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 of Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for 

implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A) ( 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 of the 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 storm water discharges associated with Industrial 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 

protectorates. 

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 of pollutants in storm water 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 of the 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 preliminary Finding of No 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 w1th Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer. Process Chlonne Free Recycled Paper 
0803. Comments regarding my preliminary decision may be submitted for consideration at 

http://www.regulations.gov under the above Docket ID or by mail to the attention of the 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 if no new significant inti tion is provided to alter 

this finding. 

Enclosure 

Andrew Sawyers 

Director 

Office of Wastewater Management