Industrial Stormwater General Permit

Tennessee Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Activities (TNR050000)

This is a general NPDES permit required for facilities that have significant industrial materials exposed to rainfall and resulting stormwater.

Permit Issued: June 30, 2025

Permit Effective: July 1, 2025

TMSP Permit & Associated Documents

TMSP Overview (This video provides a brief overview of the requirements under the Tennessee Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Activities)

To apply for a new permit, please go to MyTDEC Forms.

All new and existing point source stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity require coverage under an NPDES Stormwater Permit from the Tennessee Division of Water Resources. The most common way to obtain coverage is the TMSP, which is available to almost any industry, but there is also an option of obtaining an individual permit.

Coverage under the TMSP is not available for stormwater that meets any of the following characteristics::

  1. is regulated by an individual NPDES permit
  2. receives combined treatment with non-stormwater
  3. is subject to EPA effluent limitations
  4. is subject to another general permit
  5. contributes to a violation of water quality standards
  6. is discharged from inactive mining, inactive landfills or inactive oil and gas operations occurring on federal lands where an operator cannot be identified
  7. is discharged from mining operations with the exception of inactive coal mines and related facilities, construction sand and gravel mining, dimension stone mining and quarrying.

Industries that have no industrial materials and activities exposed to stormwater can submit a no exposure certification form (see below) in lieu of an NPDES permit.

TMSP No Exposure Certification (This video provides an overview of the applicability of the Tennessee Multi-Sector General Permit “no exposure” exemption.)

A completed Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Tennessee Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit (TMSP) to Discharge Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activity must be submitted. The NOI form requires information regarding the operator/owner, facility, site location and size, industrial activity, material handling, discharging points and water receiving the discharges, existing permits, and other information.

New Facility

For a new facility or a facility with expanded discharge that is eligible for coverage under Tennessee Multi-Sector NPDES General Permit (TMSP), a Notice of Intent (NOI) shall be submitted 30 days before any discharge.

Existing Permitted Facility

For a facility presently covered by the general permit, must submit NOI no later than 91 days after the permit effective date (July 1, 2025 + 91 days = September 30, 2025). If you have missed the deadline, that does not preclude you from submitting an NOI.

Facility Changes

In the case of a change of contact information, a change in facility name without a change in management, and/or a change in other facility information, an NOI shall be submitted five days prior to the change. The current permit tracking number should be included on an NOI submitted for any currently covered facility.
 

If you have coverage under the TMSP currently, but no longer need it, please the following appropriate documentation immediately:

  1. Go to: MyTDEC Forms - TMSP  You will need to register for an account. You can use the same account for multiple projects.
  2. Existing Permittees should select the permit tracking number from the drop-down menu. New Facilities should click "Begin Form Entry".
  3. Complete all sections of the Form and upload files (if applicable)
     

The division will send to the permittee a written Notice of Coverage (NOC), informing the permittee that the NOI was received and stormwater discharges from the industrial activity have been approved under this general permit. The operator is authorized to discharge stormwater associated with the industrial activity as of the effective date on the division prepared NOC. A copy of the NOC shall be kept on site. No public participation is involved; however, the general permit does allow anyone to file a petition with the division asking that general coverage be revoked and an individual permit be required. The TMSP is effective through June 30, 2030.

There are no application fees.

Annual maintenance fees for the Industrial Stormwater General Permit became applicable in September of 2014. Fees range from zero for the sites less than or equal to 1 acre to $970 for sites greater than or equal to 500 acres. Permittees will be invoiced by the division once the NOI has been processed. The fees can be found in Rule 0400-40-11.

The applicant may proceed with the industrial activity upon receipt of the NOC from the division and must comply with all conditions stated in the general permit. Any planned changes or additions to the facility require the discharger to give notice to the division as soon as possible. A new NOI from the new owner must be submitted at least five (5) days before the facility is sold or transferred.

Applicants must develop and implement a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP). Certain categories of industries must conduct annual analytical monitoring of stormwater discharges no later than the March 31st of the following calendar year. Almost all permittees must conduct quarterly visual examinations of stormwater discharges throughout the term of the permit as well as annual comprehensive inspections of the facility.
 

The division has the responsibility to take all prudent steps to secure, protect and preserve the waters of Tennessee. The division and the EPA have the right to enter and inspect the facility and all related records at any reasonable time. They also may inspect any related equipment or monitoring methods. The division has the right to require an individual permit at any time if deemed necessary.

Coming Soon

Applications and assistance can be obtained from the Division of Water Resources.  New applicants who need more than one permit can contact their Environmental Field Office for further assistance.

Applicants seeking coverage under a general or individual Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit for activities associated with a NPDES permit for mining related discharges, a Surface Mining permit, Mineral test-hole permit, coverage under TMSP Sector J, or the Rock Harvesting general permit must submit an application to the Division of Mineral & Geologic Resources

»This page is under construction - new information will be posted soon. «

This Page Last Updated: July 1, 2025 at 5:32 PM