Greetings!

THE US EPAs PROPOSED NEW CONSTRUCTION GENERAL PERMIT is out and ready for public comment!

On April 25, 2011, the US EPA published in the Federal Register the following two notices affecting the Agency's CGP:

• EPA's proposed new CGP (public comment period ends June 24, 2011) - Federal Register Notice (PDF) (10 pp, 160K); and
• An extension of the 2008 CGP to January 31, 2012 (public comment period ends May 25, 2011) - Federal Register Notice (PDF) (5 pp, 96K).

The proposed new CGP includes a number of modifications to the 2008 CGP, many of which are necessary to implement the new Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards for Construction and Development point sources, known as the "C&D rule." The C&D rule requires construction site operators to meet restrictions on erosion and sediment control, pollution prevention, and stabilization. The C&D rule also includes a numeric turbidity limit for certain larger construction sites, but effective January 4, 2011, EPA has stayed the numeric limitation of 280 NTU that was published in the December 1, 2009 rule. EPA will propose a revised limit in a future rulemaking.

The proposed new CGP will be finalized prior to the expiration of the 2008 CGP (which EPA has proposed extending to January 31, 2012) and will provide coverage for eligible new and existing construction projects for a period of five years.

For more information about the proposed CGP, see:

• Proposed Construction General Permit (PDF) (210 pp, 7MB)
• Proposed Permit - Parts 1-10 (PDF) (71 pp, 554K)
• Appendix A: Definitions and Acronyms (PDF) (13 pp, 125K)
• Appendix B: Permit Areas Eligible for Coverage (PDF) (5 pp, 71K)
• Appendix C: Small Construction Waivers and Instructions (PDF) (4 pp, 85K)
• Appendix D: Endangered Species Act Requirements (PDF) (2 pp, 46K)
• Appendix E: Historic Properties Requirements (PDF) (1 pp, 41K)
• Appendix F: List of Tier 3, Tier 2, and Tier 2.5 Waters (PDF) (3 pp, 77K)
• Appendix G: Notice of Intent (NOI) Form and Instructions (PDF) (9 pp, 275K)
• Appendix H: Compliance with the C-Factor Stabilization Criteria (PDF) (10 pp, 160K)
• Appendix I: 2-Year, 24-Hour Storm Frequencies (PDF) (5 pp, 1.7MB)
• Appendix J: Impaired Water Requirements (PDF) (59 pp, 1.6MB)
• Appendix K: Notice of Termination (NOT) Form and Instructions (PDF) (3 pp, 98K)
• Appendix L: Standard Permit Conditions (PDF) (9 pp, 63K)
• Appendix M: Buffer Guidance (PDF) (16 pp, 3MB)
• Proposed Construction General Permit Fact Sheet (PDF) (142 pp, 2.29MB)
• Questions and Answers about the Proposed CGP (PDF) (9 pp, 125K)
• Fact Sheet about the Proposed CGP (PDF) (3 pp, 131K)