There is a clear advantage for State and Federal permitting agencies to develop and offer general permits to the regulated community. A single permit can be prepared, passed through public comment and issued which can be used by many permittees. In most cases, the general permit option benefits the permit holder as well, including 1) Significant reduced time to receive permit(s), and 2) Clear understanding of permit requirements and limitations before applying for coverage. Permittees that can not accept the requirements or limitations in the general permit have the option to apply for an individual permit.
Recently, the general permit approach has been taken to the logical next step – a Multimedia General Permit. Multimedia General Permits incorporate the requirements that apply to different permitting programs. To date, the permitting programs which have been combined are Air Emission Permits and Stormwater Discharge Permit. In this case, permittees that require both an air permit and a stormwater permit apply to be covered under a single Multimedia General Permit.
Because the regulatory requirements for air emission and stormwater discharge permits are sector- or industry-specific, the multimedia general permits offered are usually limited to a fairly narrow industrial sector. Because the multimedia general permit applied to a smaller number of potential permittees, many States have not devoted significant resources to develop many such permits. Two States, Alabama and South Dakota, have developed one or more Multimedia General Permits. Because permittees need to accept both air emission and stormwater discharge requirements and limits, it becomes even more important for sites considering applying for multimedia general permit coverage carefully review the compliance requirements.
For more information on State general permits go to:
Stormwater Discharge Permits, SWPPP and Storm Water Training
Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Nebraska to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.
For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
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Caltha LLP Website
