New Proposal To Addres Water Quality Impacts From Logging Roads

EPA has published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to propose revisions to stormwater regulations for logging roads. Under the proposal, storm water discharges from logging roads are not discharges "associated with industrial activity," meaning a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is not required for such discharges. EPA issued the NOI is in response to a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which found that certain logging roads are stormwater point sources “associated with industrial activity.”

EPA is also seeking comments on water quality impacts associated with discharges of stormwater from forest roads. EPA plans to study the water quality impacts of forest roads along with existing federal, state, tribal, and voluntary programs designed to address them to determine if additional action is necessary.

EPA believes that stormwater discharges from forest roads should be evaluated under section 402(p)(6) of the Clean Water Act because the section allows for a broad range of flexible approaches that are well-suited to address the complexity of forest road ownership, management, and use. The section allows EPA to consider a range of regulatory and nonregulatory approaches and determine which forest road discharges (if any) should be regulated under the CWA.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Wisconsin to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.
For further information, contact Caltha LLP at:
Email: info@calthacompany.com Website: http://www.calthacompany.com/