Environmental Compliance

Background

As a requirement of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Storm Water Permit, the City of Salinas must conduct inspections of priority industrial facilities. Municipalities are ultimately responsible for the water quality of discharges from there municipal storm drain system, and therefore must control discharges from industries. Polluted storm water and non-storm water discharges from industries can represent a large part of the controllable pollutant load generated from an urban area. Inspection of priority industries provides the best means for identifying sources of pollutants discharged to the storm drains and educating industries about appropriate best management practices for eliminating or reducing these sources.

Goals

The goal of the City of Salinas NPDES Stormwater Program is to control discharges of pollutants to the municipal storm drain system (and local creeks draining to the Monterey Bay) Using Best Management Practices and to effectively eliminate illegal discharges and connections. The goal is “Only Rain in the Storm Drain”.

The storm drain system was built to collect and transport rain to prevent flooding in urban areas. Anything that flows or is discharged into the storm drain system goes directly into local creeks and then to Monterey Bay, without treatment.

Best Management Practices

Best Management Practices (BMP) are methods and practices such as good housekeeping, spill prevention or treatment measures to prevent or minimize pollutant discharges to municipal storm drain systems.

Illegal Discharges or Connections

Illegal discharges or connections are non-storm water discharges to municipal storm drain system, which contribute to water pollution.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention for Industrial and Commercial Business

Pollutants discharged from storm drains into local creeks during storm or through illegal dumping significantly contribute to water pollution and harm aquatic life in local creeks and in Monterey Bay. In response to Federal and State regulations and requirements, the City has established a Storm Water Management Program that includes requiring commercial and industrial businesses to identify and control pollutants in discharges to the municipal storm system and waterways.

Storm water runoff from industrial and commercial businesses is one of the major contributors to urban runoff pollution. Wash waters, process or wastewaters, automotive fluids, paints, solvents, food wastes, grease, pesticides, herbicides, litter, cement can yard wastes are only some of the pollutants that get into the storm drain system.

The two major objectives for industrial and commercial businesses are:

• Keep pollutants from entering storm drains. Dumping, discharging or spilling of waste or pollutants into storm drains is prohibited.
• Keep pollutants from contacting storm water runoff from the site that enters storm drains or waterways.

All businesses can reduce or eliminate their contribution to storm water pollution by conduction common sense Best Management Practices (BMPs) that require modest changes to routine operations or maintenance practices.

NPDES Storm Water Inspections

To protect public health, safety & welfare, the City of Salinas conducts National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater inspections at all commercial and industrial businesses that might pose a risk to downstream receiving waters.  The City of Salinas currently holds a Phase I Municipal NPDES permit issued by the State of California and a primary requirement of this permit is to inspect all qualifying facilities at least once within a five-year window, unless otherwise designated.

If your business has been identified as a participant in the NPDES Program by the State of California and will require an inspection for compliance. The inspection will focus on proper stormwater protection Best Management Practices (BMPs), proper trash & waste disposal procedures, staff training, hazardous material management, general housekeeping and recordkeeping. 

Fee Implementation

On July 12, 2021, the Salinas City Council adopted a new fee schedule for NPDES stormwater inspections to better recover all costs associated with these activities.  A new inspection fee of $263.00 per hour, with a one hour minimum, will be assessed for all staff time required to complete the stormwater inspections, including any time required for follow-up inspections.  All staff time billing required beyond the one hour minimum for the initial inspection or any follow-up inspections required will be prorated.  The new inspection fee is subject to change.