HORIZON SHIPBUILDING, INC. Stormwater Outfall - Bayou La Batre, Alabama

HORIZON SHIPBUILDING, INC. is a stormwater outfall facility located at 13980 Shell Belt Rd. in Bayou La Batre, Mobile County, Alabama, United States. As an industrial stormwater outfall, it manages runoff from shipbuilding and repair activities, classified under NAICS codes 336611 and 336612. The facility is operational and falls under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act and EPA NPDES MS4 permits. In the United States, industrial stormwater discharges are regulated under the NPDES program, requiring permits that include monitoring and best management practices to control pollutants. Facilities like HORIZON SHIPBUILDING must comply with effluent guidelines and stormwater pollution prevention plans. The shipbuilding sector typically involves activities such as painting, sandblasting, and metalworking, which can contribute pollutants like heavy metals, oils, and sediments to stormwater runoff. The environmental significance of this outfall lies in its location near the Gulf Coast, where stormwater discharges can impact sensitive coastal waters. Proper management of industrial stormwater is critical to protect water quality in Bayou La Batre and Mobile Bay, which support fisheries, recreation, and marine habitats. Compliance with NPDES permits helps minimize the ecological footprint of shipbuilding operations.

The facility is situated in Bayou La Batre, a coastal community in Alabama along the Gulf of Mexico. Stormwater discharges from industrial sites like shipbuilding can carry pollutants such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and sediments into nearby water bodies. These discharges may affect the water quality of Mobile Bay, an estuary that supports diverse aquatic life and commercial fishing. Regulatory oversight through the NPDES program aims to mitigate these impacts by requiring treatment and pollution prevention measures.