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Instructions for Completing ACRs

Every year, all facilities covered under the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity (GP-0-11-009) must complete and submit an Annual Certification Report. The report asks for information about the results of monitoring and the status of compliance with various permit requirements. The Annual Certification Report for each calendar year is due by March 31st of the following year. For instance, reports for calendar year 2010 are due by March 31, 2011.

Section I. Facility Information

Section I asks for basic facility information. The facility name entered in Section I must be consistent with the name given in the Notice of Intent (NOI) submitted to obtain MSGP coverage for the facility. The SPDES ID must match the ID the Department assigned the facility. This information is also provided in the letter the Department sent to acknowledge receipt of a complete NOIT.

Section II. General Information

  1. Enter the number of outfalls authorized to discharge stormwater associated with industrial activity under the MSGP. The information entered in this section should match the information provided in the NOI.
  2. Indicate whether your facility is claiming any monitoring waivers. If so, fill in the appropriate circle and submit required documentation with the report. Read about monitoring waivers in the permit, beginning on page 32 of the MSGP.
  3. If there are changes to the information provided in the NOI, answer the question accordingly. If information has changed, the facility must submit an updated NOI to the Department. Two examples of changes that might occur are:
    • Changes in the number of outfalls
    • Changes to SIC codes because activities at the facility have changed
  4. Indicate whether a comprehensive site plan evaluation has been performed during the calendar year. A comprehensive site plan evaluation is a self-review, completed by the permittee. See page 19 of the MSGP for details.
  5. Indicate whether the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) been kept up to date. Facilities are required to keep their SWPPP on site and update it as problems are found; improvements or corrective actions are completed or changes occur that affect site activities, outfalls or practices at the site.

Section III. Quarterly Visual Exams and Dry Weather Flow Inspections

  1. Indicate whether quarterly visual examinations been performed. Quarterly Visual Examination forms are found in Appendix D of MSGP. Don't submit these forms with the Annual Certification Report. Keep the completed forms on site with the SWPPP. Read about quarterly exams on page 25 of the MSGP. See info on when and how to sample on page 31.
  2. The answer to this question must be based on the results of the quarterly visual examinations.
  3. Indicate whether an annual dry weather flow inspection was performed during the calendar year. Read about dry weather flow inspections on page 26 of the MSGP.
  4. The answer to this question must be based on the results of the dry weather flow inspections. If unauthorized discharges are found, they must be eliminated or authorization for these discharges must be obtained a SPDES permit.
  5. Answer this question based on your answer to question 9. If you answered No to question 9, choose NA.

Section IV. Benchmark Parameters

  1. Some SIC codes are included in sectors that are required to do benchmark monitoring and sample analysis. Facilities with benchmark monitoring requirements need to collect one stormwater sample per year from each outfall and have the sample(s) analyzed at an approved lab for the pollutants of concern included in the applicable section of Part VIII of the MSGP. The owner/operator of a facility must know the monitoring requirements associated with the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code(s) provided in the NOI. Indicate whether the facility is required to complete benchmark monitoring. If benchmark monitoring is not required, answer No, and skip to Section V.
  2. After the results are received from the lab, they must be compared with the applicable benchmark cutoff concentrations. These benchmark cut-offs are found in Part VIII of the MSGP and may also be found in the Permit Requirement row, in the Value column of the preprinted DMR. If the results are higher than the benchmark cut-off concentrations in the permit, the facility's SWPPP needs to be improved to reduce the potential for stormwater contamination at the site. Read about corrective actions on page 27 of the MSGP. If the results of analysis were higher than the benchmark cutoff concentrations, answer Yes to this question.
  3. If a sample was collected during a storm event that did not meet the qualifying storm event criteria, the sample was collected incorrectly, and/or the lab had problems with the sample analysis, answer Yes to this question.

14-15. Answer this question based on the answer to number 12. If you answered No to question 12, answer NA to these questions.

Section V. Compliance Monitoring

  1. Some SIC codes/activities require annual sample collection and analysis of stormwater/mine dewatering discharges. The owner/operator of a facility must know the monitoring requirements associated with the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes/activities provided in the NOI. Indicate whether the facility is required to complete compliance monitoring and analysis for pollutants of concern with Numeric Effluent Limitations.
  2. Indicate whether the facility is required to conduct compliance monitoring from stormwater discharges from coal piles. If the answers to both 16 and 17 are NO, go to Section VI.
  3. If a sample was collected during a storm event that did not meet the qualifying storm event criteria, the sample was collected incorrectly, and/or the lab had problems with the sample analysis, answer Yes to this question.
  4. After the results are received from the lab, they should be compared with the Numeric Effluent Limitations in the applicable section in Part VIII of the MSGP. These results are also found in the Permit Requirement row, in the Value column of the preprinted DMR. If the results are higher than the applicable Numeric Effluent Limitations, the facility's SWPPP needs to be improved to reduce the potential for stormwater contamination at the site. Read about corrective actions on page 27 of the MSGP. If the results of analysis were higher than the Numeric Effluent Limitation, answer Yes to this question.

20-21. Answer this question based on the answer to number 19. If you answered No to question 19, answer NA to these questions.

Section VI. Summary

Briefly describe any facility changes, problems discovered during inspections of SWPPP review, problems with sampling or analysis, and actions taken to improve the SWPPP.

Certification

Print or type the name of the owner/operator or person with signatory authority per Part V.H of the MSGP. This person must sign and date the completed form.

The completed form must be submitted with an original signature to the address on the Annual Certification Report.