Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges to Surface Water and Groundwater
Notice of Tentative Decision of Intent to Reissue the Comprehensive General Permit for Discharges to Surface Water and Groundwater
The current General Permit expires on March 29, 2023. In order for the regulated community to maintain permit coverage, the current General Permit will be reissued without modifications for a duration not to exceed two (2) years. The Department is not requiring existing permittees to submit a new registration form as part of this reissuance and their coverage will remain in effective until the expiration date of this General Permit. Permittees are required to comply with all permit limits and conditions of this General Permit to ensure their discharge does not cause pollution. The Commissioner intends to issue a new General Permit with modifications prior to the expiration of this General Permit. Reissuing this General Permit without modifications for an additional two (2) years, will allow continued permit coverage for the regulated community and provide the Department adequate time to make necessary changes, if any.
The Department intends to solicit stakeholder engagement and feedback by hosting a series of public meetings during the development of the Comprehensive General Permit with modifications. The Department will publish a separate public notice on DEEP’s website at least one month prior to any such meeting and intends to host the first meeting within three (3) months of the effective date of this General Permit. Persons interested in attending these meetings may sign up to receive public notice announcements by visiting DEEP's website at
https://confirmsubscription.com/h/j/19E73F2E0479003B.
COMMISSIONER’S FINDINGS/REGULATORY CONDITIONS
In accordance with applicable federal and state law, the Commissioner has made a tentative decision that reissuance of this General Permit without modifications would not cause pollution of the waters of the state. No re-registration will be required for the reissued General Permit. The Department is not requiring existing permittees to submit a new registration form as part of this reissuance. Permittees will be required to continue compliance with all elements of this General Permit to ensure their discharge will not cause pollution.
COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL PERMIT
This General Permit was initially issued on December 14, 2017 and became effective on March 30, 2018. The permit authorizes discharges of non-contact cooling or geothermal heat pump water, water treatment wastewater, hydrostatic pressure testing of natural gas and petroleum tanks and pipelines wastewater, potable water system maintenance of tanks and pipelines wastewater, fire suppression testing wastewater, hydrant flushing wastewater, and boiler blowdown wastewater (to groundwater only) to either surface or ground waters.
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 (CGS) and the Water Discharge Permit Regulations (section 22a-430-3 and 4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies). The Commissioner is authorized to approve or deny any registration under this General Permit pursuant to CGS section 22a-430b.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Interested persons may obtain a copy of this public notice and the General Permit on the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/publicnotices. The General Permit is 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 8:30 – 4:30, Monday through Friday. Questions may be directed to Stephen Edwards at 860-424-3838 or steve.edwards@ct.gov.
Before making a final decision on this General Permit, the Commissioner shall consider written comments from interested persons that are received within 30 days from the publication date of this notice. Written comments should be directed to: Stephen Edwards, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, Water Permitting and Enforcement Division, 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.
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 this General Permit 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 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.
/s/Tracy R. Babbidge
Acting Deputy Commissioner
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.
Published in the Hartford Courant, New Haven Register, New London Days, Connecticut Post, Waterbury Republican-American and The Chronicle on January 9, 2023.