General Permit for In Situ Groundwater Remediation Chemical Oxidation Renewal

Notice of Tentative Determination to Renew the General Permit for In Situ Groundwater Remediation: Chemical Oxidation

The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection ("DEEP") hereby gives notice that a tentative determination has been reached to renew the General Permit for In Situ Groundwater Remediation: Chemical Oxidation without modification, except for updating submittal instructions and reference current guidance.

The above-referenced general permit (GP) expired on June 30, 2024. A renewed general permit is intended to have a 10-year term, expiring in 2034.

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 issued, will require: registration, monitoring reports, discharge requirements including effluent limits, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and treatment requirements specific to the discharge category that are designed to protect the waters of the state from pollution.

Proposed General Permit

The purpose of the general permit is to authorize introduction of chemical oxidants and necessary associated substances to soil and groundwater to remediate pollution through the chemical destruction of fuels and other organic materials, and in some cases chemical modification of inorganic chemicals. The oxidizing chemical classes authorized are: Peroxides, Permanganates, Ozone, Persulfates, and Percarbonates. DEEP first issued the General Permit for In Situ Groundwater Remediation Chemical Oxidation on June 30, 2014. All discharges authorized under this GP are required to comply with the limits and conditions specified in the GP. Industry-standard BMPs must be employed and be consistent with the requirements of the Connecticut Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs). The GP requires that authorized activities be conducted in a manner that minimizes risk of escape of the injected materials and minimizes the risk that pollutants of concern (including materials injected and breakdown products to mitigate the pollutant being treated) will impact potable water supply wells, nearby rivers and streams, or any other water resources. At sites where activities are conducted under this GP, a groundwater monitoring program must be implemented to a) evaluate the extent of the treatment zone and b) ensure that pollution migration is detected if it occurs. If groundwater monitoring indicates that impacts to groundwater have occurred, the permittee must report such impacts, as defined in the GP, to CT DEEP’s Remediation Division.

Commissioner's Authority

The Commissioner is authorized to issue this general permit pursuant to Section 22a-430b of the Connecticut General Statutes. The Commissioner is authorized to approve or deny any registration under this general permit pursuant to CGS section 22a-430b.

Information Requests/Public Comment

Proposed general permit
Proposed general permit with changes marked 
General permit fact sheet

The proposed general permit is also available for inspection at the DEEP Remediation Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT from 8:30 – 4:30, Monday through Friday. Questions may be directed to Steve Gaura at 860-424-3786 or steve.gaura@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 (December 19, 2024). Written comments should be directed to: Steve Gaura, Remediation Division, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 or may be submitted via electronic mail to steve.gaura@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, 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
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, or require some other accommodation, including equipment to facilitate virtual participation, please contact the DEEP Office of Diversity and Equity at 860-418-5910 or by email at DEEP.Accommodations@ct.gov. Any person needing an accommodation for hearing impairment may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. To facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program or event.

Published on November 19, 2024 in:

Connecticut Post, Bridgeport
The Hartford Courant, Hartford
The New Haven Register, New Haven
The Day, New London
Waterbury Republican-American, Waterbury
The Chronicle, Willimantic
The Advocate, Stamford