Kiera Jefferson
The Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) is a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that regulates stormwater discharges from industrial facilities. The MSGP sets pollutant limits and monitoring requirements for facilities in various sectors to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and protect public health and the aquatic environment. The permit typically covers multiple dischargers with similar operations and types of discharges, and the EPA proposes revisions to the MSGP periodically to incorporate new scientific and technological advancements. The latest MSGP, proposed in 2024, will authorize stormwater discharges from industrial facilities in 30 sectors and include benchmark monitoring parameters for pollutants such as pH, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and metals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sectors regulated | 29 |
| Types of facilities included | Fact sheets available on EPA website |
| Pollutants associated with each sector | Available on EPA website |
| Types of stormwater control measures | Available on EPA website |
| Permit validity | 5 years |
| Number of industrial sectors covered | 30 |
| Types of requirements | General, sector-specific, state-specific, tribal-specific |
| Monitoring requirements | Report-only indicator monitoring, benchmark monitoring |
| Parameters for benchmark monitoring | pH, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, metals |
| Applicable laws | Clean Water Act, Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards and Federal Regulations |
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What You'll Learn
The 2026 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)
The EPA is proposing a shift from report-only indicator monitoring to benchmark monitoring for certain sectors under the 2026 MSGP. This is based on a comparison of indicator monitoring results for pH, total suspended solids, and chemical oxygen demand from the 2021 MSGP permit term with the 2021 benchmark thresholds for those parameters. The EPA is proposing to shift to benchmark monitoring for sectors with a significant number of data points that would have exceeded the 2021 benchmark threshold. Benchmark monitoring parameters may include pH, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and metals, depending on the sector.
The 2026 MSGP will cover stormwater discharges from industrial facilities in 30 sectors, including timber products. It will include general requirements that apply to all facilities, such as eligibility requirements, effluent limitations, inspection and monitoring requirements, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requirements, and reporting and record-keeping requirements. There will also be industrial sector-specific conditions and state- and tribal-specific requirements for facilities located within individual states or Indian Country.
The EPA issues general permits before receiving Notices of Intent (NOIs) from operators seeking coverage. This makes it challenging to develop accurate cost analyses and individualized assumptions for each operator covered under the permit. The EPA acts as the certifying authority in areas of Indian Country on behalf of Tribes that have not received treatment similar to a state. The proposed 2026 MSGP will be available to authorize eligible discharges in all areas where the EPA is the permitting authority, as outlined in Appendix C of the proposed permit.
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MSGP pollutant monitoring
The Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) is part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and regulates stormwater discharges from industrial facilities. The MSGP establishes pollutant limits and monitoring requirements for facilities in 30 sectors.
The 2021 MSGP, which replaced the 2011 MSGP, includes general requirements (Parts 1-7) such as eligibility requirements, effluent limitations, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements. It also includes industrial sector-specific conditions (Part 8) and state- and tribal-specific requirements (Part 9). The MSGP requires facilities to submit a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) and an annual report. The DMR includes quarterly benchmark monitoring, impaired waters monitoring, and effluent limitation monitoring. The annual report summarizes the annual comprehensive site inspection and corrective actions taken during the year.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a shift from report-only indicator monitoring to benchmark monitoring for certain sectors in the 2026 MSGP. This means that facilities will be required to monitor specific parameters such as pH, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and metals. The EPA evaluated the 2021 MSGP indicator monitoring results for these parameters and compared them to the 2021 benchmark thresholds. The shift to benchmark monitoring is proposed for sectors with a significant number of data points that would have exceeded the benchmark threshold.
The 2026 MSGP will also include changes to the structure and schedule of impaired waters monitoring. Operators discharging to impaired waters will be required to complete quarterly monitoring for all pollutants for which the waterbody is impaired and take corrective action if a pollutant is detected. Additionally, facilities must conduct an inspection to identify the cause of a benchmark exceedance when AIM Level 1 is triggered.
The MSGP is designed to regulate stormwater discharges from industrial facilities and ensure that they comply with pollutant limits and monitoring requirements. The specific requirements vary by sector and location, and facilities must submit regular reports to the EPA to maintain compliance.
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Benchmark monitoring parameters
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a shift from report-only indicator monitoring to benchmark monitoring for certain sectors. The EPA evaluated indicator monitoring results for pH, total suspended solids, and chemical oxygen demand from the 2021 MSGP permit term and compared them to the 2021 benchmark thresholds for those parameters. The EPA is proposing to shift the monitoring requirements from indicator to benchmark monitoring for those sectors with a large number of data points that would have exceeded the 2021 benchmark threshold. Benchmark monitoring parameters are proposed based on indicator monitoring results collected under the 2021 MSGP, along with industry analysis of common activities and materials that expose pollutants to stormwater. Depending on the sector, specific benchmark monitoring parameters may include pH, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and metals.
The EPA issues general permits before receiving NOIs from operators seeking coverage. This permitting structure precludes the EPA from knowing the exact locations and types of operators who will be covered ahead of permit issuance, further complicating cost estimations. The EPA acts as the certifying authority in areas of Indian Country on behalf of the Tribes that have not received treatment similar to a state (TAS). The EPA proposes that the 2026 MSGP will replace the existing MSGP that expires on February 28, 2026. Once finalized, this permit will be available in areas where the EPA is the NPDES permitting authority.
The 2026 MSGP will authorize stormwater discharges from industrial facilities in 30 sectors. The proposed permit is structured into nine parts: general requirements that apply to all facilities (e.g. eligibility requirements, effluent limitations, and other limitations, inspection and monitoring requirements, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requirements, and reporting and record-keeping requirements); industrial sector-specific conditions; and state- and tribal-specific requirements applicable to facilities located within individual states or Indian Country.
The MSGP includes general requirements, sector-specific requirements, and definitions, general conditions, and eligible industries. Permittees are required to submit annual reports summarizing their annual comprehensive site inspection and corrective actions taken during the year for the MSGP. Annual reports are due no later than October 15th of every year.
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Effluent limitations
The Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) is a part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) under the Clean Water Act. The NPDES permits regulate wastewater discharges by limiting the quantities of pollutants that can be discharged. These permits ensure compliance with the relevant water quality standards and federal regulations, which aim to protect public health and the aquatic environment.
The MSGP authorizes stormwater discharges from industrial facilities across multiple sectors. The 2021 MSGP, for instance, covers 29 sectors, while the 2026 MSGP will cover 30 sectors. The MSGP includes general requirements, sector-specific requirements, and eligible industries. The general requirements apply to all facilities and include eligibility requirements, effluent limitations, and other limitations, inspection and monitoring requirements, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requirements, and reporting and record-keeping requirements.
The EPA is proposing a shift from report-only indicator monitoring to benchmark monitoring for certain sectors. This shift is based on the evaluation of indicator monitoring results for pH, total suspended solids, and chemical oxygen demand from the 2021 MSGP permit term. The EPA compared these results to the 2021 benchmark thresholds for those parameters. The EPA is proposing to implement benchmark monitoring for sectors with a significant number of data points that would have exceeded the benchmark threshold. Benchmark monitoring parameters may include pH, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and metals, depending on the sector.
The MSGP requires permittees to submit annual reports summarizing their annual comprehensive site inspection and corrective actions taken during the year. These annual reports are due no later than October 15th of every year. Additionally, Discharge Monitoring Report Forms for Quarterly Benchmark, Impaired Waters, and Effluent Limitation monitoring are also required.
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Stormwater discharges
The Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) is part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and regulates stormwater discharges from industrial facilities. The MSGP is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and covers a wide range of industrial sectors and geographic locations. The permit sets limits on the quantity of pollutants that can be discharged and imposes monitoring requirements to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and protect public health and the aquatic environment.
The 2021 MSGP, which came into effect on March 1, 2021, covers 29 sectors and includes general requirements that apply to all facilities, such as eligibility requirements, effluent limitations, inspection and monitoring requirements, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requirements, and reporting and record-keeping requirements. It also includes sector-specific conditions and state- and tribal-specific requirements for facilities located within individual states or Indian Country.
The EPA is proposing a shift from report-only indicator monitoring to benchmark monitoring for certain sectors in the 2026 MSGP. This means that instead of simply reporting the levels of pollutants, facilities will be required to meet specific benchmark levels designed to protect aquatic ecosystems from adverse impacts. The benchmark levels will be based on criteria such as the latest toxicity information for pollutants such as aluminum, selenium, arsenic, cadmium, magnesium, iron, and copper.
To comply with the MSGP, facilities must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the EPA and, in some cases, additional documentation to state-level departments of environmental conservation, such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) or the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). The NOI requires facility operators to determine the latitude and longitude of the approximate center of the facility and whether their facility discharges stormwater to an impaired waterbody. Annual reports are also required, summarizing comprehensive site inspections and corrective actions taken during the year.
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Frequently asked questions
The Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) is a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that regulates stormwater discharges from industrial facilities. It covers a wide range of industrial sectors and geographic locations. The MSGP ensures that facilities comply with environmental regulations by limiting the quantity of pollutants discharged and imposing monitoring requirements.
The pollutant limits in the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) vary depending on the specific sector and the type of pollutants involved. The EPA evaluates and sets benchmark thresholds for various parameters such as pH, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and metals. The MSGP specifies acceptable levels of pollutants in discharges, and facilities must comply with these limits to maintain water quality and protect public health.
To determine if your facility requires coverage under the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP), you should refer to the EPA's guidelines and sector-specific fact sheets. These fact sheets outline the types of facilities included in each sector, the associated pollutants, and the applicable stormwater control measures. If you are unsure, you can complete a Determination Request, providing details about your facility's activities and discharges. The EPA will then assess whether your facility falls within the scope of the MSGP.
