International Paper Company - Fort Smith Stormwater Outfall | Fort Smith, Arkansas

International Paper Company - Fort Smith is a stormwater outfall located at 4215 Planters Rd in Fort Smith, Arkansas, within Sebastian County. This facility handles stormwater discharge from an industrial site classified under NAICS 322211 (Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing). As a stormwater outfall, it is subject to the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting framework, which governs discharges to waters of the United States. The facility operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires industrial stormwater discharges to be covered by an NPDES permit. In Arkansas, the Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality administers these permits. The outfall likely serves a large industrial catchment, given the parent company's scale. Stormwater management at such sites typically includes best management practices (BMPs) like detention basins, oil-water separators, and regular monitoring to comply with effluent limits. This outfall contributes to local flood control and water quality protection in the Arkansas River watershed. Proper management of industrial stormwater is critical to prevent pollutants such as sediment, heavy metals, and organic compounds from entering receiving waters. The facility's compliance with its NPDES permit helps safeguard downstream ecosystems and community water resources.

Fort Smith lies in the Arkansas River Valley, a region with a humid subtropical climate and frequent thunderstorms that generate significant stormwater runoff. The Arkansas River, a major tributary of the Mississippi, receives discharges from this outfall. Industrial stormwater from paper product manufacturing can contain pollutants like total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and pH imbalances. The facility's discharge is regulated under the Clean Water Act to protect aquatic life and recreational uses in the receiving waterbody.