Who must obtain NPDES coverage for land disturbing activities?

NPDES coverage, under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, is required for land disturbing activities that disturb one or more acres of soil. This requirement is in place to regulate stormwater discharges from construction sites and to prevent pollution of water bodies. Projects of this size are significant enough to potentially contribute to sediment and other pollutant runoff, which can harm local waterways and ecosystems.

Obtaining NPDES coverage ensures that proper erosion and sediment control measures are implemented, promoting the responsible management of water quality during land development. Smaller projects, such as those disturbing less than one acre, are generally exempt from this requirement unless they are part of a larger common plan of development or sale that collectively disturbs the threshold amount. Similarly, while agricultural projects might have their own set of regulations, not all agrarian initiatives necessitate NPDES coverage unless they meet specific criteria regarding land disturbance. Federal projects can have additional regulations but do not automatically guarantee exemption from NPDES requirements based solely on their status.