Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges to Surface and Groundwater

Notice of Tentative Determination of Intent to Reissue the Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges to Surface and Ground Water

1.0 Tentative Determination
The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) hereby
gives notice of a tentative determination to reissue and administer the Comprehensive General
Permit for Discharges to Surface and Ground Water (“the General Permit” or “general permit”) under the authority of sections 22a-430 and 22a-430b of the Connecticut General Statutes (“CGS”).

2.0 Commissioner’s Findings
The current General Permit was issued on April 1, 2023, and expires on April 1, 2025. The purpose of the general permit is to protect the waters of the state from discharges of non-contact cooling water, water treatment wastewater, hydrostatic pressure testing of natural gas, petroleum tanks, and
pipeline wastewater, fire suppression system testing water, hydrant flushing wastewater, boiler blowdown water, geothermal heat pump water, and pressure washing wastewater to surface water and ground water.

In accordance with applicable federal and state law, the Commissioner has made a tentative determination that discharges authorized under the General Permit will not cause pollution to the waters of the state. The proposed General Permit, if reissued as drafted, contains effluent limits, discharge monitoring requirements, best management practices, and permit conditions established 
in accordance with Section 22a-430 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies necessary to protect the waters of the state.

3.0 General Permit Regulatory Conditions
The general permit authorizes the discharge of non-contact cooling water, water treatment wastewater, hydrostatic pressure testing of natural gas, petroleum tanks, and pipeline wastewater,
fire suppression system testing water, hydrant flushing wastewater, boiler blowdown water, geothermal heat pump water, and pressure washing wastewater to surface waters and ground
waters of the state of Connecticut. Any discharge of water, substance, or material into the waters
of the state other than the ones specified in the general permit are not authorized by this general permit.

3.1 Registration 
Some of the categories of discharges under the authority of this general permit are required to file a complete registration for the Commissioner’s written approval prior to initiating the discharge. For existing permittees, interim permit coverage under the general permit will be maintained as long as a completed registration has been submitted within 90 days after the issuance date of the general
permit to allow time for existing permittees to submit a complete renewal registration and obtain coverage under the reissued permit.

3.2 Effluent Limitations & Best Management Practices
The general permit establishes numeric and narrative permit limitations and conditions developed
to protect water quality standards. Permit conditions and limits are included to ensure the authorized discharges will be protective of the waters of the state.

4.0 Proposed Changes
      • The format and layout have been modernized to better facilitate its use by the regulated community. 
      • The 15% Instream Waste Concentration threshold for eligibility was removed.  
      • All discharges requiring registration are required to submit electronic Discharge Monitoring Reports through NetDMR. 
      • The general permit incorporates DEEPs new online noncompliance reporting tools.
      • Pressure washing has been added as a new category of discharge.
      • Facilities with water treatment discharges to ground water are required to submit and implement
        a plan for the installation of monitoring wells before the 5-year term of this general permit has expired.

5.0 Commissioner’s Authority
The Commissioner is authorized to issue this general permit pursuant to sections 22a-430 and 22a-430b of the CGS and sections 22a-430-3 and 4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA). The Commissioner is authorized to approve or deny any registration under this general permit pursuant to CGS section 22a-430b.

6.0 Public Comment
Interested persons may obtain a copy of this public notice, the draft General Permit and fact sheet on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/publicnotices. The general permit materials are also available for inspection at the DEEP Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, Water Permitting and Enforcement Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT from 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Questions may be directed to James Creighton at james.creighton@ct.gov.

Prior to making a final decision to reissue the proposed general permit, the Commissioner shall consider written comments from interested persons that are received within 30 days of this public notice. Written comments should be directed to: James Creighton, Water Permitting and Enforcement Division, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 or may be submitted via electronic mail to: james.creighton@ct.gov. Electronic mail is recommended.

6.0 Petitions for Public Hearing
The Commissioner may conduct a public hearing if the Commissioner determines that the public interest will be best served thereby or shall hold a hearing upon receipt of a petition signed by at
 least twenty-five persons. Petitions should include the name of the general permit noted above and also identify a contact person to receive notifications. Petitions may also identify a person who is
authorized to engage in discussions regarding the proposed general permit and, if resolution is reached, withdraw the petition. Original signed petitions may be scanned and sent electronically to deep.adjudications@ct.gov or may be mailed or delivered to: DEEP Office of Adjudications, 79 Elm Street, 3rd floor, Hartford, CT 06106- 5127.  All petitions must be received within the comment period noted above.  If submitted electronically, original signed petitions must also be mailed or delivered to the address above within ten days of electronic submittal.  If a hearing is held, timely notice of such hearing will be published in a newspaper of general circulation.

/s/Emma Cimino 
Deputy Commissioner

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request an accommodation contact us at 860-418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov.

Published in the Hartford Courant, Connecticut Post, New London Day, Waterbury Republican-American, New Haven Register, and The Chronicle on September 18, 2024.

Draft Permit
Fact Sheet