BUTTS PIT Stormwater Outfall, Kennedy, Alabama | Industrial Catchment

BUTTS PIT is a stormwater outfall located near the intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 96 in Kennedy, Lamar County, Alabama. This facility manages stormwater runoff from an industrial catchment, likely associated with mining activities given its NAICS code 212399 (Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying). The facility is operational and falls under the regulatory oversight of the US Clean Water Act and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. As a stormwater outfall, BUTTS PIT is subject to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program, specifically under the MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) framework. While the facility itself is not a municipality, its discharge may be regulated under an industrial stormwater permit. The outfall likely conveys runoff from impervious surfaces and mining operations, which can carry sediment, metals, and other pollutants. The environmental significance of BUTTS PIT lies in its potential impact on local water bodies. Stormwater outfalls in industrial areas can contribute to water quality degradation if not properly managed. The facility's location in a rural area of Alabama suggests that downstream waters may be used for recreation or as a drinking water source. Proper operation and maintenance of the outfall are essential to minimize erosion, sedimentation, and pollutant loading.

The stormwater outfall at BUTTS PIT discharges into a receiving water body in the Tombigbee River basin, which is part of the larger Mobile River system. This region experiences a humid subtropical climate with frequent thunderstorms, leading to high volumes of stormwater runoff. Industrial activities in the catchment, such as mining, can introduce sediment and metals into the runoff, potentially impacting aquatic habitats and water quality downstream.