Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges (2019)

Chapter: Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis

Previous Chapter: Appendix C: Monitoring Parameters Required in Environmental Protection Agency 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Appendix D

2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis

The committee obtained MSGP monitoring data that have been reported in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Network Discharge Monitoring Report (NetDMR) database in response to the monitoring and reporting requirements of the 2015 MSGP (see Table 1-1). Stormwater samples are collected by the permittees at stormwater outfalls. An individual facility may have multiple outfalls at a site at which samples are collected. The samples are analyzed for sector-specific pollutants and any additional local requirements, typically by contract analytical laboratories, and the results are reported by the permittee using NetDMR. Permittees certify the data to be accurate and maintain laboratory reports on file, which are available for review upon request and during site inspections. In addition to MSGP benchmark monitoring, local monitoring requirements are often prescribed to inform compliance with effluent limitation guidelines, local or state regulations, or development or implementation of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs; labeled “required monitoring” in the database). The committee analyzed the data to assess the general extent to which individual reported results were above the benchmarks and whether there are sectors or subsectors that have a large percentage of facilities for which individual reported results exceed benchmark threshold values. The results of this data analysis are presented in this appendix through a series of graphs and tables of descriptive statistics, organized by pollutant. Summary tables are provided in Chapter 2.

The data obtained from EPA represented sites that were required under the 2015 MSGP to report their compliance information to the NetDMR database. The period of record for reported results was from mid-2015 through February 13, 2018. The data include more than 17,000 reported results from MSGP sites in the four states where EPA has primacy for the regulations (Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Mexico), the District of Columbia, all U.S. territories, Indian country, and some federal facilities throughout the United States. The data analyzed by the committee are available upon request to the National Academies Public Access Records Office.

ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY

The outfall monitoring data were analyzed by pollutant and sector or subsector (see Table D-1 for sector classifications). Standard industrial classification (SIC) codes were used to identify the appropriate sector or subsector for each data point. Where SIC codes were lacking, other identifying information (e.g., “primary permit SIC description”) was used to identify the appropriate sector or subsector. One SIC code (1021, copper ores) fell under both G1 and G2 and in these circumstances, the code was assigned G1.

All results reported in the NetDMR database and delivered to the committee were used in the analysis, unless key data or identifying information was lacking. Where reported results lacked SIC codes and the sector could not be determined through other identifying information, those results were excluded from the analysis. Results were also excluded in cases where no units were provided and where the units associated

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-1
Industrial Sectors and Subsectors

SubsectorSubsector Detail
A1General sawmills and planing mills
A2Wood preserving
A3Log storage and handling
A4Hardwood and wood product facilities; sawmills
B1Paperboard mills
B2Pulp and paper mills
C1Agricultural chemicals
C2Industrial inorganic chemicals
C3Soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and perfumes
C4Plastics, synthetics, and resins
C5Industrial organic chemicals, paints, lacquers, pharmaceuticals
D1Asphalt paving and roofing materials
D2Miscellaneous products of petroleum and coal
E1Clay product manufacturers
E2Concrete and gypsum product manufacturers
E3Glass and stone products
F1Steel works, blast furnaces, and rolling and finishing mills
F2Iron and steel foundries
F3Rolling, drawing, and extruding of nonferrous metals
F4Nonferrous foundries
F5Smelting and refining of nonferrous metals, miscellaneous primary metal products
G1Active copper ore mining and dressing facilities
G2Active metal mining facilities
HCoal mines and related areas
IOil and gas extraction facilities
J1Sand and gravel mining
J2Mining of dimension and crushed stone and nonmetallic minerals
J3Clay, chemical, and fertilizer mineral mining
K1Hazardous waste treatment storage, or disposal facilities
L1Landfills, land application sites, and open dumps
L2L1 except municipal solid waste landfill areas closed
MAutomobile salvage yards
N1Scrap recycling and waste recycling facilities
N2Source separated recycling facilities
OSteam electric generating facilities
PMotor freight transportation facilities
QWater transportation facilities
RShip and boat building or repair yards
SAirports
TTreatment works
U1Grain mill products
U2Fats and oils products
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.
SubsectorSubsector Detail
U3Meat, dairy, and other food products and beverages
VTextile mills, apparel, and other fabric products
WFurniture and fixture manufacturing facilities
XPrinting and publishing facilities
Y1Rubber products manufacturing
Y2Miscellaneous plastic products and manufacturing industries
ZLeather tanning and finishing facilities
AA1Fabricated metal products, except coating
AA2Fabricated metal coating and engraving
ABTransportation equipment, industrial, or commercial machinery manufacturing facilities
ACElectronic and electrical equipment and components, photographic, and optical goods manufacturing facilities

with the result could not be reasonably determined. The number of these excluded reported results are noted as footnotes to the tables that follow. The committee excluded a few reported results that were several orders of magnitude below known detection limits based on the current capabilities of chemical analysis. These exclusions are described in the pollutant-specific descriptions that follow. No high reported results were excluded because although some of the results appear suspect, it was not possible to associate the result with a reporting error with a high level of confidence. There could be additional reporting errors that are masked by the wide range of reported results.

The reported results for each pollutant were converted to consistent units (e.g., mg/L, µg/L), based on Table 1-3. In the analysis, results that were labeled as “less than” a specific value (e.g., some form of analytical detection limit) are analyzed as the value reported. Therefore, “less than 0.01 µg/L” becomes 0.01 µg/L for this analysis. In some cases the “less than” values reported were higher than the benchmark. For example, among the silver data reported, four of the reported results were higher than the hardness-specific benchmark (including <20 µg/L and <25 µg/L). For the purposes of this analysis, those results were analyzed and graphed as the value reported. Occurrences of “less than” values exceeding benchmarks are noted in footnotes in the tables where they occur. Similar to the “less than” values, for the few reported values where the data were labeled as “greater than,” the value used in the analysis was the value reported, which may represent the upper limit of detection or a reporting error.

The committee performed several levels of verification on this analysis. Three committee members helped review the methodology, and this appendix was reviewed by staff from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on National Statistics and one independent reviewer. The spreadsheets containing the calculations were reviewed in detail by National Academies’ staff to check for errors. A few minor errors were detected that were discussed with the committee and subsequently corrected.

In the tables that follow, descriptive statistics are presented for all sectors and subsectors with at least one reported value (statistics generated from Excel), including

  • The number of reported values,
  • The minimum and maximum (e.g., the range of concentrations observed),
  • The median (to highlight the center value of the data), and
  • The 75th percentile to show a relatively common upper concentration.

The data were also analyzed by subsector to calculate the percentage of individual reported results that were below the benchmark limit (or four or eight times

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

the benchmark, consistent with suggested Additional Implementation Measure [AIM] thresholds; see Box 1-3). The data were not processed to determine whether data exceeding benchmarks warranted corrective action in accordance with the permit, because that determination is based on the average of four quarterly monitoring values. For pollutants with a benchmark threshold not dependent on hardness, all reported results were analyzed. This includes data (flagged “required monitoring” in the database) that may have been reported for other reasons, such as TMDLs. For the six metals where the benchmark threshold is dependent on receiving water hardness (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc), the reported results were compared to the facility-specific hardness-based benchmark entered into the database. Reported results flagged as “required monitoring” that lacked information on a hardness-based benchmark or permit limit or sufficient receiving water quality information to determine the appropriate benchmark were excluded from the analysis. The number of excluded reported results is noted in a footnote to each pollutant with hardness-dependent benchmarks.

The box-plot figures that follow illustrate the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of the data, with the whiskers identifying the 10th and 90th percentiles. Data points outside of the 10th and 90th percentiles are shown as individual data points. Graphs for each pollutant only include sectors with at least eight reported results. Fewer than eight reported results were considered to be too few to provide a reasonable graphical representation of the data range and where the data were primarily centered. For pollutants with a single benchmark, the benchmark value as well as four and eight times the benchmark are plotted for ease of comparison. For the six metals where each sample benchmark is based on the receiving water hardness (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc), two benchmarks (plus eight times the benchmark) are presented for comparison based on generic hardness values—one representing soft water (60 mg/L as CaCO3) and the other representing hard water (200 mg/L CaCO3). The graphs include “required monitoring” reported results that were not included in the comparison against hardness-related benchmarks.

ANALYSIS LIMITATIONS

The data set has the following limitations. No information is known about the elements of the stormwater pollution prevention plan, including whether structural stormwater control measures were operating on site (and if so, whether those were designed or maintained appropriately) or whether the stormwater quality was managed using nonstructural activities, such as good housekeeping and site sweeping. In addition, no information is provided in the database on the hydrological characteristics of the site or the storm event, such as rainfall intensity or drainage area.

In addition, it was apparent that the data set contained some errors related to reporting. For example, one reported concentration for copper was in the range of 10−7 µg/L, which is not achievable given current detection limits for instrumentation. Some very low or high concentrations may have been the result of unit conversion errors.

The data represent more than 2 years of data collection, including the early part of the MSGP permit when all permittees are required to monitor and sample outfalls quarterly, at a minimum. If the average of four quarterly monitoring results meets the benchmark, those permittees are allowed to discontinue monitoring for the remainder of the permit cycle. Those that did not meet the benchmark continued to sample for an additional year. Therefore, the results are likely to be biased toward the higher concentrations, based on those permittees that had to collect additional samples. Therefore, the data should not be used to determine the percentage of permittees that had data exceeding benchmarks. The committee chose to analyze this longer data set rather than only the first year of reported results to capture more storms, given inherent variability in stormwater quality (see Chapter 3). A primary objective of the analysis was to identify sectors and pollutants with recurrent benchmark exceedances, and longer periods of reported results were helpful in this regard. For this 2-plus-year period, the effect would be less than it would be in past MSGP data analyses, which included data over either only year 2 or 4 of the permit (Harcum et al., 2005) or up to 4 years of the permit (EPA, 2012).

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

ANALYSIS RESULTS

The following sections summarize the 2015 MSGP reported results for individual pollutants, sorted by sector or subsector. Some of the pollutants (e.g., antimony, cadmium, cyanide, mercury, nickel, selenium) had a relatively small data set, and some of the subsectors only represent a single facility. The largest data sets include aluminum, copper, iron, lead, total suspended solids (TSS), and zinc. The results are summarized in Chapter 2 and in Tables 2-3 and 2-4.

Aluminum

Figure D-1 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for aluminum. For most sectors where aluminum was measured, the benchmark (750 µg/L) was achieved by at least 50 percent of the reported results. The exception was Sector H (coal mines and coal-mine-related facilities), which had no reported results that met the benchmark and for which most reported results exceeded a value eight times the benchmark. Among the sectors with at least eight reported results, Sectors N (scrap recycling), P (motor freight transportation), Q (water transportation facilities), and R (ship building) all had frequent individual results that exceeded the benchmark (>35 percent) and many (7–13 percent) had very high values reported. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-2.

Image
FIGURE D-1
Aluminum results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported results through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 750 μg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-2
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Aluminum

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
C289554274,0002705401973
C5102<1001,1501783101000
D1217012095108000
E2211,9002,1002,0002,05010000
F1312383,0002555712300
F2524<509,4704121,08027128
F362372705073000
H2233,410315,00026,70099,97510010095
J21180808080000
M19039341,0002555881852
N13185313130,0006492,290462113
O21<100100100100000
P911064800,0004601,45038159
Q57766<6144,0004701,600381712
R3353710628,0005001,67038167
S1027.8509144261000
T311308103105603300
U3216909,6705,1807,425505050
V42<502,3201,3971,6467500
Y2363<5092050153300
AA1387352646,1002921,1003084
AB8170370195263000

NOTE: Twenty-seven reported results were not included because they did not have units or the sector/subsector could not be identified (9 without units, 18 without sector/subsector information).

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Ammonia

Figure D-2 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for ammonia. In general, most reported results met the benchmark (2.14 mg N/L). The complete data set is summarized in Table D-3.

Image
FIGURE D-2
Ammonia results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 2.14 mg N/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.

TABLE D-3
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Ammonia

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (mg/L)Max. (mg/L)Median (mg/L)75th Percentile (mg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
C582<0.051.30.160.28000
K7870.06<1,0000.420.613a1a1a
L181140.028.20.160.34400
L2110.040.040.040.04000
N1220.100.750.420.59000
P3880.021.90.160.29000
Q410.100.450.240.39000
S1120.091.60.420.66000
AA1210.053.51.82.65000
AC410.111.10.170.43000

NOTE: Four reported results were not included because the sector/subsector could not be identified.

a Includes one reported result with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark (2.14 mg N/L).

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Antimony

Data were reported for antimony for only two sectors and the data were not graphed because there were fewer than eight reported results for each. Table D-4 shows the results for the limited results reported for Sectors G1 and G2, metal mining (ore mining and dressing), both of which were able to meet the benchmark (640 µg/L).

TABLE D-4
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Antimony

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
G121<7.5<20<14<17000
G242<20<500<260<500000

Arsenic

Figure D-3 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for arsenic. For all sectors where arsenic was measured and a sufficient number of reported results were in the database to allow graphing, the freshwater benchmark (150 µg/L) was achieved by greater than 75 percent of the reported data. Sectors K (hazardous waste facilities) and P (motor freight transportation) had one result and two results, respectively, that did not meet the benchmark. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-5.

Image
FIGURE D-3
Arsenic results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 150 μg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-5
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Arsenic

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A2343<181.58.513000
C341<10<10<10<10000
C582<2<11<6.5<11000
G141<25<25<25<25000
G242<25<40<32.5<40000
K1887<11,8003.95.5111
N111<5<5<5<5000
O31<518<512000
P2180.5<5006.12010a00
R51<1141.41.9000
AA1310.222.50.691.6000
AC21<565.55.8000

a All exceedances were for reported results that had stated detection limits above the benchmark (150 μg/L).

Beryllium

Data were reported for beryllium for only Sectors G1 and G2, metal mining (ore mining and dressing), and were not graphed because there were fewer than eight reported results for each. Table D-6 shows the limited results for the data reported, which were able to meet the benchmark of 130 µg/L.

TABLE D-6
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Beryllium

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
G111<2<2<2<2000
G242<2<100<51<100000
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (5 day) (BOD5)

Figure D-4 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for BOD5. Of the three sectors with at least eight reported results, most of the data met the benchmark of 30 mg/L for Sectors L1 (landfills) and P (motor freight transportation facilities), but 44 percent of reported results in Sector S (airports) were not able to meet the benchmark. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-7.

Image
FIGURE D-4
Five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 30 mg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.

TABLE D-7
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for BOD5

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (mg/L)Max. (mg/L)Median (mg/L)75th Percentile (mg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
L16812<21637.4151310
L2117878787810000
N1119999000
P364<0.0015318413833
Q1113131313000
S1822.9322206144116
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Cadmium

Figure D-5 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for cadmium. The cadmium benchmark value is determined by the hardness in the receiving water (see Analysis Methodology). For the graphs, two cadmium benchmark values are presented—one representing soft water (60 mg/L as CaCO3; 1.3 µg/L Cd) and one representing hard water (200 mg/L as CaCO3; 4.5 µg/L Cd), although these are presented for visualization purposes only. Benchmarks are based on site-specific hardness values. Of the sectors with at least eight reported results, only Sector K (hazardous waste facilities) exhibited benchmark exceedances (14 percent of reported results).

The figure and the descriptive statistics in Table D-8 include data collected for required monitoring that did not include hardness-specific benchmarks. Data entries without a hardness-specific benchmark were not included for the evaluation of the percentage of reported results that met benchmark thresholds.

Image
FIGURE D-5
Cadmium results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange lines denote the soft-water benchmark of 1.3 μg/L or eight times the benchmark and the purple lines denote the hard-water benchmark of 4.5 μg/L or eight times the benchmark. Benchmark compliance is assessed based on site-specific water quality data.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-8
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Cadmium

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
C5820.00110.501000
G1212222000
G2520.10.440.440.44000
K2650.2121214a70
N1720.54114.4NANANA
O215555.0NANANA
P1040.0562023.4000
T412103.56.325a00
AA1310.000472.90.231.6000

NOTES: NA, required monitoring for purpose other than MSGP benchmark compliance; no regulatory limit established for those sites. Fifteen reported results were excluded from the hardness analysis because no regulatory limit was established for these sites. In addition to the sectors noted with NA above, the following were excluded from the analysis (the number of data points in parentheses): G2(1), P(5).

a Includes one reported result with stated detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

Figure D-6 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for COD. Only Sector A2 (wood preserving) was unable to meet the COD benchmark of 120 mg/L for at least 50 percent of the reported results. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-9. Sectors A2, A4 (hardwood, sawmills), N1 (scrap recycling), and S (airports) reported 5 percent or more of data points in excess of four times the benchmark.

Image
FIGURE D-6
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 120 mg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-9
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for COD

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (mg/L)Max. (mg/L)Median (mg/L)75th Percentile (mg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A1220283.6740371092120
A2191306401353375850
A46699711791763650
B1221<5802229000
C582<51031766000
G1815.8211416000
K8882.23,00069991931
M6222150781223300
N130352<53,700751983672
P6660.244046851500
Q421414723562500
S183206255724033110
AA1362221644759800

NOTE: Eighteen reported results were not included because they did not have units.

Copper

Figure D-7 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for copper. The copper benchmark value is determined by the hardness in the receiving water. For the graphs, two copper benchmark values are presented—one representing soft water (60 mg/L as CaCO3; 9 µg/L) and one representing hard water

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

(200 mg/L as CaCO3; 28.5 µg/L). Two reported results were deleted from the analysis because their reported values were several orders of magnitude below the expected detection limit for copper. Of the sectors that had at least eight reported results, many sectors (A2 [wood preserving], F2 [iron and steel foundries], F4 [nonferrous foundries], M [auto salvage], N1 [scrap recycling], Q [water transportation], R [ship building], AA1 [fabricated metal products]) were unable to meet the benchmark for at least 50 percent of the reported results. Most of these sectors (A2, F4, N1, Q, R, and AA1) also had a large percentage of reported results (at least 25 percent) exceeding eight times the benchmark, and many results were reported that were orders of magnitude higher than this level.

Image
FIGURE D-7
Copper results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange lines denote the soft-water benchmark of 1.3 μg/L or eight times the benchmark and the purple lines denote the hard-water benchmark of 4.5 μg/L or eight times the benchmark. Benchmark exceedance is assessed based on site-specific water quality data.

The figure and the descriptive statistics in Table D-10 include data collected for required monitoring that did not include hardness-specific benchmarks. Data

TABLE D-10
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Copper

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A232315888129213978481
A4217211418NANANA
B221<2856.5NANANA
C41122222222NANANA
C5636571822NANANA
E22220423137NANANA
F2354<183132263a90
F310090.0031957.81740b2214
F4102527931169706050
G121246745565000
G242<39.56.29.52500
M1120.0166424368290
N133049<0.0014,380196262b37a26
O4118863052NANANA
P97140.007250132232c11
Q41560112,00010036086d73c61b
R335380.01796,00021961596d90c81
S2210.0020375.38.31800
U32762.83571131NANANA
V2118282326NANANA
Y21117171717NANANA
AA19350.03374,00076370826046
AC171430621.5NANANA

NOTES: NA, required monitoring for purpose other than MSGP benchmark compliance; no regulatory limit established for those sites. Nine reported results were not included because they did not have units; 82 reported results were excluded from the hardness-based benchmark analysis because no regulatory limit was established for these sites. In addition to the sectors noted with NA above, the following were excluded from the benchmark analysis: A4(2), B2(2), C4(1), C5(6), E2(2), N1(1), O(4), P(24), Q(1), R(1), U3(27), V(2), Y2(1), AA1(1), and AC1(7).

a Includes one result with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

b Includes two to four results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

c Includes nine results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

d Includes five to seven results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

entries without a hardness-specific benchmark were not included for the evaluation of the percentage of reported results that met benchmark thresholds.

Cyanide

Figure D-8 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for cyanide. The sectors with sufficient reported results to graph were able to meet the cyanide benchmark of 22 µg/L for all but one of the reported results in the database (from Sector K, hazardous waste facility). The complete data set is summarized in Table D-11.

Image
FIGURE D-8
Cyanide results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 22 μg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.

TABLE D-11
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Cyanide

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A4111.91.91.91.9000
B221<1<1<1<1000
C341<0.82.11.42.0000
C5113<0.0013.2<11000
E222<12.41.72.1000
J122<2<2<2<2000
K614<0.00001251.71.7200
P731172.85.1000
Q111111000
U31460.92.311.3000
Y2112.22.22.22.2000
AC42<11.611.2000
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Iron

Figure D-9 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for iron. For sectors with at least eight reported results, Sectors A1 (general sawmills), E2 (concrete and gypsum), E3 (glass and stone products), F2 (iron and steel foundries), H (coal mines), L2 (landfills, excluding municipal solid waste), N1 (scrap recycling), and P (motor freight transportation) exceeded the benchmark for ≥50 percent of the reported results. At least 10 percent of the reported results in Sectors C1 (agrochemicals), E2, H, L2, N1, Q (water transportation), and S (airports) exceeded eight times the benchmark. About 95 percent of the reported results from Sector H exceeded eight times the benchmark. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-12.

Image
FIGURE D-9
Iron results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 1,000 μg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-12
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Iron

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A11211004,8801,3202,39858170
B211<50<50<50<50000
C12321924,000181752171713
C28452539,1002807762151
C5142<502,9402407502100
D193<507,2903801,22033110
E22284624510,0001,5004,613592817
E382273,600994.51,7005000
F2344<5015,4001,1652,95053249
F3413701,0106951,0032500
G111<100100100100000
G242<1,0001,2701,1351,2705000
H2235,980604,00034,650113,65010010095
J192190540280340000
J2357<509,10025090520113
L212014<5092,0001,3003,493592217
M19639<1334,0004001,0002442
N13295313164,0002,3605,800693118
O1420344203,0005641,70033159
P8993054,1001,0102,11052119
Q626705126,0008002,983452012
R3453713881,0006562,42041179
S1931445,0008422,575421616
U3215,60013,0009,30011,15010010050
Y1416201,8008801,2002500
Y2303<501,600110289700
AA143035<544,1005661,79537146

NOTE: Twenty-four reported results were not included because they did not have units.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Lead

Figure D-10 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for lead. The lead benchmark value is determined by the hardness in the receiving water. For the graphs, two lead benchmark values are presented—one representing soft water (60 mg/L as CaCO3; 45 µg/L) and one representing hard water (200 mg/L as CaCO3; 213 µg/L). Of the sectors that had at least eight reported results, Sector N1 (scrap recycling) had the largest percentage of benchmark exceedances (41 percent), with 7 percent exceeding eight times the benchmark, while Sector R (ship and boat building or repair years) had about 25 percent exceedances compared to the soft-water benchmark.

The figure and the descriptive statistics in Table D-13 include data collected for required monitoring that did not include hardness-specific benchmarks. Data entries without a hardness-specific benchmark were not included for the evaluation of the percentage of reported results that met benchmark thresholds.

Image
FIGURE D-10
Lead results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange lines denote the soft-water benchmark of 45 μg/L or eight times the benchmark and the purple lines denote the hard-water benchmark of 213 μg/L or eight times the benchmark. Benchmark exceedance is assessed based on site-specific water quality data.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-13
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Lead

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
C172<310<3<10000
C5113<257<391000
D121<5<8<6.5<7.2NANANA
G121<7.5<7.5<7.5<7.5000
G252<4444444000
K285<0.5140513700
M172390.752307.516611
N1311510.618,000287741167
O21<10<10<10<10NANANA
P81100.35742620220
Q410570.082,46715294a00
R276350.51,30025508b10
S610.223.50.472.0000
T922541929000
U3164<0.5<1024.0NANANA
AA1610.373.61.52.9000
AC114444NANANA

NOTES: NA, required monitoring for purpose other than MSGP benchmark compliance; no regulatory limit established for those sites. Nine reported results were not included because they did not have units; 67 reported results were excluded from the hardness-based benchmark analysis because no regulatory limit was established for these sites. In addition to the sectors noted with NA above, the following were excluded from the benchmark analysis (the number of reported results in parentheses): C5(1), D1(2), G2(1), M(2), N1(8), O1(2), P(28), Q(1), T(5), U3(16), and AC1(1).

a Includes one result with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

b Includes five results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Magnesium

Figure D-11 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for magnesium. Only two sectors had at least eight reported results for graphical analysis. Half of the reported results in Sectors C5 (industrial organic chemicals) and all the reported results in Sector K (hazardous waste facilities) exceeded the benchmark of 64 µg/L. A large proportion of these reported results also exceeded eight times the benchmark. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-14. None of the reported results submitted in either Sectors P (motor freight transportation facilities) or AA1 (fabricated metal) were able to meet the magnesium benchmark.

Image
FIGURE D-11
Magnesium results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 64 μg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.

TABLE D-14
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Magnesium

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
C5820.9913,9002,0317,168505050
K95811070,0002,5207,295100a98a83a
P5130016,0002,60011,00010010080
AA1315051,5901,4101,50010010067

a Includes two results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark (and eight times the benchmark).

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Mercury

Figure D-12 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for mercury. For sectors with at least eight reported results, Sectors K (hazardous waste facilities) and U3 (food and beverage production) each exceeded the benchmark of 1.4 µg/L in only one reported result. The plot for Sector U3 was skewed by a single result that was >1,000 µg/L, three orders of magnitude greater than other results in the database. One potential explanation for this is that the result was in micrograms per liter and was reported in milligrams per liter and was converted for these purposes to micrograms per liter by multiplying by 1,000. Because the analytical result is possible, although highly unlikely, it was retained in the analysis. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-15.

Image
FIGURE D-12
Mercury results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 1.4 μg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.

TABLE D-15
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Mercury

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
C341<0.2<4<0.3<1.325a00
C582<0.000010.06<0.026<0.05000
G141<0.2<0.2<0.2<0.2000
G2243<0.21<1<1000
K908<0.002<2<0.0670.121a00
N153<0.10.2<0.2<0.2000
P410.0270.0620.0440.049000
Q410.060.290.0950.17000
R51<0.1<0.15<0.1<0.1000
U383<0.055000<0.050.10131313

NOTE: One result was not included because the sector/subsector could not be identified.

a Includes one result with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Nickel

The NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for nickel are summarized in Table D-16. No sector had at least eight reported results for graphical analysis. Those facilities with hardness-specific benchmarks identified all met the benchmarks. Even for the data entries that lacked hardness-specific limits, all the reported results submitted met both the soft-water benchmark of 320 µg/L and the hard-water benchmark of 890 µg/L.

TABLE D-16
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Nickel

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
G111<10<10<10<10000
G242<10<10<10<10000
N11113131313NANANA
O121<25<25<25<25NANANA
P53<25<250<25<250NANANA

NOTES: NA, required monitoring for purpose other than MSGP benchmark compliance; no regulatory limit established for those sites. These eight reported results were excluded from the benchmark analysis.

Nitrite Plus Nitrate

Figure D-13 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for nitrite plus nitrate. For sectors with at least eight reported results, only Sector C1 (agricultural chemicals) exceeded the benchmark of 0.68 mg/L in more than 50 percent of the reported results, although Sectors C1, J2 (crushed stone), and AA2 (fabricated metal coating) exceeded four times the benchmark in at least 10 percent of the reported results. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-17.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.
Image
FIGURE D-13
Nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 0.68 mg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.

TABLE D-17
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Nitrite Plus Nitrate Nitrogen

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
C1810.183.11.22.063130
C2623<0.021.30.350.601600
C34230.0811.80.480.51000
C51520.141.90.440.903300
D11140.020.90.50.5900
E2134<0.020.890.090.161500
F2410.140.460.290.39000
F341<0.20.970.470.642500
G1810.211.90.430.883800
J19925<0.0270.350.892942
J2385<0.0524<0.5<0.5211311
P32<0.10.480.170.33000
Q3120.0210.940.350.521300
Y22620.0890.80.50.51200
AA135730<0.001<680.50.6821a6b2b
AA22040.07220.320.4920105

a Includes seven results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

b Includes one result with reported detection limit exceeding four and eight times the benchmark.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

pH

Figure D-14 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for pH. The pH benchmark is set based on maintaining an optimum range for water quality between pH 6 and 9. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-18, including the last column which sums the percentage of reported results in each sector that were below pH of 6.0 or above pH of 9.0. Sectors with at least eight reported results where ≥10 percent of the data were outside the pH benchmark range were G1 (copper mining), L1 (landfills), and AB (transportation equipment).

Image
FIGURE D-14
pH results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTE: Orange lines denote minimum and maximum of optimal pH range of 6.0–9.0.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-18
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for pH

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin.Max.Median75th PercentilePercent <6Percent >9Percent Outside BM Range
A17865.97.87.17.3404
A3216.46.86.66.7000
D12184.28.47.87.8505
E22465.68.47.27.6404
E3117.87.87.87.8000
F3217.17.37.27.3000
G11017.89.17.89.104040
G2627.17.47.27.4000
J14487.0<97.88.2000
J2104205.5<97.47.8202
L1118141.610.17.27.610212
L2117.57.57.57.5000
N11466.17.67.17.4000
O416.87.27.07.2000
P57105.88.97.27.4202
Q220.99.25.17.15050100
S3845.57.56.97.1505
U32276.69.47.88.1099
V425.96.76.36.525025
Y2726.48.17.77.9000
AA1218.38.98.68.7000
AB1225.37.46.56.617017

NOTE: Twenty-four reported results were not included because they did not have units or the sector/subsector could not be identified (6 reported results without units; 18 without sector/subsector information).

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Phosphorus

Figure D-15 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for total phosphorus. For sectors with at least eight reported results, only Sector C1 (agricultural chemicals) exceeded the benchmark of 2 mg/L in ≥10 percent of the reported results. Sector U3 seemed to have a sample that was an anomaly at 187 mg/L. No other reported result in that sector exceeded 10 mg/L. However, because no information was available to indicate that this was an incorrect entry, the reported result was retained in the analysis. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-19.

Image
FIGURE D-15
Total phosphorus results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 2 mg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-19
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Total Phosphorus

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (mg/L)Max. (mg/L)Median (mg/L)75th Percentile (mg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A4720.0270.770.250.28000
C12420.0643.30.851.41300
C5620.0370.690.130.17000
D11650.0911.20.140.38000
E222<0.051.20.640.94000
J1459<0.050.80.120.17000
J222<0.050.290.170.23000
N193<0.10.290.140.22000
O1122<0.11.90.381.2000
P2580.062.60.270.92400
S1650.060.650.230.36000
T610.072.60.330.421700
U1411.17.95.97.97500
U34280.0121870.620.89722
AA11520.030.60.070.19000
AC114<0.010.50.130.20000

NOTE: Two reported results were not included because they did not have subsector/sector information.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Selenium

Figure D-16 shows the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for selenium for sectors with at least eight reported results. Overall, high reported detection levels make the data more difficult to interpret. Only a few results (7 out of 87) across all sectors were reported that were above the benchmark (5 µg/L) that were not assigned a “less than” descriptor. All reported results for C5 were below the stated detection limit, although some of these detection limits were above the benchmark. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-20.

Image
FIGURE D-16
Selenium results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes benchmark of 5 μg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.

TABLE D-20
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Selenium

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A2311010101010000
C582<1<11<6<1150a00
G242<0.003<545000
J382<0.56<1<2.22500
K6060.61100<2<518b33
Q11<3<3<3<3000
T111<6.1<6.1<6.1<6.1100a00
U3222<32.52.8000

a All exceedances were for results that had reported detection limits above the benchmark of 5 μg/L.

b Includes nine results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Silver

Figure D-17 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for silver. The benchmark value for silver is determined by the hardness in the receiving water. For the graphs, two silver benchmark values are presented—one representing soft water (60 mg/L as CaCO3; 1.7 µg/L) and one representing hard water (200 mg/L as CaCO3; 13.8 µg/L). All reported results noted as exceeding the benchmark also were reported as “less than” a detection level that was above the benchmark (see Table D-21).

Image
FIGURE D-17
Silver results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange lines denote the soft-water benchmark of 1.7 μg/L or eight times the benchmark and the purple lines denote the hard-water benchmark of 13.8 μg/L or eight times the benchmark. Benchmark exceedance is assessed based on site-specific water quality data.

TABLE D-21
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Silver

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
C582<0.00110.501000
G111<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.1000
G2420.17<0.30.24<0.3000
K2650.1<20<12.712a4b0
P510.020.520.150.32000
T41<5<25<9<1625b00

a Includes three results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

b Includes one result with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Figure D-18 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for total suspended solids compared to the benchmark of 100 mg/L. Considering sectors with at least eight reported results, at least 60 percent of reported results in Sectors A2 (wood preserving), E3 (glass and stone products), and H (coal mines) exceeded the benchmark, and more than 10 percent of the reported results in Sectors A2 and H exceeded eight times the benchmark. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-22.

Image
FIGURE D-18
Total suspended solids results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes the benchmark of 100 mg/L. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-22
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Total Suspended Solids

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (mg/L)Max. (mg/L)Median (mg/L)75th Percentile (mg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A1374280.42,68023902273
A2242103,810172550632113
A35310<22,70013451122
A4749<41,240581082733
B2416.4632344000
D1150270.598815361111
E2269460.6616,0005115035147
E3112378203003408290
F227445537191140
G1121<552917361780
G283<51006.554000
H2238025,2002,2504,730957755
J1211280.11558719420
J2428350.195,00015491463
L146131120,0003214530148
L2111,5101,5101,5101,51010000
M185390.631,2001529611
N130552<25,14035932472
O62<530611000
P13812<21,40016541873
Q421.5285.613000
R51<14.82.62.9000
S205<21221.542500
T3220575556000
U13779486761493830
U312374415811504310
Y21111111111000
AA1641<470519000
AB131530719000
AC162<5205.515000

NOTE: Twenty reported results were not included because they did not have units or the sector/subsector could not be identified (19 results without units; 1 result without sector/subsector information).

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Turbidity

Figure D-19 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for turbidity compared to the benchmark of 50 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). Of the sectors with at least eight reported results, only D1 (asphalt paving) exceeded the benchmark in more than 25 percent of the reported results. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-23.

Image
FIGURE D-19
Turbidity results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange line denotes the benchmark of 50 NTU. Dashed purple lines represent four and eight times the benchmark.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-23
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Turbidity

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (NTU)Max. (NTU)Median (NTU)75th Percentile (NTU)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A2319.4271119000
A3217.1281823000
A4410.397713322500
B21140.19271317000
C5524.3174.911000
D11021.49418704000
E243<4236279625250
G11112121212000
G23230505050000
J2212.22.32.32.3000
J31111111111000
M110.710.710.710.71000
N1831.1331628000
O1223.9281726000
P1053.3371032000
Q630.93623.1000
S622.11105.0151700
T1021.19704.427201010
U32980.7924012421730
AA1420.83127.111000
AC1131.5151042000
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

Zinc

Figure D-20 highlights the NetDMR 2015 MSGP data for zinc. Zinc’s benchmark value is determined by the hardness in the receiving water. For the graphs, two zinc benchmark values are presented—one representing soft water (60 mg/L as CaCO3; 80 µg/L) and one representing hard water (200 mg/L as CaCO3; 230 µg/L). Reviewing the data set, several reported results may be outliers because their reported values are below the detection limits of most common methods of analysis. This is likely a transcription error. However, because these values were within the limit of detection of research instruments, the reported results were retained in the analysis. There also were two results that were reported as ≥10,000 µg/L (10 mg/L). The result in Sector F3 does not appear to be outside the range reported for other data. However, for Sector Q, the reported result is more than 10 times greater than the other data. Again, there was insufficient information to remove these from the analysis, so they were retained. Of the sectors with at least eight reported results, in Sectors C1 (agrochemicals), C4 (plastics), F1 (steel works), F2 (iron and steel foundries), F3 (rolling, drawing, and extruding of nonferrous metals), N1 (scrap recycling), Q (water transportation), Y1 (rubber products), AA1 (fabricated metal), and AA2 (fabricated metal coating), the reported values exceeded the hardness-specific benchmark for at least 50 percent of the reported results, and at least 10 percent of the reported results in Sectors C1, C4, F3, F4 (nonferrous foundries), N1, and Y1 exceeded eight times the benchmark. The complete data set is summarized in Table D-24.

Image
FIGURE D-20
Zinc results from NetDMR 2015 MSGP reported data through February 2018.
NOTES: Orange lines denote the soft-water benchmark of 80 μg/L or eight times the benchmark and the purple lines denote the hard-water benchmark of 230 μg/L or eight times the benchmark. Benchmark compliance is assessed based on site-specific water quality data.
Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

TABLE D-24
Statistical Summary and Benchmark Comparison of 2015 MSGP Reported Results for Zinc

No. Reported ResultsNo. FacilitiesMin. (µg/L)Max. (µg/L)Median (µg/L)75th Percentile (µg/L)Percent >BMPercent >4× BMPercent >8× BM
A12102811,63036873571
C1242171,300243365832925
C3604153,2107213248177
C4445201,580150284894116
C511675675675675100100100
F1342<2065015920091a213
F2364<51,00015833761286
F31119<0.0127,200129268522712
F4102<1058759301503030
G121<10101010000
G252<30767676000
L180140.000161,1104283611
L21131231231231210000
M62241606385000
N1316495.23,100150328683213
O4172855416614NANANA
P132110.141,600411071130
Q564650.000033102,0008925348b198
R5940.0291,2400.562.41233
S2720.0096619511653380
Y1645142,200110290913823
Y2343219926111068159
AA1374350.0193,3809723557197
AA2244105,2008516529138

NOTES: NA, required monitoring for purpose other than MSGP benchmark compliance; no regulatory limit established for those sites. Fourteen reported results were not included because they did not have units. An additional four reported results from P1 were excluded from the hardness-based benchmark evaluation because no regulatory limit was established for those sites.

a Includes three results with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

b Includes one result with reported detection limit exceeding the benchmark.

Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix D: 2015 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) Data Analysis." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Improving the EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25355.
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Next Chapter: Appendix E: Additional Data on Technical Achievability of Treatment Stormwater Control Measures
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