Abstract
This research evaluated actions taken by auto dismantling facilities in the Los Angeles, California, region as part of required compliance with regulations for industrial storm water discharge. Eight years after California issued a General Permit for storm water under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), a large number of dismantlers have failed to recognize their duty to comply; about 20% of identified facilities do not appear to have notified regulating agencies of their intent to comply. The research then evaluated a sample of complying facilities. The research involved storm water sampling at a smaller number of case study facilities, and determined that a large proportion have measured constituents in discharges in concentrations exceeding U.S. guidelines for storm water—not an enforced requirement, because the regulations do not specify numerical effluent limits. Estimates of pollutant load contributed by the dismantling industry appear substantial.