EPA Issues Final Dewatering and Remediation General Permit

The Final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Dewatering and Remediation Activity Discharges (2022 DRGP) in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, federal facilities in Vermont, and Indian country lands in Connecticut and Rhode Island was signed on August 2, 2022.

EPA has reissued the expired Dewatering General Permit (DGP) and Remediation General Permit (RGP) as a combined Dewatering and Remediation General Permit for applicable sites with discharges for four types of wastewaters (Groundwater, Stormwater, Potable Water, and Surface Water) that are a result of four types of dewatering and remediation activities:

1. Site Remediation;
2. Site Dewatering;
3. Infrastructure Dewatering/Remediation; and
4. Material Dewatering.

The DRGP establishes electronic Notice of Intent (NOI), Change (CNOI), and Notice of Termination (NOT) requirements through EPA’s NPDES e-reporting tool (NeT); effluent limitations and requirements; standard and special conditions; and best management practice (BMP) requirements for sites that discharge 1.0 million gallons per day or less. However, electronic forms are not yet available through the EPA Central Data Exchange (CDX).

EPA will provide a temporary waiver for operators that need coverage prior to the availability of the electronic NOI, and other e-forms which are expected to be available soon. Existing dischargers must submit a NOI for coverage within 90 days of the DGRP effective date. All Dewatering General Permit and Remediation General Permit authorizations will be terminated as of November 30, 2022.

GZA is available to assist with securing discharge authorization under the DRGP by contacting Jim Wieck, P.G., at 603-232-8732 or james.wieck@gza.com.