DHEC Stormwater Permit issued effective January 1, 2013

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control issued the new NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities on October 15.  The new permit will be effective January 1, 2013.

There are changes to the new permit compared to the existing permit, although the changes were relatively minor.  As a result of the actions of NAHB, the Environmental Protection Agency dropped its plan to impose numeric limits on effluent.  Because the new permit is valid through 2017, any requirement to measure and limit effluent on construction sites will not be required in South Carolina before January 1, 2018.

To help HBA members understand the new permit, DHEC will hold three informational seminars:

• Upstate: Monday, November 19, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 East St. John Street, Spartanburg (9 a.m. until 12 noon)
• Midlands: Wednesday, November 28, Peeples Auditorium, DHEC Headquarters, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia (1 p.m. until 4 p.m.)
• Coastal: Friday, November 30, Horry County Government Center, 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway (1 p.m. until 4 p.m.)

Design engineers, CEPSCI inspectors, and others involved in land development are encouraged to attend one of these free sessions.