I. SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide for the health, safety, and general welfare of the students, staff, and visitors of George Mason University through the regulation of non-storm water discharges to the storm conveyance system to the maximum extent practicable as required by federal and state law.
This policy establishes methods for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) in order to comply with requirements of the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program permit for George Mason University.
II. DEFINITIONS
De Minimis: means small, minor, or insignificant spills of materials that occur during normal material handling operations (e.g., spills from unloading or transfer of materials, leaks from pipes or valves, minor leaks of process equipment, etc.).
Discharge of a pollutant means:
- Any addition of any pollutant or combination of pollutants to state waters from any point source; or
- Any addition of any pollutant or combination of pollutants to the waters of the contiguous zone or the ocean from any point source other than a vessel or other floating craft which is being used as a means of transportation.
This definition includes additions of pollutants into surface waters from: surface runoff that is collected or channeled by man; discharges through pipes, sewers, or other conveyances owned by a state, municipality, or other person that do not lead to a treatment works; and discharges through pipes, sewers, or other conveyances, leading into privately owned treatment works. This term does not include an addition of pollutants by any indirect discharger.
Hazardous substance: means any substance designated under the Code of Virginia or 40 CFR Part 116 pursuant to § 311 of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Illicit discharge: means any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater, except discharges pursuant to a separate Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) or state permit (other than the state permit for discharges from the municipal separate storm sewer), discharges resulting from firefighting activities, and discharges identified by and in compliance with 9VAC25-875-970 D 2 c (3).
Non-stormwater Discharge: means any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of storm water.
Pollutant: means dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, filter backwash, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials (except those regulated under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 USC § 2011 et seq.)), heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharged into water. It does not mean:
- Sewage from vessels; or
- Water, gas, or other material that is injected into a well to facilitate production of oil or gas, or water derived in association with oil and gas production and disposed of in a well if the well is used either to facilitate production or for disposal purposes and is approved by the department and if the department determines that the injection or disposal will not result in the degradation of groundwater or surface water resources.
Stormwater: means precipitation that is discharged across the land surface or through conveyances to one or more waterways and that may include stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage.
Stormwater conveyance system: means a combination of drainage components that are used to convey stormwater discharge, either within or downstream of the land-disturbing activity. This includes:
- Manmade stormwater conveyance system means a pipe, ditch, vegetated swale, or other stormwater conveyance system constructed by man except for restored stormwater conveyance systems;
- Natural stormwater conveyance system means the main channel of a natural stream and the flood-prone area adjacent to the main channel; or
- Restored stormwater conveyance system means a stormwater conveyance system that has been designed and constructed using natural channel design concepts. Restored stormwater conveyance systems include the main channel and the flood-prone area adjacent to the main channel.
Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit or VPDES permit: means a document issued by Department of Environmental Quality pursuant to the State Water Control Law authorizing, under prescribed conditions, the potential or actual discharge of pollutants from a point source to surface waters.
III. PROHIBITION OF ILLICIT DISCHARGES
No university employee, student, visitor, or contractor shall throw, drain, or otherwise discharge, cause, or allow others under its control to throw, drain, or otherwise discharge into the university’s stormwater conveyance system any pollutants or waters containing any pollutants, other than stormwater. Risk, Safety, & Resilience – Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and Facilities work cooperatively to prevent, identify, and respond to illicit discharges.
The commencement, conduct, or continuance of any illegal discharge to the stormwater conveyance system is prohibited except as described as follows:
1. The non-stormwater discharges or flows are covered by a separate individual or general VPDES or state permit for non-stormwater discharges;
2. Individual non-stormwater discharges or flows that have been identified in writing by Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as de minimis discharges that are not significant sources of pollutants to state waters and do not require a VPDES permit;
3. Non-stormwater discharges or flows that are not identified by George Mason or DEQ to be significant contributors of pollutants to the MS4, including:
-
- water line flushing managed in a manner to avoid instream impact,
- landscape irrigation,
- diverted stream flows,
- rising groundwaters,
- uncontaminated ground water infiltration,
- uncontaminated pumped groundwater,
- discharges from potable water sources managed in a manner to avoid instream impact,
- foundation drains,
- air conditioning condensation,
- irrigation water,
- springs,
- water from crawl space pumps,
- footing drains,
- lawn watering,
- individual residential car washing,
- flows from riparian habitats and wetlands,
- de-chlorinated swimming pool discharges (managed in a manner to avoid instream impact),
- street and pavement washwater that do not contain cleaning additives or are otherwise managed in a manner to avoid instream impact;
- Routine external building washdown provided no soaps, solvents, or detergents are used, external building surfaces do not contain hazardous substances, and the wash water is filtered, settled, or similarly treated prior to discharge;
- Discharges or flows from emergency firefighting activities;
- Discharges or flows of water for fire prevention or firefighting training activities managed in a manner to avoid instream impact in accordance with § 9.1-207.1 of the Code of Virginia;
- Discharges from noncommercial fundraising car washes if the washing uses only biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based cleaners in accordance with § 15.2-2114.1 of the Code of Virginia; or
- Other activities generating discharges identified by the department as not requiring VPDES authorization; or
4. Discharges or flow specified in writing by Facilities Land Development as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
5. Discharges associated with dye testing; however, this activity requires notification to Facilities Land Development prior to the time of the test.
6. The prohibition shall not apply to any non-storm water discharge permitted under an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations, and provided that written approval has been granted for the permitted discharge to the stormwater conveyance system.
IV. NOTIFICATION OF SPILLS
Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any person responsible for a facility or operation, or responsible for emergency response for a facility or operation has information of any known or suspected release of materials, which are resulting or may result in illegal discharges or pollutants discharging into stormwater, the stormwater conveyance system, or waters of the United States, said person shall take all necessary steps to ensure the discovery, containment, mitigation, and proper reporting of such release. Failure to provide notification of a release as provided above is a violation of this Policy.
In the event of a suspected release of unknown or hazardous materials, the person identifying the release shall immediately notify University Police, who will then contact EHS. EHS will immediately coordinate all ensuing investigation, emergency response, and remediation activities, in cooperation with emergency response agencies, Facilities Land Development, and Facilities Management. Priority of investigations shall be given to discharges of sanitary sewage and those believed to be a risk to human health and public safety. EHS is responsible for reporting emergency illicit discharges to the National Response Center, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, as required.
In the event of a release of non-hazardous materials, the person identifying the release shall notify EHS by phone or email, or by calling University Police, who in turn will contact EHS. EHS will investigate all reported non-hazardous releases to stormwater system conveyance, and will communicate findings to Facilities Land Development. Facilities Land Development is responsible for reporting all non-emergency illicit discharges to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
V. COMPLIANCE
A. The university may suspend or cease activities and operations that are not in full compliance with this policy.
B. Whenever George Mason University finds that a violation of this Policy has occurred, Facilities, in collaboration with EHS may order compliance by written notice to the responsible person. Such notice may require, without limitation:
- The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
- The elimination of prohibited discharges or connections;
- Cessation of any violating discharges, practices, or operations;
- The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination hazards and the restoration of any affected property;
- Payment of any fee, penalty, or fine assessed against the university to cover remediation cost;
- The implementation of new stormwater management practices; and
- Disciplinary action up to and including dismissal, where appropriate.
C. Such notification shall set forth the nature of the violation(s) and establish a time limit for correction of these violation(s). Said notice may further advise that, if applicable, should the violator fail to take the required action within the established deadline. Facilities will then initiate work orders for the appropriate corrective actions and the violator or university department will be charged for the cost.
D. The remedies listed in this Policy are not exclusive of any other remedies available under any applicable federal, state, or local law.
VI. EFFECTIVE DATE, REVIEW, AND APPROVAL:
A. Effective Date:
This policy will become effective upon the date of approval by the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and the Provost and Executive Vice President. This Policy, and any related procedures, shall be reviewed annually.
B. Date of Most Recent Review
March 31, 2025
Approved:
_/S______________________
Kenneth D. Walsh
Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
_/S_______________________
James Antony
Provost and Executive Vice President
Date Approved: February 21, 2013
Revised: October 26, 2021
Reviewed: January 4, 2024
Revision Approved: March 26, 2025
Revised: March 31, 2025
Page last updated: May 21, 2025