Municipal Storm Water Permitting in California

This Article discusses the regulation of discharges of waste in storm water from municipal separate storm sewer systems and the consequent legal challenges. The author begins by examining the current structure of federal and state regulation of storm water pollution, focusing his analysis on California. Professor Minan then addresses the storm water pollution problem and analyzes the San Diego MS4 permit as an example of the challenges that municipalities face in the permitting process. The author explores the various legal concerns that stem from both state and federal regulation of this area of pollution and provides a framework for understanding some of the emerging legal issues that surround the regulation and permitting of storm water pollution.