On Aug. 17, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final, revised National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs) for fiscal years 2024-2027, seven months after soliciting public comment

Continue Reading EPA Announces Its Final National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives

From Steven Russo of GT New York City and Robert Rosenthal of GT Albany.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) has issued public notice of a draft State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“SPDES”) permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (“MS4s”) owned or operated by the City of New York (the “draft MS4 permit”).  Under existing law, DEC regulates discharges from MS4s that are located within the boundaries of a Census Bureau defined “urbanized area” or “additionally designated areas.”  DEC authorizes most MS4s to be covered under a SPDES General Permit; however, New York City MS4s are regulated through a separate general permit.  The draft MS4 permit would consolidate the MS4 sections from 10 of the 14 existing SPDES Permits that govern each of the Waste Water Treatment Plants operated by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Continue Reading New York State Issues Public Notice of Draft MS4 Permit for New York City

EPA published its new Construction General Permit. It does not contain numerical turbidity limitations, but otherwise tends to follow the Construction and Development Rule. EPA plans a webinar for March 21.

Continue Reading EPA Issues 2012 Construction General Permit Without Numeric Turbidity Limit; Hosts Webinar to Introduce Permit Changes