General Information

Rule 13 is Indiana's version of Phase II of the Clean Water Act.  It requires specific entities within the state to apply for a permit that allows the entity to drain storm water into state water bodies (which is almost any stream). 

Bloomington, Ellettsville, Indiana University, Ivy Tech, and the urbanized portion of unincorporated Monroe County are Rule 13 entities.  The rule outlines how entities are supposed to improve or maintain the quality of their storm water before it is drained into the surrounding watershed.   The following is a description of Rule 13 from the guidance document provided by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management:

          "The federal Clean Water Act requires storm water discharges from certain types of urbanized areas to be permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. In 1990, Phase I of these requirements became effective, and municipalities with a population served by a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) of 100,000, or more, were regulated. In 1999, Phase II became effective, and any entity responsible for an MS4 conveyance, regardless of population size, could potentially be regulated.  In Indiana, storm water discharge permits are issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). "

            "Under Phase I requirements, only the City of Indianapolis met the designation criteria, and was issued an individual NPDES storm water permit. To comply with Phase II requirements, a new general NPDES permit rule was written, and an individual statewide NPDES storm water permit was issued to the Indiana Department of Transportation. The new general permit rule, referred to as Rule 13, provided permit coverage for most Phase II MS4 entities."

                                        - IDEM Introduction to the Rule 13 Guidance Document

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