General Permit for the Discharge of Dewatering and Remediation Wastewaters 12-24-25
Notice of Tentative Determination
Intent to Reissue the General Permit for the Discharge of Dewatering and Remediation Wastewaters
Tentative Determination
The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) hereby gives notice of a tentative determination has been reached to renew the General Permit for the Discharge of Dewatering and Remediation Wastewaters (“the General Permit” or “general permit”).
Commissioner’s Findings
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.
DEEP published a draft permit to solicit comment between August 1, 2024 and September 28, 2024, and determined that significant modification of the initial draft permit was necessary. The draft general permit,
as revised in consideration of the comments received, is the subject of this second notice of tentative determination.
Proposed General Permit
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.
The general permit establishes numeric and narrative permit limits and conditions. Limits are based on
water quality standards and technology-based limitations using best professional judgement. Permit conditions and limits are included to ensure the authorized discharges will be protective of the waters
of the state.
Significant changes to the general permit include the following:
- Authorization to discharge to a POTW was eliminated from the general permit. Such discharges will be authorized under the Significant Industrial User General Permit. Short-term discharges occurring as a result of petroleum UST replacement or emergency discharges lasting thirty (30) consecutive days or less are not required to submit a registration for permit coverage.
- All discharges lasting longer than thirty (30) days are required to submit electronic Discharge
Monitoring Reports through NetDMR and conduct whole effluent toxicity monitoring.
- The general permit incorporates DEEP’s new online noncompliance reporting tools.
Commissioner’s Authority
The Commissioner is authorized to issue this general permit pursuant to sections 22a-430 and 22a-430b of the Conn. Gen. Stat. and sections 22a-430-3 and 4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Regs. Conn. State Agencies). The Commissioner is authorized to approve or deny any registration under this general permit pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. section 22a-430b.
1.0 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. 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.
/s/Emma Cimino
Deputy Commissioner
Published in the Hartford Courant, New Haven Register, Waterbury Republican-American, New London Day, Connecticut Post and The Chronicle on December 24, 2025.