Oklahoma Industrial Stormwater (OKR05) Renewal

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) renews the Industrial, Multi-Sector Stormwater Permit OKR05 every 5-years. The current OKR05 expires on July 4, 2022, with the re-issued permits becoming effective on July 5, 2022. All industrial facilities currently authorized under the existing OKR05 must update or prepare a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) by the OKR05 before submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) for continued coverage. Submittal of an NOI to the ODEQ for continual coverage under the new permits is due within ninety (90) days of the effective date. All SWP3 should be updated and the NOIs submitted by October 3, 2022.

Updates to the general permits include:

  1. Streamlining the Permit: The DEQ separated the required forms from the permit, making them available on the DEQ website.
  2. Allowable Non-stormwater Discharges (Part 1.3): The description of the allowed routine external building washdown/power wash water expanded to implement appropriate control measures before discharge.
  3. Areas of Coverage (Part 1.5): The subset of SIC Code 1389 was revised to reflect which activities fall under the jurisdiction of the ODEQ or the EPA as the permitting authority.
  4. Co-Located Industrial Facilities (Part 1.8): This part added additional details of permit coverage for the operator of a co-located site.
  5. Obtaining an Authorization to Discharge (Part 1.10): All applicants must prepare an SWP3 per permit before submitting an NOI. All NOIs must include a general location map, facility site map(s), and applicable fees. Submittal of the SWP3 is no longer required unless requested by the DEQ.
  6. Required Signage (Part 1.19): All permittees must post a sign of the permit coverage at a safe, publicly accessible location close to the facility.
  7. Control Measure Selection and Design Considerations (Part 2.1.1): Due to the recent Oklahoma extreme storm events, permittees are encouraged to consider the risks to their facilities along with the potential impact of pollutant discharges caused by large storms with extreme flooding conditions.
  8. Management of Runoff (Part 2.1.2.6): The requirements for runoff management were revised to include examples of different structural BMPs.
  9. Employee Training (Part 2.1.2.10): This section was revised to incorporate the relevant items to cover most aspects of the SWP3 requirements.
  10. Routine Facility Inspections (Part 3.1): This section was revised to specify the potential sources of pollution that must be observed/inspected during an inspection.
  11. Monitoring Requirements (Part 4): Monitoring is by grab samples with auto-samplers or passive samplers allowed if appropriate for the parameter and analytical methods. If the discharge exceeds the effluent limits, implement corrective actions. Impaired waters monitoring data is not required to be submitted to the DEQ unless requested.
  12. Corrective Actions (Part 5): The immediate correcting action language was revised to require the permittees to investigate the cause(s) of the issue and take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent the discharge of pollutants.
  13. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) (Part 6): This part of the permit got reorganized. Eleven revisions to this part affect the content of your SWP3 plans. One example is the new requirement for the permittee to include regular business hours and the SWP3 preparer to the contact information.
  14. Annual Reporting Requirement (Part 7.3): An Annual Comprehensive Site Compliance Evaluation Report (ASCER) must get submitted by the March 1 deadline for the past calendar year of permit coverage using the ODEQ Form 606-005 available on the DEQ website. This form was revised to incorporate the 2022 OKR05 permit requirements.
  15. Definitions: Three new definitions: Base Flood Elevation, Co-located Facility, and Green Infrastructure.
  16. Sector-Specific Requirements: This section got slightly reorganized. There are no other changes.
  17. Appendices: Sensitive Waters and Watersheds and procedures for eligibility determination for Endangered Species, Spill Response Checklist, and example signage are in Appendices A through C. The NOI, NOT, and all other forms are separate from the permit and available on the DEQ’s website.

Stormwater management is an important part of a company’s environmental stewardship. Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants from storage, process, or transfer areas into local watersheds through various pathways. Unmanaged stormwater can cause downstream flooding, stream bank erosion, increased turbidity, habitat destruction, combined storm, and sanitary sewer system overflows, infrastructure damage, and contaminated streams, rivers, and coastal water.

Altamira provides the following services to help you properly manage your stormwater:

  • Confirm your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code and applicability to the regulations
  • Prepare/Update a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP/SWP3)
  • Determine outfall locations
  • Identify the source of potential pollutants
  • Develop pollution prevention measures and controls (including BMPs and Good Housekeeping Measures)
  • File NOI, NOC, NOT, or NEC
  • Conduct your employee training program and employee education
  • Conduct site inspections
  • Collect or advise on stormwater quality collections and monitoring
  • Evaluate the results of inspections and sample monitoring to determine reporting requirements
  • Complete and submit Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR), annual inspection reports, and other reports to the regulatory agency

Contact Altamira at info@altamira-us.com for more information on the stormwater at your facility or help to update your Oklahoma Industrial Stormwater Plan.

For additional information, visit ODEQ’s website (OKR05 Industrial Stormwater – Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality).