPA staff with more detailed, written recommendations later this week.  In addition, AGC Chapters and members can help shape the future direction of EPA's national water enforcement program (and comment on EPA's current enforcement efforts) by participating in an online EPA discussion forum by August 28. The stormwater permit program regulates mostly stormwater discharges associated with municipal sewer systems, industrial activities and construction activities. (All facilities that discharge pollutants through a point source into waters of the United States are regulated by EPA and states under this program.)  If your construction activity disturbs one or more acres of land, you most likely need a permit to discharge stormwater runoff from your construction site, available from EPA's stormwater program or the state stormwater permitting authority. Additional information on the federal stormwater requirements is online at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater. You also can obtain information about state and local stormwater requirements through the Storm Water Resource Locator. Read more at here, or contact Leah Pilconis at (703)837-5332 or pilconisl@agc.org.