A complete list of all programs within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Community involvement and public participation are an essential part of EGLE’s mission, vision, and values.
Resources and information on utilizing RRD's data exchange and the Inventory of Facilities.
An interactive map displaying contaminated sites throughout Michigan regulated under Parts 213, 201, and 211.
EGLE's interactive calendar is designed to provide timely information on decisions before the Director, proposed settlements of contested cases, administrative rules promulgation, public hearings, meetings and comment deadlines, and environmental conferences, workshops and training programs.
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As a result of the federal regulations governing stormwater discharges, the State of Michigan began issuing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage for stormwater discharges associate with industrial activity in 1994. There are three types of NPDES permits authorizing the discharge of industrial stormwater available in Michigan: a general permit, a general permit that includes authorization for discharges from special use areas, or a site-specific individual permit. There are approximately 4,000 facilities operating in Michigan with industrial stormwater discharge authorization.
Michigan’s industrial stormwater permit authorization requires facilities to have an industrial stormwater certified operator who has supervision over the stormwater treatment and control measures at the facility. In addition, the facility must develop a StormWater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) which describes nonstructural and structural controls implemented onsite and eliminate any unauthorized non-stormwater discharges. Information and resources available on this webpage are intended to help facilities understand the program requirements and institute a successful stormwater program.
Industrial Stormwater Program's mission statement
Industrial Stormwater Certified Operator Information
All facilities that require industrial stormwater permit coverage are required to have an Industrial Stormwater Certified Operator who has supervision over the facility's stormwater treatment and control measures. The information below discusses how to become a new certified operator and how current certified operators can renew their certification that is due to expire:
Additional information related to the exam, self-training, fees, and forms can be found on the Industrial Stormwater Certified Operator training web page.
The Industrial Stormwater Certified Operator Training Manual was developed by EGLE WRD to inform permittees and Industrial Stormwater Certified Operators of the program and permit obligations. The training manual should be reviewed when individuals are preparing for the Industrial Stormwater Certified Operator exam or renewing their Industrial Stormwater certification. This practice exam can also be used when preparing for the exam.
Certified operators that have forgotten their certification number or certification expiration date can obtain the information from the current list of Industrial Stormwater Certified Operators which is maintained by the Wastewater Operator Certification Program staff.
View the current list of Industrial Stormwater Certified Operators.
MiEnviro Portal Information
All NPDES permitting activity is required to be submitted via MiEnviro. MiEnviro establishes a streamlined electronic permitting process, allowing Michigan to fulfill federal electronic reporting requirements and providing an online component for access to public information. The focus of MiEnviro is permitting and compliance, including industrial stormwater permits.
MiEnviro assistance tutorials:
Stormwater Program Permit Information
The industrial stormwater regulations apply to a wide range of industrial and municipal facilities. Facilities will need to consider their primary industrial activity, their industrial exposure, and their stormwater discharge when determining if a permit is necessary. If it is determined that an industrial stormwater permit is needed, the facility will need to understand the requirements listed in the appropriate permit associated with the applicable Watershed Cycle Year. Stormwater permits are issued based on the Watershed Cycle Year schedule and are reissued every 5 years. The information below is intended to help facilities understand the process:
No Exposure Certification Information
This section provides information regarding Michigan's No Exposure Certification which allows regulated facilities to forgo the need to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) industrial stormwater permit if specific conditions can be met. The No Exposure Certification is applicable to all facilities regulated by the industrial stormwater regulations and is the ultimate goal of the stormwater program. Facilities that obtain a No Exposure Certification must maintain their condition of no exposure and are required to renew the certification every 5 years. The documents below will provide more detail:
Stormwater Program Compliance Assistance
The following compliance assistance documents and web links are intended to help facilities better understand the stormwater program regulations.
Visual Assessment Information
Conducting visual assessments of stormwater discharges from areas of industrial activity is required for all facilities in Michigan with industrial stormwater permit coverage. The visual assessment is required to be conducted by the facility’s Industrial Stormwater Certified Operator. The following compliance assistance resources have been developed to help facilities with this permit requirement.
Benchmark Monitoring Information
EGLE's Water Resources Division began implementing Benchmark Monitoring requirements in the 2016 stormwater permits authorizing discharges from special use areas. The purpose of Benchmark Monitoring is to provide data to help characterize the stormwater quality being discharged from facilities classified under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 5015 (Motor Vehicle Parts, Used) and SIC code 5093 (Scrap and Waste Material). Data obtained during the course of the Benchmark Monitoring Study are compared to benchmark concentration values as a means to evaluate the effectiveness of the facility’s stormwater management controls. Permittees should utilize the assistance documents and videos available in the visual assessment section of this webpage along with the documents below when implementing the Benchmark Monitoring requirements.Certificate of Entry Process for Unpermitted Facilities
The General Administrative Consent Order for Unpermitted Discharges No. ACO-UD12-100 (Consent Order) is intended for facilities that are currently discharging stormwater associated with regulated industrial activity to surface waters of the state without industrial stormwater permit coverage. Please review the compliance assistance document titled "Certificate of Entry Process for Unpermitted Facilities" below to see if your facility qualifies to use the Notice of Intent and Certificate of Entry application form (NOI/COE form). To fulfill the requirements of the Consent Order, eligible facilities must submit a completed NOI/COE form via MiEnviro.
Stormwater Program Training Videos
The video below was developed to help understand what is involved with the Industrial Stormwater Program.
The video below was developed to assist facilities with their stormwater annual employee training program. The video below was developed to inform facilities on what to expect during an EGLE industrial stormwater permit compliance inspection.Activity Specific Controls
This section is a supplement to the Industrial Stormwater Certified Operator Training Manual. The compliance assistance document below describes some common activities or locations at industrial facilities where specific controls could be used to prevent stormwater pollution, store contaminated water, or treat contaminated stormwater. Activity specific controls are designed to keep the site clean, keep your facility in compliance with the stormwater regulations, and ultimately to protect the water resources for future generations.Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP)
EGLE has created a SWPPP template and checklist to assist permittees in the development of an approvable SWPPP. A sample SWPPP is also provided as a reference.
The SWPPP Annual Review Report must be submitted via MiEnviro for many permittees though it should be noted that the SWPPP Annual Review Report requirements are changing. Permittees operating under a permit that authorizes the discharge of industrial stormwater issued after 4/1/2021 will no longer need to submit a SWPPP Annual Review Report via MiEnviro. However, these permittees must still complete a SWPPP Annual Review Report and retain a copy (written or electronic) with the stormwater program records onsite for 3 years. Permittees are responsible to review their permit to ensure compliance. For those permittees that do not have to submit the SWPPP Annual Review Report via MiEnviro, the document below can be used to meet the related permit requirements.
Short Term Stormwater Characterization Study (STSWCS) Information
A STSWCS is a requirement identified in the industrial stormwater general permit that authorizes discharges from special use areas. A STSWCS includes collecting stormwater samples from special use areas and having them analyzed to ensure the discharge meets the conditions of the permit. Facilities will be notified on their Certificate of Coverage if they need to perform a STSWCS. The documents below will assist in the development of an approvable STSWCS plan.
Ryan Grant
GrantR3@Michigan.gov
616-250-6134
Industrial Stormwater staff map
