How to Get Your Facility Up and Running Quickly!

We are committed to making compliance with the general stormwater as simple as possible. This quick guide will help you understand the core requirements of the permit. Please feel free to contact your permit writer or Compliance and Enforcement officer for more assistance. Please refer to your facility’s stormwater permit for more detailed information.

After you complete and submit your permit application, you will be issued an authorization to discharge under this master general permit so long as your facility meets the eligibility criteria. Upon receiving the permit, you must evaluate your site for environmental sources of concern. This can be accomplished simply by walking through your facility and identifying area(s) where source materials (e.g., engine blocks, vehicle fluids, etc.) are exposed to the elements. Start thinking about how you can minimize or eliminate these source materials from exposure to stormwater.

The next step is to establish how your facility operates when a vehicle arrives. The first area the facility needs to establish is the “Vehicle Inspection Area”. Best management practices (BMPs) must be implemented at this area to assure environmental impacts are kept to a minimum. The Vehicle Inspection Area is where a leaking vehicle can be dealt with quickly with available absorbent materials. More detailed BMP information can be found on the Inbound Vehicle Inspection Area page.

After inspection, the vehicle must be drained of all fluids and dismantled. This must be performed in your facility’s “Fluid Draining and Dismantling Area”. This area has the option of being indoors or under cover on an impervious surface, such as a concrete pad. This area is designed to eliminate these source materials from exposure to stormwater. More detailed BMP information can be found on the Fluid Draining and Dismantling Area page.

After processing and draining the vehicle, you must store the fluids in your “Vehicle Fluid Storage Area”. All drained fluids must be placed in secondary containment and labeled for easy identification of contents. More detailed BMP information can be found on the Vehicle Fluid Storage Area page.

Facilities that dismantle the vehicle and sell the parts must construct a “Vehicle Parts Storage Area”. This is an area in which all engine blocks, cores, transmissions/drive components and other oily materials must be stored either indoors or in leak-proof containers on an impervious surface under cover. For example, parts can be stored on a shelf with a bermed concrete pad under a roof. More detailed BMP information can be found on the Vehicle Parts Storage page.

If the facility sells whole cars for resale, then you must designate an area for Operable Vehicle Storage Area. Operable vehicles are vehicles which can be started by a key and able to run continuously. These vehicles shall be stored in a designated area with their hoods down or by covering the engine compartment. Operable vehicles shall not leak or drip onto the ground or have pollutants exposed to stormwater. Parts which never contained fluids may be removed from vehicles stored in this area, such as head lights or bumpers.

The permit document contains additional BMP requirements as well as a requirement to maintain a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan on site. Please refer to the permit document for more specific information.

The first step your facility can accomplish in minimizing environmental hazards is to inspect all inbound vehicles.
Your facility must establish an “Inbound Vehicle Inspection Area”.

The “Inbound Vehicle Inspection Area” is where your facility first receives incoming vehicles. Any vehicles that are found to be leaking must be immediately moved to an impervious surface, such as a concrete pad that is contained. This area must be kept clean and be equipped with spill kits.

Inspect incoming vehicles for leaks in engines, radiators, transmissions, differentials, fuel tanks and damaged areas. Leaks must be identified and stopped immediately. Leaks can be controlled using spill kits, absorbent materials, drip pans or trays.

Vehicles in this area must be stored with their hoods down.

Operable Vehicles are vehicles which can be started by a key and are able to run continuously. These vehicles shall be stored in a designated area with their hoods down or by covering the engine compartment.

Operable Vehicles shall not leak or drip onto the ground or have pollutants exposed to stormwater.

Parts which never contained fluids may be removed from vehicles stored in this area. Examples of these types of parts include head lights or bumpers.

Your facility must establish a “Fluid Draining and Dismantling Area” on an impervious surface that is contained and under cover. For example, a concrete pad (with a berm to prevent fluid spills from leaving the pad) that is under a roof is acceptable.

Drain all fluids from vehicles into appropriate containers on an impervious surface that is contained and under cover. The cover must be constructed to prevent exposure to stormwater.

Fluids must be drained from: engines, radiators, transmissions, heater cores, brake lines, differentials, all lines and hoses, fuel tanks, air conditioning units and window washing fluid tanks. Fluids include, but are not limited to, fuel(s) engine oil(s), coolant(s), brake fluid(s), power steering fluid(s), transmission fluid(s) and wiper fluid(s).

Fluids do not need to be drained from sealed units that do not leak and are intended to be sold as complete units. Examples of sealed units include differentials, steering gear units, front and rear axle assemblies and transfer cases. Fluids do not need to be drained from units that are part of an operable vehicle.

All fluids must be drained from vehicles prior to leaving the designated Fluid Draining and Dismantling Area. Mercury switches and batteries must also be removed from vehicle prior to leaving the Fluid Draining and Dismaneling Area.

Establish a Fluid Storage Area for your facility.

The “Fluid Storage Area” shall be either indoors, or on an impervious surface that is contained and under cover. For example, a concrete pad with a berm to prevent fluid spills from leaving the pad that is located under a roof is acceptable.

All drained fluids must be placed in secondary containment and labeled for easy identification of contents.

All drained fluid shall be hauled off-site for recycling/disposal by a NJDEP licensed hauler. Receipts of recycling/disposal shall be kept onsite for a period of five years.

Containing parts and storing them properly prevents exposure to stormwater and the ground.

Your facility must construct a “Vehicle Parts Storage Area” on an impervious surface that is contained and under cover. For example, a concrete pad with a berm to prevent fluid spills from leaving the pad while being under a roof or indoors.

All engine blocks, cores, transmissions/drive components and other oily materials must be stored either indoors or in leak-proof containers on an impervious surface under cover. For example, stored on a shelf with a bermed concrete pad under a roof.

<p “>All batteries must be removed from vehicles and stored either indoors or in leak-proof containers on an impervious surface under cover. For example, stored in plastic bin with a lid on a concrete floor.

All lead parts must be removed and stored under cover. This includes, battery cable end and lead tire weights.

Mercury is a highly toxic metal often found in several vehicle applications. Once released into the environment, mercury cannot be recovered.

Mercury is a liquid metal and is often used in industrial applications.

PCBs were often used in coolant and dielectric applications before being banned by US Congress in 1979.

Mercury switches are often used in under the hood and truck lighting, four-wheel drive anti-lock braking systems and high intensity discharge (HID) head and tail lights.

Remove all mercury switches from vehicles in your facility’s “Vehicle Fluid Draining and Dismantling Area” and store them in a leak-proof, labeled, closed container in your facility’s “Vehicle Parts Storage Area”.

PCBs were used in vehicles built prior to 1979. The use of PCB material was limited to brake fluid, coolant and oil manufacturing. All fluids must be removed from vehicles as described in the BMP for the Fluid Draining and Dismantling Area. Mercury switches and batteries must also be removed from vehicles prior to leaving the Fluid Draining and Dismantling Area.

Over six million tires are disposed of each year. This is equal to one scrap tire per person per year in the United States.

Tires are recycled into many different products we use today.

Store tires in an enclosed building to keep them dry and ready for prompt shipping without additional handling. If tires must be stored outdoors, cover the pile to help minimize the collection of water and avoid attracting vermin. Store tires in a sunny location to allow evaporation of standing water and to kill heat-intolerant mosquito larvae.