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Let's face it: it’s been a wetter-than-normal summer, and
permittees are responding by collecting stormwater samples and sending us the
results. Have you collected a stormwater
sample this quarter yet? Since sampling requirements
started July 1, MPCA staff have received a few clarifying questions others may
find helpful:
Q: What happens if it’s been more than 30
minutes since the storm started? Should
I not collect this sample?
A: It’s okay to collect
a sample even if it’s been more than 30 minutes; the permit allows it. There’s a place on the sampling form
for: “If sample was NOT collected within
30 minutes of start of the event, explain why.”
The start of a “measurable runoff event” means when stormwater is
starting to flow through your monitoring location. For some facilities and depending on the
precipitation event, this may take as little as 10 minutes or as much as several
hours for stormwater to start flowing through your monitoring location.
Q: It rained yesterday and today. Can I try to collect a sample today?
A: No. It must be dry for 72 hours prior to
collecting a sample. No exceptions! In fact, if a facility voluntarily
collects two samples within a quarter, or collects a sample at the end of one
quarter and the beginning of another quarter, and the sample results are fewer than
three days apart, the second set of results will be rejected and the permittee
will be notified.
Q: Wait, what do you mean “voluntarily collects two
samples?” If I miss sampling one
quarter, aren’t I supposed to collect two samples during the next quarter?
A: If you had a “no flow” quarter, you can collect two
samples in a quarter but you’re no longer required to as you were in the last
permit cycle. In the 2015-2020 permit cycle and you don't collect a sample in a quarter, wait for the
quarter to be over, submit the sampling form with a “no flow” explanation, and
then collect a sample during the next quarter.
Once you’re able to collect four samples during four separate quarters, even if it takes five, six,
seven, or more quarters to do so, then average your results. Compare the averaged results with the values
listed in the permit. Continue sampling
if you have any exceedances. You are done sampling if all of your averaged
values don’t exceed for the life of this general permit. Use this handy “industrial
stormwater sampling worksheet” to keep tabs of your numbers. Keep this for your records; do not send to the
MPCA.
Q: I didn’t have my
sample jars on ice and my testing laboratory told me the samples were too
warm. Does that mean the sample I
collected doesn’t “count”?
A: That depends. If you’re sampling only for Total Suspended
Solids and if the temperature was only a couple of degrees above the desired
temperature of 4-6 degrees Celsius for a short period of time, it’s probably
okay. If you’re sampling for Biological
Oxygen Demand (BOD) or Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and the sample was 30
degrees Celsius too warm for several hours or days, that sample can degrade
quickly and the results won’t be accurate.
Discard that sample and try to collect a different sample. If in doubt, contact MPCA staff.
Q: When do I sample? What’s the last day to send in the forms once
the quarter is over?
A: The schedule for
the first year is:
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Quarter 1: Sample once between July, August, September 2015 (form due no later than October 21, 2015)
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Quarter 2: Sample once between October, November, December 2015 (form due no later than January 21, 2016)
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Quarter 3: Sample once between January, February, March 2016 (form due no later than April 21, 2016)
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Quarter 4: Sample once between April, May, June 2016 (form due no later than July 21, 2016)
Tip: If you collect a sample early in the quarter,
send in the sample results on the MPCA sampling form right away so you don’t
forget.
Q: What if I applied for permit coverage on or
after July 1, 2015?
A: You should start your quarterly sampling
during the next full calendar quarter.
So anyone who received permit coverage in July, August or September
would start quarterly sampling on October 1, 2015.
Q: How am I
supposed to collect a sample in the winter?
A: Winter thaws and rain events frequently
occur. In fact, during a
sampling year, the MPCA received more sampling results that winter than the previous dry
fall. Again, if you cannot collect a
sample one quarter, due to dry/frozen conditions, storms occurring at night, or
other valid reasons, submit the sampling form with a valid “no flow”
explanation and attempt to sample during the next quarter.
Q: What if I have
a question that’s not answered here?
A: Please send any questions to: iswprogram.pca@state.mn.us or call: 651-757-2119
or 800-657-3804. Industrial stormwater
program staff appreciate all questions from permittees, consultants and
interested others. The questions we
receive help shape our program’s outreach, education and communication tools.
There are two U of M
workshops left this year. Register today
and get your annual training requirements covered!
Due to huge demand for our yearly “Industrial Stormwater
Regulations, SWPPPs, Sampling and Monitoring” workshop, the University of Minnesota
has graciously agreed to offer a second workshop November 4 in Arden
Hills. This workshop is perfect for new employees
or those new to industrial stormwater.
It also helps satisfy the permit’s annual training requirements. Though attending a U of M workshop isn’t
required, all staff connected with the industrial stormwater permit are required
to have annual industrial stormwater training and document their training in their SWPPP document.
About this workshop:
Industrial facilities in Minnesota regulated by the
Industrial Stormwater permit are required to develop a stormwater pollution
prevention plan, conduct sampling and monitoring of stormwater runoff, and
adapt to stormwater runoff monitoring exceedances from facilities. This
full-day event will cover topics from permit basics, SWPPP development and
implementation, and stormwater monitoring to selection of best management
practices for SWPPP modification. This event will not provide detailed design guidance
for structural practices or detailed responses to benchmark exceedances. This
event is for anyone interested in learning about industrial stormwater
requirements, especially industry staff responsible for facility compliance
with industrial stormwater regulations.
Topics include:
-
Industrial Stormwater regulatory history
- SWPPP requirements
- SWPPP implementation
-
Stormwater monitoring, sampling and reporting requirements
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Annual reporting and fees
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ISW case studies
-
ISW enforcement
Date/time: November 4, 8:00 am-4:30 pm Registration Fee: $170
Location: MnDOT, Arden Hills (1900 County
Rd I, Shoreview, MN 55126)
To register: for more information or to register, visit the Industrial Stormwater training page.
Also still available
for registration: Sampling and monitoring
workshop:
Date/time: September 22, 10:00 am-3:00 pm Registration Fee: $125
Location: MnDOT, Arden Hills (1900 County Rd I,
Shoreview, MN 55126)
To register: for more information or to register, visit the Industrial Stormwater training page.
Sign up fast; the last workshops filled up quickly!
Interested in a fully
online workshop? The U of M is
starting a pilot of offering construction stormwater workshops fully
online. The U of M is interested to know
if industrial stormwater permittees and interested others would be interested
in industrial stormwater fully online workshops. Cost would be the same but you can view the
interactive workshop at your office, on your own timeline. If interested, please contact:
erosion@umn.edu or call: 612-625-9733.
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