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EPA's 2017 Construction General Permit Expiring
The EPA’s revised Construction General Permit (CGP) for stormwater discharges takes effect February 17, 2022, replacing the 2017 version and remaining in place through 2027.
Senior Office Director | Amherst • Amherst
Scott Fisher
Scott Fisher has 28 years of experience in ecological restoration. He is a restoration specialist, overseeing coastal and inland ecological restoration projects. Scott oversees projects requiring soil bioengineering installations for bank restoration projects, wetland design, mitigation and restoration projects and the control of invasive plant species through herbicide application or removal. Scott conducts site suitability assessments and oversees the installation of sediment and erosion control devices on construction projects and in the protection of rare species. Scott has managed golf course environmental design and restoration projects, pond restoration, and planting projects. He is also trained in stream restoration and applied fluvial geomorphology.
Written By
Scott Fisher
Senior Office Director | Amherst
Posted
January 27, 2022
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On February 16, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Construction General Permit (CGP) will expire. The EPA will issue a revised CGP under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for stormwater discharges from construction activities. The 2022 CGP, which will become effective on February 17, 2022, replaces the 2017 CGP. The new permit will be in effect for the next 5 years (2022 – 2027).
The NPDES stormwater program requires permits for discharges from construction activities that disturb 1 or more acre and for discharges from smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development that involves 1 or more acre. The CGP allows operators to discharge stormwater associated with construction activities in locations where the EPA is the NPDES permit authority, including the District of Columbia, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and most Indian Country lands.
What Does This Mean For You?
There are implications for both new and existing construction sites, specifically whether to implement or update Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) and to submit an updated Notice of Intent (NOI). The guidance is as follows:
- Existing sites currently permitted under the 2017 CGP will have 90 days to update their existing SWPPPs and submit a new Notice of Intent to the EPA via the NPDES eReporting Tool (NeT) following the issuance of the 2022 CGP.
- New sites and projects that seek to discharge stormwater from construction activities will be governed by the new 2022 CGP.
SWCA Can Help
Our project managers and compliance experts can help you understand how this new permit program will affect your project and project timeline.
For questions, please reach out to your SWCA contact.