Maryland NPDES: What you need to know

Permits: Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.08.04.01 to 26.08.04.11

General permits: COMAR 26.08.04.08 and COMAR 26.08.04.09

Fees: COMAR 26.08.04.09-1

Surface water permits:

Application process and fees: COMAR 26.08.04.11(C)

Annual permit fees: COMAR 26.08.04.11(B)

Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Water Management Administration

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3

See ADDRESSES & CONTACTS for addresses and telephone numbers.

See national section for basic information and federal regulations.

• Rules. Maryland has been authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to administer the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program for wastewater discharges. The state issues general permits and municipal and industrial surface water and groundwater discharge permits.

The state rules have additional permit application requirements that include application fees. In addition, permit holders in Maryland are responsible for annual permit fees. There are no fees associated with the federal NPDES rules.

The state has a large number of poultry operations and is fully authorized to administer the NPDES permit program for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO). For more information about CAFO permitting in Maryland, see the state section AG WASTE.

Maryland also issues NPDES permits for stormwater discharges. See the state section STORMWATER DISCHARGE PERMITS for further information.

• Administration and enforcement. MDE administers and enforces the NPDES program as part of its own discharge permit system.

APPLICABILITY

Anyone discharging a pollutant into ...