Omaha Stormwater

Why does the Stormwater Program have an industrial activity element?
The nature of the activities of industrial and commercial facilities often require bulk storage of chemicals and fuels, large volume of equipment storage, and regular onloading and offloading of fuels and chemicals. Increased potential for stormwater exposure to pollutants is plausible. In addition, industrial and commercial facilities often have a high percentage of impervious surfaces at their site, leading to increased potential for runoff of potentially polluted stormwater.

What is an Industrial Stormwater Permit?
On June 13, 2006 the Omaha City Council approved a Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter 32 of the Omaha Municipal Code) that allows the City to issue industrial stormwater permits to industries that are subject to the State National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater regulations.

For an overview of the Industrial Stormwater Permit program, please refer to the following brochure: ISW Permit Brochure.pdf

Why permit?
The permitting program is intended to identify and eliminate outdoor, exposed pollutants generated by businesses that are affecting, or could affect the municipal separate storm sewer system and local waters.

Keeping pollutants out of the storm drainage system is important because pollutants, generated by business or other sources, flow directly into the nearest creek or river and receive no treatment for pollutant removal.

What industries are subject to the State National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater regulations?
Industries subject to the stormwater regulations are identified by their Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. An industry is required to comply with the requirements of the stormwater regulations if at least one of its applicable SIC codes fall under one of the designated 30 Sectors.

These 30 Sectors are listed in Appendix B of Omaha’s Industrial Stormwater Permit.

For more information, refer to Appendix B: Appendix B – Sector List.pdf

If the nature of my industrial activities is categorized by one of the designated sectors, what are my next steps?

Determine if, through your facility’s activities and industrial materials, stormwater is exposed to pollutants that could result in a discharge to waters of the State, the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), or the municipal combined sewer system (CSS).
1. IF YES:
  1. The facility needs to apply for coverage under the City of Omaha’s General Stormwater Permit, and
  2. The facility needs to apply for coverage under the State of Nebraska’s General Stormwater Permit.
2. IF NO:
  1. The facility needs to apply for a No Exposure Certification (NEC) exclusion with the City of Omaha, and
  2. The facility needs to apply for a No Exposure Certification (NEC) exclusion with the State of Nebraska.
Submit a completed City of Omaha Notice of Intent (NOI) application with supporting documents (if site does not qualify for NEC status) or a completed NEC form to the City of Omaha Environmental Quality Control Division (EQCD) – Stormwater Section at: www.omahastormwater.org
Mail a completed State of Nebraska NOI application or NEC form (as applicable) to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) at:
NPDES Municipal and Industrial Section
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
PO Box 98922
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
Authorization letters will be sent by EQCD Stormwater Section and NDEQ once your applications have been reviewed and processed.
Maintain the required documentation over the life of the permit authorization.
Modify the permit as needed when required.
If the facility needs to cancel its authorization for stormwater discharges:
1. Submit a completed Notice of Termination (NOT) to EQCD – Stormwater Section at: www.omahastormwater.org
2. Mail a completed Notice of Termination (NOT) to NDEQ at the above mailing address.
The NDEQ requires each industry to reapply for permit coverage or no exposure certification every 5 years. The City of Omaha’s authorization for permit coverage or no exposure certification does not expire.

What is the cost of applying for permit authorization or No Exposure Certification?
There is no application fee for the City of Omaha’s Industrial Stormwater Permit or No Exposure Certification. NDEQ also does not charge a fee for either application.

What is required to be submitted with the stormwater discharge permit NOI?
The permit requires that facilities develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that is designed to eliminate or minimize stormwater contact with materials that may result in polluted stormwater discharges from their site. The SWPPP must incorporate specific best management practices (BMPs) applicable to the site. See below for more information about the requirements of the SWPPP. The site must also complete the Risk Assessment Checklist.

NOTE: EQCD – Stormwater Section will not review permit applications unless the SWPPP and Risk Assessment Checklist are submitted with the NOI/Application. The SWPPP and Risk Assessment Checklist are not required when applying for the No Exposure Certification exclusion.

What is required in the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)?
The SWPPP is a “living” document that is intended to be regularly updated and must be kept on site. The SWPPP consists of a Narrative and Site Maps. The SWPPP must include:

Identification of the Pollution Prevention Team
Site description
Receiving waters and wetlands
Identification and location of potential pollutant sources
Stormwater controls
Identification of Best Management Practices
Associated documentation
Required certification and signatures

For additional information, the following references are available:

The SWPPP requirements mention Best Management Practices (BMPs), what are BMPs?
BMPs are practices or structures designed to reduce the quantities of pollutants that enter the storm sewer system or nearby lakes and creeks. Practices such as employee training, spill prevention and response, and regular inspections are examples of BMPs. Other BMPs could include structures such as secondary containment, stormwater detention basins, stormwater retention basins, and grass swales.

For a list of BMPs specific to your industry, please see the City's sector-specific fact sheets.

What else should I expect once I’ve received permit authorization or No Exposure Certification?
The City of Omaha will conduct inspections as required by the City’s Municipal Stormwater Permit issued by the State of Nebraska. At the time of the inspection, inspectors will review the storage and usage practices of materials, the site’s SWPPP and supporting documentation (if required), and overall compliance with the permit or No Exposure Certification.

What are typical things that Inspectors will look for?
Sources of stormwater pollution including, but not limited to the following:

Discharges from commercial vehicle and equipment washing to the storm drainage system.
Evidence of dumping materials and wastes into the storm drainage system.
Evidence that work areas such as oily service bays are being hosed out and discharged into the storm drainage system.
Leakage from barrels and other outdoor containers.
Power washing discharges to the storm drainage system.
Discharges to the storm drainage system of materials such as concrete, paint, automotive fluids, etc.
Mismanagement of hazardous wastes.
Oily, dirty items such as engine parts that are left outdoors exposed to rainfall.
Other poor housekeeping practices that result in the exposure of pollutants to stormwater.
Open or leaking dumpsters.
Exposure of process activities and equipment to rainfall that is likely to result in pollutant wash-off.
Open containers of liquids and other materials that are left outdoors.
Track-out of sediment and other materials from facilities onto roadways, and from indoor areas to outdoor areas.
Evidence of failure to maintain grease traps and interceptors.
Failure to properly manage leaks and spills.

NOTE: The storm drainage system includes storm drains, roadside drainage ditches and all man-made and natural water conveyance systems such as channels, creeks, etc.

How can I prepare my business for inspection?
Start by familiarizing yourself with potential and actual sources of pollutants at your business and the locations of storm drains and nearby waterways that could receive drainage from your facility.

Determine whether materials are being intentionally or accidentally discharged from your facility into the storm drainage system or local waterways. Consider what will happen with exposed pollutants at your facility such as oil, grease, cement, sediment, chemicals, food waste, etc. that are on the ground or other outdoor locations, when it rains.

Identify changes that you could make to prevent pollutants at your facility from getting into the storm drainage system and local waters. Sometimes this can be as simple as keeping outdoor areas clean, or moving wastes to a covered storage area, or keeping dumpsters closed.

What will happen if problems are found at my business?
The City of Omaha can pursue enforcement action through the permitting authority specified in the Stormwater Management Ordinance, Chapter 32, of the Omaha Municipal Code. Consideration for enforcement will be dependent on the severity of the identified problems, the length of time a problem has gone unaddressed, and the business’s promptness in completing necessary corrective actions.

The State’s involvement in enforcement actions will be considered on a case by case basis.

Can anyone help me with the industrial stormwater regulations?
EQCD – Stormwater Section personnel are available to offer assistance with the permitting process, Omaha Municipal Code, or other stormwater-related questions.

The Stormwater Hotline is (402)444-3905. Also see the guidance documents, permits, and other useful links in this section as well as throughout the www.omahastormwater.org website.

The regulators with the NDEQ NPDES Stormwater Program are available to help. Contact Blayne Renner at (402)471-8330 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for assistance. Additional resources are available on the NDEQ website: http://www.deq.state.ne.us/