Vermont Stormwater-General: What you need to know

National pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit program: Vermont Administrative Rules (VAR) 12-033-002

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Watershed Management Division

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1

See ADDRESSES & CONTACTS for addresses and telephone numbers.

· Rules. Vermont is authorized to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Vermont issues general NPDES permits for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activities and for large and small construction activities, and state stormwater permits for runoff from impervious surfaces.

Vermont rules are more stringent because some types of general permits are not available where stormwater has a potential to discharge to impaired waters. Seventeen of Vermont’s waters are listed as impaired primarily because of urban stormwater runoff. Separate regulatory requirements exist for stormwater discharges depending on the water body that will receive the stormwater discharges.

See the national section STORMWATER—GENERAL for more information on the federal program, and the state sections STORMWATER—INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, STORMWATER—CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES and STORMWATER—MUNICIPALITIES for information on the state requirements for these specific types of stormwater discharges.

· Administration and enforcement. DEC's NPDES stormwater regulations are administered and enforced by the ...