General Permit for the Discharge of Dewatering and Remediation Wastewaters
Notice of Tentative Determination of Intent to Reissue the General Permit for the Discharge of Dewatering and Remediation Wastewaters
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 General Permit for the Discharge of Dewatering and Remediation Wastewaters (“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 March 1, 2023, and expires on March 1, 2025. The
purpose of the general permit is to protect the waters of the state from discharges of dewatering
and remediation wastewaters to surface waters and publicly owned treatment works (“POTWs”).
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 dewatering and remediation wastewaters to surface waters of the state of Connecticut and POTWs. 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
The general permit as drafted does not require a registration for emergency discharges lasting no more than thirty (30) consecutive days or short-term discharges occurring as a result of petroleum Underground Storage Tank (“UST") replacements. All other new and existing discharges seeking authority under the 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 for 60 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 parameter limitations and permit conditions. Limits are
based on water quality standards and technology-based limitations using best professional
judgement. General and sector specific BMPs are identified and referenced. 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 general permit will no longer authorize discharges to the ground waters of the state.
• Short-term discharges occurring as a result of petroleum UST replacement, or emergency
discharges lasting thirty (30) consecutive days or are not required to submit a registration for
permit coverage.
• All discharges lasting longer than 30 days are required to submit electronic Discharge
Monitoring Reports through NetDMR and conduct whole effluent toxicity monitoring.
• The general permit incorporates DEEPs new online noncompliance reporting tools.
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 Stephen Edwards at steve.edwards@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: Stephen Edwards, 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: steve.edwards@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
Published in the Hartford Courant, Waterbury Republican-American, Connecticut Post, New London Day and New Haven Register on August 1, 2024.
Published in The Chronicle on August 28, 2024.
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.