Achieving clean water compliance is just a start, but maintaining it is an ongoing commitment. From your first site visit to securing permits to reporting and managing changes, Cornerstone can be your trusted advisor throughout every aspect of navigating the Clean Water Act.

Clean Water Compliance Methodology

Because no two clients are the same, our team is always looking to tailor solutions around your specific needs. Our experienced water compliance specialists can provide support for any of the following activities:  

1. Assess conditions
   We begin with an Applicability Review, where we conduct a site visit to evaluate whether your facility needs a stormwater or wastewater permit or an oil spill prevention (SPCC) plan, which is not a permitted situation. 

2. Guide you through the permitting process
   If we find that your facility is applicable for permitting, our team will work with you to complete a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a general permit. This action alerts the regulatory authority of a planned discharge that is covered under a specific NPDES general permit.

3. Follow up and negotiations
   After an NPDES NOI is submitted, our project manager will continue to support you by following up with applicable agencies until you receive a Notice of Sufficiency (NOS).

4. Manage ongoing compliance
   Once the NOS is issued, our team can support the development of any required plans and sampling requirements to fulfill your compliance obligations. Our seasoned client advisors and contract team will also track renewal deadlines for notices as well as No Exposure certifications, taking this responsibility off your plate while giving you peace of mind.

Custom Services for Specific Needs

With a broad range of expertise, we can match our services to fit your specific industry, location, or goals, including:  

• Permitting for direct and indirect discharge of process wastewater

• Stormwater discharge compliance and NPDES permits

• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP)

• Groundwater/drinking water protection

• Sampling, discharge monitoring report (DMR) preparation, and reporting

• Gap analysis audits

• Usage tracking

• Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) planning

• On-site and web-based training on SPCC, SWPPP, and spill response

Understanding the Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act is a U.S. federal law aimed at protecting the nation’s water resources. Its main objectives are to regulate the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States and to set quality standards for surface waters. The Act empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set and enforce pollution control standards, issue permits for pollutant discharge, and fund the construction of sewage treatment facilities. While the Clean Water Act is best known for regulating National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting programs, Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) also falls under the CWA