EL DORADO COMPOST FACILITY Stormwater Outfall, El Dorado, Arkansas

EL DORADO COMPOST FACILITY is a stormwater outfall located in El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas, United States. The facility is operational and serves as a point of discharge for stormwater runoff from a composting site, classified under NAICS code 325314 (Fertilizer Manufacturing). As a stormwater outfall, it is subject to the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program, which regulates discharges to surface waters. Under the Clean Water Act, stormwater discharges from industrial activities, including composting facilities, require coverage under an NPDES permit. The facility likely operates under a Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) or an individual permit, with requirements for stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) and monitoring of effluent limits. Typical controls include best management practices (BMPs) for erosion and sediment control, as well as treatment of runoff to reduce pollutants. The environmental significance of this outfall lies in its potential impact on local water quality. Stormwater runoff from composting sites can carry nutrients, organic matter, and pathogens, which may affect receiving waters. The facility's location in southern Arkansas, a region with significant rainfall, underscores the importance of proper stormwater management to protect downstream water bodies.

The facility is located in southern Arkansas, a region characterized by a humid subtropical climate with high annual rainfall, which increases the potential for stormwater runoff. The outfall discharges into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Ouachita River. Runoff from composting operations can contain high levels of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), organic matter, and bacteria, posing risks of eutrophication and pathogen contamination. Compliance with NPDES permit conditions is critical to mitigate these impacts.