Source: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/oil-and-gas-stormwater-permitting
Timestamp: 2017-04-25 12:17:35
Document Index: 71392191

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 402', '§ 402', '§ 323', '§ 502', '§ 502', '§122']

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Share
Contact Us Oil and Gas Stormwater Permitting
The 1987 Water Quality Act (WQA) added § 402(l)(2) to the CWA. This new section forbade EPA and the states from requiring NPDES permits for uncontaminated stormwater discharges from oil and gas exploration, production, processing or treatment operations, or transmission facilities:CWA § 402(l)(2) The administrator shall not require a permit under this section, nor shall the Administrator directly or indirectly require any State to require a permit, for discharges of stormwater runoff from mining operations or oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations or transmission facilities, composed entirely of flows which are from conveyances or systems of conveyances (including but not limited to pipes, conduits, ditches, and channels) used for collecting and conveying precipitation runoff and which are not contaminated by contact with, any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, finished product, byproduct, or waste products located on the site of such operations.
To address 402(l)(2), EPA codified the permitting exemption in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater regulations on 11/16/1990 in the following two sections in the Code of Federal Regulations:40 CFR 122.26(a)(2) The Director may not require a permit for discharges of stormwater runoff from mining operations or oil and gas exploration, production, processing or treatment operations or transmission facilities, composed entirely of flows which are from conveyances or systems of conveyances (including but not limited to pipes, conduits, ditches, and channels) used for collecting and conveying precipitation runoff and which are not contaminated by contact with or that has not come into contact with, any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, finished product, byproduct or waste products located on the site of such operations. 122.26(c)(1)(iii) The operator of an existing or new discharge composed entirely of stormwater from an oil or gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operation, or transmission facility is not required to submit a permit application in accordance with paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section, unless the facility: (A) Has had a discharge of stormwater resulting in the discharge of a reportable quantity for which notification is or was required pursuant to 40 CFR 117.21 or 40 CFR 302.6 at any time since November 16, 1987; or (B) Has had a discharge of stormwater resulting in the discharge of a reportable quantity for which notification is or was required pursuant to 40 CFR 110.6 at any time since November 16, 1987; or (C) Contributes to a violation of a water quality standard.
In response, EPA deferred until June 12, 2006, the Phase II stormwater requirements for small oil or gas construction activities disturbing one to five acres to analyze the costs and benefits associated with those regulations. EPA intended to propose an action in late 2005 and finalize the action before the June 12, 2006, deferral expiration. This was codified in the CFR:122.26(e)(8) For any stormwater discharge associated with small construction activity identified in paragraph (b)(15)(i) of this section, see 122.21(c)(1). Discharges from these sources, other than discharges associated with small construction activity at oil and gas exploration, production, processing, and treatment operations or transmission facilities, require permit authorization by March 10, 2003, unless designated for coverage before then. Discharges associated with small construction activity at such oil and gas sites require permit authorization by June 12, 2006.
§ 323 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 added a new provision to the CWA § 502 defining the term "oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations or transmission facilities" to mean:CWA § 502 ”… all field activities or operations associated with exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations, or transmission facilities, including activities necessary to prepare a site for drilling and for the movement and placement of drilling equipment, whether or not such field activities or operations may be considered to be construction activity."
Revised 122.26(e)(8):For any storm water discharge associated with small construction activities identified in paragraph (b)(15)(i) of this section, see §122.21(c)(1). Discharges from these sources require permit authorization by March 10, 2003, unless designated for coverage before then.
StormwaterConstruction Activities