There are two options available to "storm water discharge associated with industrial activity" applying for an NPDES permit.

1. Individual Permit Application - All storm water dischargers are eligible to apply for an individual NPDES permit. Applicants must complete DNR or EPA form 1 and EPA Form 2F. Additional forms may be required if storm water is mixed with non-process waste water (DNR Form 2); process waste water for existing sources (DNR Form 3) or process waste water from new sources (DNR Form 4).

   An individual NPDES permit is a NPDES permit that is only applicable to one discharger. The permit is issued for a specific discharge. Only one individual permit will be issued to a facility. Thus, if a discharger has an existing individual NPDES permit, that permit will be modified to include its storm water outfalls.

   If a discharge has a federal effluent limit, only an individual permit may be issued for that outfall.

   The five year permit fee is $1250.00
   
   
   
   

2. Applying for Coverage under a General Permit - A storm water discharger may apply to be covered under a general permit. General permits are NPDES permit which contain the terms and conditions of a permit. General permits however are not specific to any one discharger, instead the general permit identifies which dischargers may be eligible for coverage under the general permit.

   The IDNR has adopted three general permits for storm water.

   • General Permit No.1 - For "Storm Water Discharge Associated With Industrial Activity" (Excludes Construction).
   • General Permit No.2 - For "Storm Water Associated With Industrial Activity For Construction Activities" (Land Disturbing 1 Acre Or More).
   • General Permit No.3 - "Storm Water Discharge Associated With Industrial Activity From Asphalt Plants, Concrete Batch Plants, Rock Crushing Plants, And Construction Sand And Gravel Facilities"

   General permits are applicable to discharges which are composed of storm water only. Iowa's storm water general permits do not cover mixtures of storm water with non-storm water where the non-storm water would require a NPDES permit from the IDNR (refer to the specific general permit for additional details). Discharges which have a federal effluent limit may not be covered by a general permit.

   Dischargers who apply for coverage under the general permit must complete and submit a Notice of Intent to the IDNR. An instruction sheet describing "How To Complete A Notice Of Intent" is available from the IDNR. The instruction sheet explains how to provide the following three elements of a complete "Notice of Intent":

   1. Form 1415,
   2. Proof of public notification, and
   3. Permit fees.

   For coverage under the NPDES General Permit the following fees options apply:

   • Option 1. You may choose to submit an annual permit fee of $175.00 each year. The department will then bill you $175.00 each year for up to five years permit coverage.
   • or Option 2. A permit fee of $700.00 provides for up to five years of coverage under the general permit and will expire no later than the expiration date of the general permit, October 1, 2007.
   • or Other permit fee options include three-year permit for $350.00 and a four-year permit for $525.00.

   When a storm water discharger submits a complete Notice of Intent with the IDNR the discharger is agreeing to meet the terms and conditions of the general permit.

   Iowa law requires that general permits be adopted as a rule. This requirement is more stringent than the routine NPDES permit issuance requirements. Because of Iowa's statutory requirement, these storm water general permits have been adopted as an administrative rule under 567 - Chapters 60 and 64 of the Iowa Administrative Code. The general permit can be modified only through the rule making process.