ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM AT KSC

Permitting & Compliance - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and other activities. As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. Since its introduction in 1972, the NPDES permit program is responsible for significant improvements to our Nation's water quality.

Stormwater from Industrial Activities

The NASA Environmental Program Branch (TA-B1C) has obtained an NPDES permit (Permit Number FLR05F574) to cover stormwater runoff and management at the following facilities:

  • Transfer, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) - Sector K. Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage or Disposal Facilities

KSC’s permit became effective on October 22, 2002. As per regulations, the first year of permit coverage is 2002; the second year of permit coverage is 2003; and so on. It is the responsibility of the organizations operating these facilities to develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan in accordance with all regulations and permit conditions.

Implementation of the SWPPP includes conducting any required analytical or visual monitoring of stormwater runoff. Analytical monitoring will be conducted in the second (2003) and fourth (2005) years of permit coverage. All analytical monitoring events will be recorded on Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) and submitted to the Environmental Program Branch (TA-B1C) by the 28th day of the month following the reporting period (quarterly). The quarterly DMRs will be submitted to the Department by the NASA Environmental Program Branch (TA-B1C) by March 31st of the years following the monitoring years (2004 and 2006).

Stormwater from Construction Activities

Stormwater runoff from construction activities can have a significant impact on water quality by contributing sediment and other pollutants to water bodies. All projects that include possible land disturbance must consult with the NASA Environmental Program Branch (TA-B1C) for project input and regulatory guidance during the planning and design phases of the project. Land disturbance includes, but is not limited to soil disturbance, clearing, grading, trenching, and excavation. At KSC, construction activities include activities performed by Contractor organizations as routine Operations and Maintenance (O&M).

The organization responsible for a project that provides land disturbance, whether a permit is necessary or not, will ensure that regulatory criteria, best engineering practices, codes, specifications and standards are followed. This includes the implementation of erosion and turbidity controls. Some commonly used controls include:

Structual Controls

  1. Retention Ponds. Permanent structures designed to allow time for sediments to settle and water to infiltrate the ground.
  2. Temporary Sediment Basins. Structures designed to detain sediment-laden runoff from disturbed areas long enough for sediments to settle out and control the release of stormwater.
  3. Entrance/Exit Controls. Temporary controls, such as gravel, used to stabilize the entrances/exits to the site to reduce the amount of soils transported onto paved roads by vehicles (known as “track-out”).
  4. Silt Fencing. A temporary erosion and sediment control used to prevent dirt from entering waterways before bare soil is stabilized with vegetation.
  5. Berms. A temporary erosion and sediment control that physically prevents polluted runoff from entering nearby storm drain inlets and waters.

Non-Structural Controls

  1. Stabilization. Techniques such as sodding, seeding/ mulching, and stone cover, which reduce the erosion of exposed soils and steep grades.
  2. Phased Construction. Scheduling construction to occur during the dry season or to minimize the amount of land cleared at any one time.
  3. Good Housekeeping. Techniques such as oil and fuel containment, spill prevention and clean-up, and street sweeping of “tracked-out” soils, which help prevent the contamination of stormwater runoff.

An NPDES permit is not required for activities that disturb less than or equal to one (≤1) acre of land.

An NPDES permit is required for all activities that disturb greater than one (>1) acre of land.

It is important to note that the permit required under the NPDES Stormwater permitting program is separate from the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) required under Chapter 62-25 or 40C-4, F.A.C.

Projects That Require Permitting

Operators of construction activities must obtain coverage under an NPDES stormwater permit and implement appropriate pollution prevention techniques to minimize erosion and sedimentation and properly manage stormwater. The majority of construction activities requiring an NPDES stormwater permit will likely qualify for the Generic Permit for Stormwater Discharge from Large and Small Construction Activities (CGP) (DEP Document 62-621.300(4)(a)), which is applicable to both large and small construction (62-621.300(4), F.A.C.).

The CGP requires submittal of a completed Department application, “Construction General Permit (CGP) Notice Of Intent (NOI) To Use Generic Permit For Stormwater Discharge From Large And Small Construction Activities” (DEP Form 62-621.300(4)(b)) to obtain permit coverage.

All correspondence with regulatory agencies regarding the Kennedy Space Center is to originate from the NASA Environmental Program Branch (TA-B1C). All NASA and contractor organizations (including design, construction, environmental, or O&M organizations) will process all notifications, permit applications, requests for approval, compliance monitoring, reports, requests for clearance, and any other submittal, including email, to a regulatory agency through the NASA Environmental Branch (TA-B1C).

An NOI processing fee as required by 62-4.050(4)(d), F.A.C. will be paid by the NASA Environmental Program Branch (TA-B1C). The fee schedule is as follows:

  • Large Construction (disturbs 5 or more acres of land) is $300
  • Small Construction (disturbs between 1 and 5 acres) is $150

A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) must be developed and implemented to be in compliance with the permit. The CGP contains all requirements for the SWPPP. In part, the SWPPP must include the following:

  • A site evaluation of how and where pollutants may be mobilized by stormwater
  • A site plan for managing stormwater runoff
  • Identification of appropriate erosion and sediment controls and stormwater best management practices (BMPs) to reduce erosion, sedimentation, and stormwater pollution
  • A maintenance and inspection schedule
  • A recordkeeping process
  • Identification of stormwater exit areas

The NOI must be resubmitted every five years to maintain coverage if the construction activity extends beyond a 5-year period. At the end of the construction activities, a Notice of Termination (NOT) (DEP Form 62-621.300(6)) must be submitted to the NPDES Stormwater Notices Center to discontinue permit coverage. Permit coverage may be terminated when the eligibility requirements for termination specified in the CGP are met.

Permitting Process

The NPDES Permitting Process is discussed in detail in KNPR 8500.1.