Opinion ID: 216847
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The 1987 Stormwater Amendments

Text: Congress amended the CWA in 1987 to deal specifically with stormwater discharges. Pub.L. No. 100-4, 101 Stat. 7 (1987). Congress added § 402(p) to the CWA, establishing a phased and tiered approach to NPDES permitting of stormwater discharges. See 55 Fed.Reg. 47994 (Nov. 16, 1990) (describing 33 U.S.C. § 1342(p)). Section 402(p) fundamentally redesigned the CWA's approach to stormwater discharges. Under the framework created by the FWPCA in 1972, EPA was required to establish a permitting system for all point source discharges of stormwater. Senator Durenberger explained that the Conference Bill that would become the 1987 amendment focused on stormwater point sources. The [FWPCA] of 1972 required all point sources, including stormwater dischargers, to apply for NPDES permits within 180 days of enactment by 1973. Despite this clear directive, EPA has failed to require most stormwater point sources to apply for permits which would control the pollutants in their discharge. 132 Cong. Rec. 32380, 32400 (Oct. 16, 1986). Senator Stafford, the Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works reiterated, EPA should have developed this [stormwater] program long ago. Unfortunately, it did not. 132 Cong. Rec. 32381 (Oct. 16, 1986). Congress recognized that EPA's difficulties stemmed in part from the large number of stormwater sources falling within the definition of a point source. See, e.g., 131 Cong. Rec. 19846, 19850 (Jul. 22, 1985) (statement of Rep. Rowland) (Under existing law, the [EPA] must require [NPDES] permits for anyone who has stormwater runoff on their property. What we are talking about is potentially thousands of permits for churches, schools, residential property, runoff that poses no environmental threat[.]); 131 Cong. Rec. 15616, 15657 (Jun. 13, 1985) (Statement of Sen. Wallop) ([EPA regulations] can be interpreted to require everyone who has a device to divert, gather, or collect stormwater runoff and snowmelt to get a permit from EPA as a point source. . . . Requiring a permit for these kinds of stormwater runoff conveyance systems would be an administrative nightmare.). In § 402(p), adopted as part of the 1987 amendments, Congress required NPDES permits for the most significant sources of stormwater pollution under so-called Phase I regulations. See 133 Cong. Rec. 983, 1006 (Jan. 8, 1987) (statement of Rep. Roe) ([Section 402(p)] establishes an orderly procedure which will enable the major contributors of pollutants to be addressed first, and all discharges to be ultimately addressed in a manner which will not completely overwhelm EPA's capabilities.). Section 402(p) lists five categories of stormwater discharges, including discharges associated with industrial activity, that are covered in Phase I. 33 U.S.C. § 1342(p)(2)(B). NPDES permits are required for all five categories of discharges. Id. §§ 1342(p)(1)-(2). A permit was required for such discharges by 1990. Id. § 1342(p)(4)(A). All remaining stormwater discharges are to be covered by Phase II regulations. During Phase II, EPA is to study stormwater discharges not covered by Phase I and to issue regulations based on its study. Id. § 1342(p)(5)-(6). In 1999, EPA promulgated a Phase II regulation requiring NPDES permits for discharges from small municipal storm systems and small construction sites. We upheld most of that regulation in Environmental Defense Center v. EPA, 344 F.3d 832 (9th Cir.2003), and remanded for further proceedings. EPA has not yet responded to the remand. Stormwater discharges from churches, schools and residential properties, through rain gutters or otherwise, and from other relatively de minimus sources, are covered under Phase II rather than Phase I. It is within the discretion of EPA to promulgate Phase II regulations requiring, or not requiring, permits for such discharges.