Overview
US Army Redstone Arsenal Garrison operates a stormwater outfall in Huntsville, Alabama, managing runoff from a large military installation under EPA NPDES MS4 permit requirements.
The US Army Redstone Arsenal Garrison stormwater outfall is located in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, and serves a major U.S. Army installation. As a stormwater outfall, it discharges collected runoff from the arsenal's extensive facilities, including research, development, and logistics operations. The facility operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit program, which regulates stormwater discharges from large municipalities and industrial sites. Stormwater management at Redstone Arsenal involves controlling runoff from impervious surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and building rooftops. The facility likely employs best management practices (BMPs) like detention basins, vegetated swales, and oil-water separators to treat runoff before discharge. Given the arsenal's diverse activities, including aerospace and defense manufacturing, the stormwater may contain pollutants such as heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and sediment, requiring careful monitoring and treatment. The environmental significance of this outfall lies in its discharge to local waterways, which may include the Tennessee River watershed. Effective stormwater management is critical to prevent flooding, erosion, and pollution of receiving waters. The facility's compliance with NPDES permit conditions helps protect water quality in the region, supporting both ecological health and community water uses.
Environmental context
The Redstone Arsenal stormwater outfall discharges into the Tennessee River basin, a region with diverse aquatic habitats and significant ecological value. The area experiences a humid subtropical climate with frequent rainfall, increasing the potential for stormwater runoff to carry pollutants from industrial and urban surfaces. The arsenal's operations, including aerospace manufacturing and testing, may introduce contaminants such as metals and hydrocarbons, necessitating robust treatment and monitoring to protect downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The stormwater outfall is located at 4488 Martin Rd, Huntsville, Alabama 35898, within the Redstone Arsenal military installation.
It discharges stormwater runoff collected from the arsenal's facilities, including roads, buildings, and industrial areas, after treatment through best management practices to comply with NPDES MS4 permit requirements.
Stormwater is managed using best management practices such as detention basins, vegetated swales, and oil-water separators to remove pollutants like sediment, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons before discharge.
The outfall operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act's NPDES MS4 permit program, which requires stormwater management plans, pollution prevention, and monitoring to protect water quality.
Military installations like Redstone Arsenal have extensive impervious surfaces and industrial activities that generate runoff containing pollutants. Proper management prevents flooding, erosion, and contamination of local waterways, protecting both the environment and community water resources.
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