STEEL CITY METAL INC Stormwater Outfall, Sterrett, Alabama

STEEL CITY METAL INC is a stormwater outfall facility located at 5329 Old Highway 280, Suite A, Sterrett, Shelby County, Alabama. The facility is operational and manages stormwater discharge from industrial metal fabrication operations, classified under NAICS codes 332312 (Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing) and 332323 (Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing). As a stormwater outfall, it is subject to the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting framework, specifically under the Clean Water Act's industrial stormwater regulations. The facility operates within the regulatory context of Alabama's NPDES program, which requires industrial facilities to obtain permits for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity. The site's stormwater management likely includes best management practices (BMPs) such as sediment basins, oil-water separators, or filtration systems to control pollutants like metals, sediments, and hydrocarbons common in metal fabrication runoff. The facility's location in Shelby County, part of the Birmingham metropolitan area, places it within an urbanizing catchment with potential downstream water quality concerns. Environmental significance stems from the facility's role in managing industrial stormwater runoff to protect local water bodies. The outfall discharges into the Cahaba River watershed, a biologically diverse system. Compliance with NPDES permit conditions, including monitoring and reporting, is critical to minimize impacts on receiving waters. The facility's stormwater controls contribute to broader community and regulatory efforts to maintain water quality in Alabama's streams and rivers.

The facility is located in the Cahaba River watershed, one of the most biodiverse river systems in the United States. Industrial stormwater runoff from metal fabrication can introduce heavy metals, total suspended solids, and other pollutants that may impair water quality. The site's proximity to urbanizing areas in Shelby County increases the risk of hydrologic changes and pollutant loading. Effective stormwater management is essential to protect aquatic habitats and downstream water uses, including drinking water and recreation.