UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D
. C
. 20460 

### JAN - 9 2015
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) To all interested government agencies, public groups, and individuals: OFFICE OF WATER

In accordance with the Council ofEnvironmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions ofthe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR Part 1500) , and the U .S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR Part 6), EPA has completed an environmental review ofthe following proposed action: 

### Issuance of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity EPA is issuing a new source National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for stormwater discharges associated with Indu strial Activity (the "20 15 MultiSector General Permit (MSGP) "). EPA is issuing the 2015 MSGP for five (5) years, during which time the permit will provide coverage to eligible existing and new dischargers for the ten categories of industrial activities identified in 40 CFR 122.26(b )( 14)(i)-(xi) where EPA is the NPDES permitting authority, including Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Mexico , Indian Country Lands, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and U.S. territories and protectorat es. The environmental review process, which is documented by the enclosed Environmental Assessment (EA), indicates that no potential significant adverse environmental impacts are anticipated from the proposed action. The EA, which analyzed the potential environmental impacts of issuing the new MSGP, considered the potential environmental impacts from the discharge ofpollutants in stormwater discharges associated with industrial activities where EPA is the permitting authority. Based on the environmental impact analysis in the EA, EPA has determined that no significant environmental impacts are anticipated from the issuance ofthe 2015 MSGP and the proposed action does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, making the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) unnecessary. Therefore, I am issuing this preliminar y Finding ofNo Significant Impact (FONSI) to document this determination. Copies of the EA are available by request or by accessing it through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http: //www .regulations .gov under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2012-

Internet Address (URL) • http /lwww epa .gov Recycled/Recyclable • Pnnted w 1 th Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer
. Process Chlonne Free Recycled Paper0803. Comments regarding my preliminary decision may be submitted for consideration at http://www .r egulations .gov under the above Docket ID or by mail to the attention ofthe Office of Wastewater Management, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Mail Code 4203M, Washington, D.C. 20460. After evaluating any comments received, the EPA will make a final decision. The preliminary decision and finding will then become final after the 30-day comment period expires ifno new significant inti tion is provided to alter this finding.

Enclosure Andrew Sawyers Director Office of Wastewater Management