Best Practices in Addressing NPDES and Other Water Quality Issues in Highway System Management

Abstract

The Domestic Scan Program was developed to highlight innovative practices of high-performing transportation agencies that could be beneficially adopted by other interested agencies. The Scan Program provides the opportunity for technology transfer on a relatively economical basis with significant benefits on a national scale. The Clean Water Act (CWA) places requirements on Departments of Transportation (DOTs) for the discharge of stormwater from their systems through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Non-compliance with NPDES permits can impact project design, engineering and construction schedules and increase construction time and costs. Successful compliance with NPDES permits requires the appropriate transfer of information and accountability through multiple phases of project delivery. State DOTs that are under NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Phase I or Phase II permit coverage are anticipating implementation of the total maximum daily load (TMDL) process which poses potential stormwater permitting concerns based upon the method of implementation chosen and the types of receiving water impairments addressed. This paper summarizes a Domestic Scan for stormwater that occurred in July, 2009. Four primary topics were selected as the subject of this Scan. Benefits of this Scan include better insight into stormwater requirements during the project delivery process, improved compliance with NPDES permits, and reducing project delays associated with NPDES violations and noncompliance. The Scan provided an excellent opportunity to document lessons learned and share experiences to assist individual DOTs in negotiating, developing, implementing and tracking TMDL programs as part of NPDES MS4 compliance.