The recent expansion of the DHL Worldwide Express Cargo Facility at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport posed significant challenges in the area of treatment of storm water runoff.

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport has bid to become the focal point for regional aviation for the central United States. The recent $100+ million expansion of the DHL Worldwide Express Cargo Facility at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport posed significant challenges in the area of treatment of storm water runoff.

The 1972 Amendments of the Clean Water Act prohibit the discharge of any pollutant to waters of the United States from a point source unless the discharge is authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The NPDES permitting program is designed to track point sources, monitor the discharge of the pollutants from specific sources to surface waters, and require the implementation of the controls necessary to minimize the discharge of pollutants. The EPA requires facilities that engage in regulated industrial activities to obtain NPDES permits before discharging storm water. Airport de-icing and fueling facilities are specifically identified as industrial activities subject to the NPDES regulations.