Michigan State Overview

The goal of the state of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Stormwater Program is to protect and preserve Michigan's water resources. The Michigan DEQ has since implemented two-step process to accomplish their goals in protecting and preserving their water resources:

1. Michigan has been delegated the regulatory authority by the EPA to implement their own "State-Specific" National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program.

2. Michigan has developed and implemented a mandatory training component for stormwater management compliance which must be completed to authorize permission to apply for general permitting coverage.       

According to the MDEQ, any construction activities (clearing, grading, and excavating) that will disturb one (1) or more acres of land; disturb less than one (1) acre of total land area that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb one (1) acre or more; and have point source discharges of stormwater to waters of the State (streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands) are required to apply for and obtain coverage under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Water Resources Department (WRD).

If any earth disturbing activity will be taking place on one (1) or more acres of land and is within 500 feet of a lake or stream, the project site owner or operator must acquire a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC) Permit. The MDEQ  also mandates that project operators or owners whose sites total one  (1) to five (5) acres of land disturbance, with a discharge to surface waters have automatic coverage without submitting an Notice of Coverage (NOC) if they have obtained the required Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC) Permit.

DISCLAIMER: This program has not yet been approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.