Notice Intent to Renew various General Permits for Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use

Consolidated Permit Notice Intent to Renew with Minor Modifications various General Permits for Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use

The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) hereby gives notice that a tentative determination has been reached to renew with modification the General Permit for the Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use: Authorization Required Categories, General Permit for the Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use: Filing Only Categories, General Permit for the Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use: Non-Filing Categories, and General Permit for the Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use: Reauthorization Categories.

The current general permits expire on January 17, 2027.  By publishing this Notice at least 180 days prior to the expiration date of the current general permits, Section 22a-6aa of the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) authorizes the current general permits to continue in effect until January 17, 2028, or until the Commissioner makes a final decision on the renewal of the general permit, whichever is earlier. If no final decision is made by January 17, 2028, the general permits shall expire.

COMMISSIONER’S FINDINGS/REGULATORY CONDITIONS

In accordance with applicable federal and state law, the Commissioner has made a tentative determination that the renewal with modification of these general permits would cause minimal environmental effect when conducted separately and would cause minimal cumulative effect with no adverse effect on existing or potential uses of water for potable water supplies, hydropower, flood management, water-based recreation, industry or waste assimilation.

PROPOSED GENERAL PERMITS

The general permits DEEP intends to renew with modification are four types of the General Permit for the Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use, each with a particular set of eligible categories and different approval requirements.  The purpose of these general permits is to authorize minor activities regulated by the Commissioner under CGS Section 22a-365 through 22a-379 (Connecticut Water Diversion Policy Act).  The general permits subject to this public notice are:

1.  General Permit for the Diversion of  Water for Consumptive Use: Authorization Required Categories will         authorize the following activities if they are within the jurisdiction of DEEP subject to certain
     conditions: a. Withdrawal of up to 250,000 gpd – Surface Water / Stratified Drift Aquifer
b. Withdrawal of up to 250,000 gpd – Bedrock Aquifer
        c. Interconnection and Transfer of Up To 1,000,000 gpd – Raw Water 

2. General Permit for Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use: Filing Only Categories will authorize the              following activities if they are within the jurisdiction of the DEEP subject to certain conditions:
      a. Back Up Well
      b. Large Tidally Influenced Rivers
      c. Small Supplemental Bedrock Well
      d. Small Water Supply System

3. General Permit for the Diversion of  Water for Consumptive Use: Non-Filing Categories will authorize the
     following activities if they are within the jurisdiction of DEEP subject to certain conditions:
a. Pump and Recharge Geoexchange System
b. Non-Contact Cooling – Surface Waters
c. Hydrostatic Testing of Pipes and Tanks
d. Long Island Sound
e. Remediation Groundwater 
f. Interconnection and Transfer of Treated Water 

4. General Permit for the Diversion of Water for Consumptive Use: Reauthorization Categories will
    authorize the following activities if they are within the jurisdiction of DEEP subject to certain conditions:
a. Withdrawal of up to 250,000 gpd – Surface Water / Stratified Drift Aquifer
b. Withdrawal of up to 250,000 gpd – Bedrock Aquifer
c. Interconnection and Transfer of Up To 1,000,000 gpd
d. Back Up Well
e. Large Tidally Influenced Rivers
f. Small Supplemental Bedrock Well
g. Small Water Supply System
h. Water Supply System Interconnection
i. Unregistered Water Supply Systems
j. Diversion of up to 250,000 gallons per day New Water
k. Restoration of Lost Capacity

The General Permit for the Diversion of Water was first issued in 1997.  This would be the fourth re-issuance of this general permit.  

COMMISIONER’S AUTHORITY

The Commissioner is authorized to issue these general permits pursuant to CGS sections 22a-6 and 22a-378a.

INFORMATION REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENT

Interested persons may obtain a copy of this public notice, the proposed general permits, and a summary of proposed changes from the DEEP website at https://portal.ct.gov/deep/about/public-notices. Questions may be directed to: deep.waterdiversion@ct.gov. 

Before making a final decision on these proposed general permits, the Commissioner shall consider written comments from interested persons that are received within 60 days of the publication date of this notice. Written comments should be directed to: Melissa Mostowy, Water Planning and Management Division, Bureau of Water Protection Land Reuse, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 or may be submitted via electronic mail to: melissa.mostowy@ct.gov.  

PETITIONS FOR PUBLIC HEARING 

Petitions for a hearing shall be timely and should include the proposed general permit title(s) noted above and 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 a resolution is reached, withdraw the petition. Petitions shall comply with applicable laws, including Public Act 25-84, which took effect upon passage in June 2025. Upon receipt of a petition, the Commissioner shall take action as required by relevant laws.  

Petitions shall be filed with the Office of Adjudications electronically through the E-Filing Service, https://deep-adjudications-cms-efile.ct.gov/.   All initial and subsequent filings must be submitted through this system. Under special exception, petitions will be accepted by mail or hand-delivered. Those mailed or delivered should go to the DEEP Office of Adjudications, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106. If the signed original petition is only in an electronic format, the petition must be submitted with a statement signed by the petitioner that the petition exists only in that form. Original petitions must also be mailed or delivered to the Office of Adjudications within 30 days of electronic submittal.  

Information to assist with the E-Filing System, including how to set up a profile and submit filings, is available here: https://deep-adjudications-publicportal.ct.gov  

If a hearing occurs, members of the public can “subscribe” through the Public Portal to receive e-mail notifications of all docket activity. Interested members of the public will also be able to submit their public comments for the hearing on the docket webpage.  

All petitions must be received within the period noted above. 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://www.ct.gov/DEEP. Any docket activity can be viewed through the Adjudications Public Portal at: https://deep-adjudications-publicportal.ct.gov

Published in the Connecticut Post, The Day, Greenwich Time, The Hartford Courant, The New Haven Register, The Advocate, The Hour on July 20, 2026

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. Please contact deep.accommodations@ct.gov if you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, or require some other accommodation. If you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, you may submit your complaint to (860) 418-5910 or via email at deep.accommodations@ct.gov. In order 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.

Authorization Required GP Proposed
Filing Only GP Proposed
Non Filing GP Proposed
Reauthorization GP Proposed
Summary of Proposed Changes