The Division of Energy and Environment provides guidance and oversight to eleven (11) county-owned facilities that have a General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activity (12-SW), as required by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

Under this permit, the facilities are recognized to have the potential to contribute to stormwater pollution. However, they have committed to identifying potential sources and implementing proper control measures in order to limit the amount of exposure from their sources through a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). 

As such, each facility is required to inspect their facilities and operations four times per year to properly evaluate the control measures identified in the SWPPP. Should their control measures fail, they are held accountable by the State to clean up any spills or discharges, and correct them such that an incident does not occur again.