South Dakota Sets Industrial Sites Storm Water Fees

Money will be collected for storm water discharge permits at industrial and construction sites one acre and larger in South Dakota.

Dec. 4, 2020
2 min read

A Dakota government agency will start collecting money for storm water discharge permits at industrial and construction sites. 

This applies to sites that are one acre and larger in South Dakota, reported KELOLAND News.

The state Water Management Board voted 6-0 for a system of tiered fees that the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources wants to charge. The proposed fees need final clearance from the Legislature’s Rules Review Committee, however.

The proposed storm water fees range from $100 to $800 per year per site, depending on the type of business, with a $2,500 maximum, and would begin accruing Jan. 1, 2022, according to KELOLAND News.

This would generate an estimated $190,000 more for the department. There are approximately 850 industrial sites that currently have storm water discharge permits.

The department detailed the plan on its website.

According to Brett Steers, an environmental engineer for the South Dakota department, the federal EPA wants states to inspect at least 5% of permitted storm water sites each year, reported KELOLAND News.

The department has not set a structure yet for conducting more visits to permitted sites. The U.S. EPA created storm water regulations to South Dakota in 1993 and the law was updated in 2018.

Governor Kristi Noem announced earlier in 2020 that she will file with the Legislature in January an executive order merging the DENR and the state Department of Agriculture, reported KELOLAND News. 

The new department would be known as the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. According to Secretary Hunter Roberts, who currently manages both departments, enforcement of regulations will not be reduced.

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Cristina Tuser

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