Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP), TXR050000

TCEQ issued the TPDES Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit, TXR050000, effective on August 14, 2021. The MSGP 2021, corresponding “Fact Sheet” and the TCEQ Director’s “Response to Comments” are available for download below.

2021 MSGP Fact Sheet Tips to apply for TCEQ STEERS

Page 2 and 3 of the Fact Sheet list the specific changes and updates that have been made to the 2021 MSGP permit. Please refer to the TCEQ website to renew your MSGP permit.

Facilities with a NOI or NEC current authorization under the 2016 MSGP have 90 days (until November 12, 2021) to renew their coverage under the 2021 MSGP.

Renewal of the authorization will have to be done on the TCEQ STEERS web site. There is an application fee to the TCEQ. TCEQ has developed a guide on the STEERS account setup process that can be accessed from their web site.

Updates to the facilities Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan to meet any new requirements should be made prior to application for permit renewal.

SAWS will once again be using the MSGP permit issued by TCEQ for compliance purposes within the City of San Antonio’s MS4. A separate discharge permit is not required from SAWS, however a copy of your TCEQ permit (or NOI, NEC) must be filed with SAWS. Update your Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) to meet the new requirements. Record retention onsite is required including inspection forms and sampling information. Facilities that are required to obtain and maintain a MSGP for their City of San Antonio Business license must keep current their sites and plans in order to receive a compliance letter from SAWS.

The commission also requires a copy of the renewed TPDES Permit to be submitted to SAWS Resource Protection & Compliance Department (Attention: Martin Miller), which acts as the MS4 Operator. For specific information on permit requirements or how to renew, please follow the link to the TCEQ site. Specific questions concerning permit requirements or permit submissions also can be emailed to martin.miller@saws.org.

Standard Industrial Classification/ NAICS codes:

Ordinances

Chapter 34, Art. V, Div. 3, Subdivision. C. Storm Water Compliance for Industrial and Commercial Activities

34-851 – MSGP required

The following facilities are required to obtain MSGP permit coverage and provide a copy to SAWS:

  1. Those facilities operating under the Industrial Sectors of the MSGP, and
  2. SAWS may require that an industrial or commercial facility not specifically referenced by the North American Industry Classification System to comply with SWP3 requirements of the MSGP in order to control to the maximum extent practicable the discharge of pollutants of concern into the MS4.

34-852 – Conditional no exposure certification

Facilities regulated under the industrial activities described by one or more sectors of the MSGP may be excluded from permit requirements if there is no exposure of industrial materials or activities to precipitation or runoff. To qualify for this conditional exclusion from permit requirements, the operator must apply to the TCEQ for the NEC permit exclusion and provide certification that those regulated industrial activities and materials mobilized by storm water are isolated from storm water and storm water runoff by storm resistant shelters (as defined in the MSGP). Facilities that qualify for this exclusion shall provide a copy of the NEC to SAWS upon request. Facilities that operate under a conditional NEC exclusion are subject to inspection to verify compliance. Facilities that previously qualified for a NEC and have made changes in their industrial process resulting in exposure must obtain a MSGP to discharge storm water associated with industrial activities.

34-853 Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) requirements

  • Each facility requiring a MSGP Permit shall develop and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3).
  • Each regulated facility shall take the appropriate samples at the frequency prescribed in the current MSGP.
  • Industrial and/or commercial facilities determined to potentially contribute pollutant loading to the MS4 may be required to perform additional monitoring as outlined by the TCEQ Municipal TPDES Permit to validate improvements to the BMPs and changes in the SWP3.
  • The SWP3 and monitoring data must be submitted to SAWS upon request.

SAWS Storm Water Industrial Inspection Forms

Industrial Inspections

A team of inspectors identify facilities that require either pretreatment and/or storm water discharge permits under the TPDES Multi sector Storm Water General Permit or the 40 CFR 403-413 pretreatment regulations. Inspectors issue appropriate discharge permits, review data for compliance, issue enforcement actions, perform compliance inspections on permitted facilities and inspect facilities under the “No Exposure Exemption” to confirm compliance. The team also tracks and fulfills all reporting requirements for the SAWS MS4 Permit.

  • Do I need a permit?
  • Standard Industrial Classification (pdf)
  • North American Industrial Classification
  • SAWS Storm Water Inspection form
  • Used Automotive Parts Recyclers and Metal Recycling Requirements: Chapter 16 License and Business
    • Application for Business License shall include a copy of a current TPDES MSGP and a letter of compliance issued from SAWS within the last 15 months.
    • Section 16-197 Motor vehicle crushing shall only be performed in compliance with TCEQ and SAWS requirements to prevent the discharge of automobile fluids that could impact storm water discharges as outlined in the SWP3.

Illicit Discharges and Improper Disposal Investigations

SAWS specialists in Industrial Compliance respond to complaint calls from SAWS Emergency Operations Center, the San Antonio Fire Department, City of San Antonio 311 Call Center, business operators and the residential community. Discharges may involve illegal dumping to the sanitary sewer system or MS4, hazardous materials incidents at industrial facilities or a variety of other types of complaints.

  • Allowable Discharges to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System: Chapter 34 Waters and Sewers, Article VI. Water Quality Control, Division 5, Prohibited Discharges to the MS4, Subdivision A
  • It shall be a violation of this division for any person to deposit, throw, drain, discharge, cause or allow to be deposited, thrown, drained or discharged, or otherwise cause to be injected into the MS4, or any storm sewer manhole, catch basin, private drain, ditch, street, gutter, creek, stream, tributary, or any other drainage device which connects with or drains into the MS4, any of the following described materials or substances within the corporate limits of the City of San Antonio:
    • Any acid waste materials;
    • Any alkaline waste materials;
    • Any water or waste containing free-floating, or insoluble oil;
    • Any gasoline, naphtha, fuel oil, mineral oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas;
    • Any noxious, malodorous, poisonous, or reactive substance which, either singularly or by interaction with other substances, or by its accumulation in the MS4 becomes injurious or potentially injurious to human, plant or animal life, or property; or
    • Any domestic wastewater or industrial wastewater as defined in Article V, Division 3 of this chapter.
  • It shall be a defense to prosecution under this section that such person was authorized to commit any act under a valid permit from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) or the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which would otherwise constitute a violation at the time of commission.
  • It shall be a violation for any person to place or cause to be placed a household hazardous waste within the street or MS4.
  • It shall be a violation of this division for any person to utilize a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with the proper usage set out in the labelling for such pesticide in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and to cause or allow a pesticide to enter into the MS4.
  • Power Washing
  • Flood plain requirements
  • Conservation
  • COSA TCI Department – Storm Water Operations

In-Stream Monitoring Programs

During rain events measuring at least one-half inch, SAWS In-Stream Monitoring Program obtains background parameters and identifies pollutants flowing into the MS4. Monitoring and analysis for TPDES permit compliance is performed in-house. As pollutant loading calculations on data also are made, discharge monitoring reports are completed as well as other reporting requirements.

On-Call Investigations/Spill Response

SAWS professionals respond to after-hour complaints/spill calls throughout the watersheds in Bexar County, providing assistance with technical information, sampling and recommendations for remediation to the San Antonio Fire and Police Departments, Texas Department of Transportation and City of San Antonio, as well as working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Environmental Protection Agency Region 6.

To report an environmental emergency, discharge, spill, or air release, call:

 

State: State of Texas Spill-Reporting Hotline and the

State Emergency Response Center: 800-832-8224
TCEQ Region 13 Office: 210-490-3096
Federal: National Response Center: 800-424-8802

(Notifying the NRC does not constitute notice to the state)