APAC Midsouth, Inc. (Bessemer) Stormwater Outfall, Bessemer, Alabama

APAC Midsouth, Inc. (Bessemer) is a stormwater outfall facility located at 1200 Powder Plant Rd in Bessemer, Alabama. The facility operates within the jurisdiction of the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, which regulates stormwater discharges from industrial and urban areas. As a stormwater outfall, it manages runoff from an industrial catchment associated with NAICS code 324121 (Asphalt Paving Mixture and Block Manufacturing). The facility's operational status is active, and it is situated in Jefferson County, Alabama. Stormwater outfalls like this one are critical for conveying runoff from impervious surfaces to receiving waters, and they must comply with NPDES permit requirements to minimize pollutant loads. In the United States, stormwater management is governed by the Clean Water Act, with Phase I and Phase II MS4 permits addressing large and small municipalities respectively. This facility likely operates under an industrial stormwater permit specific to its sector. The environmental significance of this outfall lies in its role in managing stormwater quality and quantity in an industrial area. Proper operation helps prevent erosion, flooding, and the discharge of pollutants such as sediments, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons into local water bodies. The facility's location in Bessemer, part of the Birmingham metropolitan area, places it within a region with a history of industrial activity, underscoring the importance of effective stormwater controls.

The facility discharges stormwater from an industrial catchment in Jefferson County, Alabama, which may include pollutants typical of asphalt manufacturing (e.g., sediments, hydrocarbons). The local water bodies are subject to the Clean Water Act's antidegradation policies, and the outfall must comply with NPDES permit limits to protect aquatic life and downstream uses. Urban and industrial runoff in this region can contribute to impaired water quality if not properly managed.