Overview
Buffalo Rock Co is a stormwater outfall in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. It operates under the US EPA NPDES MS4 permit framework for stormwater discharges.
Buffalo Rock Co is a stormwater outfall located at 111 Oxmoor Road in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. As a stormwater outfall, it serves as a discharge point for stormwater runoff from the facility's catchment area, which includes industrial and commercial activities associated with NAICS codes 236210 (Industrial Building Construction) and 312111 (Soft Drink Manufacturing). The facility is operational and falls under the regulatory oversight of the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, specifically the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits for Phase I and Phase II municipalities. Stormwater outfalls like Buffalo Rock Co are critical components of urban drainage infrastructure, designed to convey runoff from impervious surfaces to receiving waters. In Alabama, stormwater management is governed by the Clean Water Act and state-level regulations, requiring permits for discharges from industrial facilities and municipal separate storm sewer systems. The facility's location in Birmingham, a major urban center, means its discharge may be subject to additional local stormwater management requirements aimed at reducing pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, and heavy metals. The environmental significance of this outfall lies in its potential impact on local water bodies. Discharges from industrial areas can carry pollutants that affect water quality in receiving streams. Proper operation and maintenance of the outfall, along with compliance with NPDES permit conditions, are essential to minimize environmental harm. The facility's role in managing stormwater runoff contributes to flood control and water quality protection in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Environmental context
Birmingham, Alabama, experiences a humid subtropical climate with frequent thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, leading to significant stormwater runoff. The area's urban and industrial land use contributes pollutants such as sediment, oil, grease, and heavy metals to runoff. The Buffalo Rock Co outfall discharges into local waterways that are part of the Black Warrior River watershed, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water. Regulatory oversight under the Clean Water Act and NPDES MS4 permits aims to control these discharges to protect water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Buffalo Rock Co stormwater outfall is located at 111 Oxmoor Road in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA.
It is a discharge point for stormwater runoff from the facility's catchment area, which includes industrial and commercial activities. It conveys runoff to local waterways under NPDES MS4 permit regulations.
Stormwater outfalls in Alabama are regulated under the Clean Water Act through the NPDES program, including MS4 permits for municipal systems and industrial stormwater permits for facilities like Buffalo Rock Co.
Stormwater outfalls can discharge pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, and heavy metals into receiving waters, affecting water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Proper management and permit compliance help mitigate these impacts.
The NPDES MS4 program requires permits for stormwater discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems in urbanized areas, setting limits on pollutants and requiring best management practices to reduce runoff pollution.
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