Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges to Surface and Ground Water 12-24-25
Notice of Tentative Determination
Intent to Renew the Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges
to Surface and Ground Water
TENTATIVE DETERMINATION
The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) hereby gives
notice that a tentative determination has been reached to renew with modifications the Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges to Surface and Ground Water (“general permit”).
The current general permit was issued on April 1, 2023 and expires on April 1, 2026, having been
continued in effect pursuant to section 22a-6aa of the Connecticut General Statutes.
COMMISSIONER’S FINDINGS/REGULATORY CONDITIONS
In accordance with applicable federal and state law, the Commissioner has made a tentative determination that renewal of this general permit would not cause pollution of the waters of the state. The proposed
general permit, if renewed, will require application (including re-application for existing permittees), contains effluent limits, and requires discharge monitoring and submission of electronic discharge monitoring reports for some of the categories of discharge to ensure that the discharge will not cause pollution.
PROPOSED GENERAL PERMIT
The purpose of the general permit is to protect the waters of the state from discharges of non-contact
cooling water, geothermal heat pump water, hydrostatic pressure testing of natural gas, petroleum tanks,
and pipeline wastewater, fire suppression system testing water, hydrant flushing wastewater, boiler blowdown water, pressure washing wastewater, and water treatment wastewater to surface water and ground water. The DEEP first issued the general permit in 2018 to consolidate many separate general permits and to authorize some common discharges such as hydrant flushing or fire suppression testing
that previously did not have permit mechanisms.
Proposed Changes in this Renewal:
• The format and layout has been modernized to better facilitate its use by the regulated community.
• The 15% Instream Waste Concentration threshold for eligibility was removed.
• All discharges requiring application 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.
COMMISSIONER’S AUTHORITY
The Commissioner is authorized to issue this general permit pursuant to sections 22a-430 and 22a-430b of the Connecticut General Statutes section 22a-430-3 and 4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. The Commissioner is authorized to approve or deny any application under this general permit pursuant to section 22a-430b of the Connecticut General Statutes.
INFORMATION REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENT
Interested persons may obtain a copy of this public notice, the proposed general permit and the general permit fact sheet on the DEEP website at portal.ct.gov/DEEP/About/Public-Notices.
Questions may be directed to James Creighton at 860-424-3681 or james.creighton@ct.gov.
Before making a final decision on this proposed general permit, the Commissioner shall consider written comments from interested persons that are received within 30 days from the publication date of this notice/on or before January 23, 2026. 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.
PETITIONS FOR PUBLIC HEARING
The Commissioner may conduct a public hearing if the Commissioner determines that the public interest
will be best served thereby. Upon receipt of a petition, the Commissioner shall take action as required by relevant laws, including Public Act 25-84, which was effective upon passage in June 2025. 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 and posted on the DEEP website at https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP. Additional information can be found at www.ct.gov/deep/adjudications.
/s/Emma Cimino
Deputy Commissioner
Published in the Hartford Courant, New Haven Register, Waterbury Republican -American, Connecticut Post, New London Day and The Chronicle on December 24, 2025.
Draft Permit