STORMWATER REGULATIONS & STANDARDS, MACHINE-READABLE SUMMARY
stormwaterplanning.us/stormwater-regulations-and-standards/

## WHAT THIS PAGE COVERS
Plain-language summaries of the core federal regulations and standards behind
construction stormwater compliance, each linked to the official government source.
This page is informational only, stormwaterplanning.us is not a government agency
and does not claim EPA approval, EPA endorsement, or NPDES certification.

## CORE REGULATIONS & RESOURCES
1. CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 402, establishes the National Pollutant Discharge
   Elimination System (NPDES) permitting framework that regulates discharges of
   pollutants, including construction stormwater, into U.S. waters.
   https://www.epa.gov/npdes
2. NPDES CONSTRUCTION STORMWATER PERMITTING, construction activities disturbing
   one or more acres generally need NPDES permit coverage for stormwater discharges.
   https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activities
3. EPA CONSTRUCTION GENERAL PERMIT (CGP), EPA's NPDES permit covering stormwater
   discharges from construction sites in areas where EPA is the permitting authority.
   https://www.epa.gov/npdes/construction-general-permit-cgp
4. 40 CFR 122.26, the federal regulation setting stormwater discharge permit
   application requirements, including for construction activity.
   https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-122/section-122.26
5. EPA SWPPP GUIDANCE, EPA's guidance on developing a Stormwater Pollution
   Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for a construction site.
   https://www.epa.gov/npdes/developing-stormwater-pollution-prevention-plan-swppp
6. EPA CONSTRUCTION GENERAL PERMIT INSPECTOR TRAINING, EPA resource page on the
   "qualified person" inspection standard under the 2022 CGP.
   https://www.epa.gov/npdes/construction-general-permit-inspector-training
7. EPA CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION TRAINING COURSE, EPA's free training course
   resource for construction site inspectors.
   https://www.epa.gov/npdes/construction-inspection-training-course
8. STATE NPDES PERMITTING AUTHORITY, roughly 47 states are EPA-authorized to run
   their own NPDES stormwater permitting programs. EPA remains the direct permitting
   authority in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington DC, and most
   U.S. territories and tribal lands. See /state-stormwater-permit-requirements/.

## RELATED PAGES
- /federal-qualified-person-vs-california-qsp-qsd/
- /state-stormwater-permit-requirements/
- /qualified-swppp-practitioner-qsp-training/
- /qualified-swppp-preparer-training/
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Compliance · Regulations

Stormwater Regulations & Standards

Plain-language summaries of the Clean Water Act, NPDES stormwater permitting, EPA's Construction General Permit, and the federal regulations behind construction stormwater compliance, each linked to the official government source.

The Federal Framework, Explained Simply

Construction stormwater compliance in the United States is built on a handful of interlocking federal laws, regulations, and EPA programs. Below is a plain-language summary of each, with a link to the official government source so you can read the primary text yourself. This page is informational only , it is not a substitute for reading your specific permit or consulting the applicable regulatory authority.

Core Regulations & Resources

Clean Water Act, NPDES & the Construction General Permit

Clean Water Act Section 402

Section 402 of the Clean Water Act establishes the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), the federal permitting program that regulates the discharge of pollutants, including construction stormwater, into waters of the United States. It is the legal foundation underneath every construction stormwater permit discussed on this site. Read EPA's NPDES overview →

NPDES Construction Stormwater Permitting

Construction activities that disturb one acre or more of land (or are part of a larger common plan of development) generally need NPDES permit coverage for stormwater discharges before ground is broken. Depending on location, that permit is issued either directly by EPA or by an EPA-authorized state program. Read EPA's construction stormwater discharge page →

EPA Construction General Permit (CGP)

The Construction General Permit (CGP) is EPA's NPDES permit specifically for stormwater discharges from construction activity, and it applies in the states, territories, and tribal lands where EPA is the direct permitting authority. It sets requirements for SWPPP development, BMP implementation, inspections, and recordkeeping. Read EPA's CGP overview →

40 CFR 122.26

This section of the Code of Federal Regulations sets the detailed stormwater discharge permit application requirements referenced throughout NPDES construction permitting, including which activities require permit coverage and what permit applications must contain. Read 40 CFR 122.26 on eCFR →

EPA SWPPP Guidance

EPA publishes guidance on developing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), the site-specific document that identifies pollutant sources and describes the BMPs a project will use to control them. See also How to Prepare a SWPPP on this site for a plain-language walkthrough. Read EPA's SWPPP guidance →

EPA Construction General Permit Inspector Training

EPA's 2022 CGP requires inspections to be performed by a "qualified person." This EPA resource page explains that standard and what EPA provides to help permittees meet it. See also Federal Qualified Person vs. California QSP/QSD. Read EPA's inspector training page →

EPA Construction Inspection Training Course

EPA offers a free Construction Inspection Training Course as a resource for individuals performing site inspections under the CGP. It is a government resource, separate from any commercial training provider's course, including the courses on this site. Read about EPA's course →

State NPDES Permitting Authority

Roughly 47 states are EPA-authorized to administer their own NPDES stormwater permitting programs in place of the federal CGP, each with its own permit language and requirements. EPA remains the direct permitting authority in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington DC, and most U.S. territories and tribal lands. See State Stormwater Permit Requirements for a state-by-state summary.

Where Training Fits

Understanding the Rules Before You Train

These regulations are the "why" behind stormwater training. If you inspect sites or implement BMPs in the field, see QSP Practitioner Training. If you write or maintain the SWPPP document itself, see SWPPP Preparer Training. If you're not sure which applies to your role, use Which Course Do I Need?. For how a federal "qualified person" differs from California's QSP/QSD system, see Federal vs. California QSP/QSD.

This page is for general education only. stormwaterplanning.us is not a government agency and does not claim EPA approval, EPA endorsement, NPDES certification, or state approval for its courses. Always consult the official regulatory text and your specific permit before making compliance decisions.

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