Abstract Summary/Description
In collaboration with the South River Watershed Alliance and with support of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the study examines industrial stormwater permits in a dense concentration of industrial sites in the highly impacted South River Watershed of metro Atlanta, Georgia. South River rises from tributaries in downtown Atlanta and in East Point, Georgia, immediately north of the international airport. Contaminated sites and combined sewer overflows greatly impair the upper watershed. Focusing on an area of concentrated industrial activity, the study aims to establish a systematic methodology to determine the industrial facilities without required stormwater permits and to provide useful information to river advocates seeking to increase compliance and improve water quality. In selected industrial zones, Google Earth, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) databases, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit lists are used to identify sites with Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes that require permits or exemptions to be filed with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). Moreover, water and sediment samples will be collected in the South River above, between, and below each selected zone from six sampling points to assess for accessibility and safety. Building key informant interviews (KII) with experts and advocates from environmental non-governmental organizations, as well as an in-depth literature review on industrial stormwater compliance, the study contributes to the work of local community and regulatory organizations enhancing the water quality in the region and towards developing a replicable model of collaboration toward greater industrial stormwater management and compliance for similar watersheds.
