The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced yesterday, August 19, 2026, that industrial facilities subject to the State’s industrial stormwater regulations may now apply for coverage under the 2025 Multi-sector General Permit (MSGP) for Industrial Stormwater through the MPCA’s e-Services application. While the 2025 MSGP was effective as of June 1, 2025, facilities were not able to apply for coverage under the 2025 Permit before yesterday’s MPCA announcement. Coverage under the 2020 MSGP will expire on September 30, 2026.

Facilities in certain regulated industries may be subject to industrial stormwater requirements when materials, waste, equipment, or other industrial activities are stored outdoors and exposed to natural precipitation. The MPCA’s industrial stormwater program is intended to limit the discharge of pollutants that can be picked up by stormwater runoff, including metals, petroleum products, salts, and other contaminants. Regulated facilities generally obtain coverage under Minnesota’s industrial stormwater general permit, which the MPCA reissues on a five-year cycle.

Additionally, as of yesterday’s announcement, all “No Exposure” certifications in Minnesota are now considered expired, and facilities that believe they qualify for such a certification must also reapply through e-Services. A facility qualifies for a “No Exposure” certification if its activities are within a standard industrial classification (SIC) code that subject to industrial stormwater regulation, but all industrial activities are conducted in areas that are not exposed to stormwater.

If you have questions about the applicability of industrial stormwater regulations to your facility or the MPCA’s latest announcement, please feel free to connect with any member of Winthrop’s Environmental law team.

August 20, 2026