WATER QUALITY

• Best management practices (BMPs) development

• Clean Water Act (CWA) compliance support

• Design and consulting for wastewater treatment systems

• Groundwater monitoring and contamination assessment

• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit assistance

• Spill Prevention Countermeasures and Control Plan (SPCC Plan)

• Spill prevention and response planning

• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

• Stormwater management planning and implementation

• Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) compliance support

• Water quality impact assessments and modeling

• Water quality monitoring and sampling

• Water quality permitting, including:

  • 401 Water Quality Certification

    • Required for any federally permitted activity that may result in a discharge into U.S. waters. States or tribes review the project to ensure compliance with water quality standards.

  • Aquaculture Permit

    • Covers aquaculture facilities discharging into natural waters, ensuring compliance with standards to protect water quality from nutrients and other pollutants released during aquaculture operations.

  • Aquatic Pesticide Permits

    • For the application of pesticides in or near water to manage invasive species or pests while limiting pollution impacts. Permits may include requirements to minimize pesticide runoff and protect aquatic life.

  • CAFO Permit (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Permit)

    • Specifically for facilities with large animal populations that produce significant quantities of animal waste, which may pose a risk to water quality. CAFO permits set limits and management practices for waste handling.

  • Construction Stormwater Permit

    • Required for construction sites to control stormwater runoff, which can carry pollutants into nearby water bodies. Permits typically require erosion control practices and sediment management.

  • Desalination Permits

    • For facilities that desalinate seawater or brackish water, covering both intake (to protect marine life) and discharge operations (to manage concentrated brine disposal and other potential pollutants).

  • Domestic Wastewater Permit

    • For facilities that discharge treated sanitary waste, such as municipal wastewater treatment plants. These permits set limits on contaminants like nutrients, pathogens, and organic matter.

  • General 404 Permit

    • A type of Section 404 Permit that allows for activities with minimal impacts, such as nationwide permits for specific types of work that discharge dredged or fill material into waters, including wetlands.

  • General NPDES Permit

    • Covers multiple facilities within a specific category, such as industrial facilities or construction sites with similar discharges, allowing for a streamlined permitting process.

  • Groundwater Discharge Permits

    • For facilities or operations that discharge into groundwater, ensuring compliance with standards to protect aquifers and prevent contamination of drinking water sources.

  • Hydropower Permits

    • For facilities that generate power by diverting or damming water flows, including licensing under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), to minimize impacts on water quality and aquatic life.

  • Individual 404 Permit

    • For projects involving the discharge of dredged or fill material into U.S. waters that may have significant impacts. This is a more tailored and specific permit than the General 404 Permit.

  • Individual NPDES Permit

    • Issued for specific facilities that discharge pollutants directly into U.S. waters, customized to the particular characteristics and discharge impacts of the facility.

  • Industrial Stormwater Permit

    • Required for industrial facilities to control stormwater runoff, preventing pollutants from entering waterways. These permits include best practices for stormwater management specific to industrial sites.

  • Industrial Wastewater Permit

    • For facilities discharging treated industrial wastewater, such as those involved in manufacturing, processing, or energy production. These permits set limits on pollutants, including heavy metals, chemicals, and thermal discharge.

  • Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) Permits (Ocean Dumping Permits)

    • Also known as Ocean Dumping Permits, these permits regulate the transportation and disposal of materials into ocean waters to prevent harmful environmental impacts.

  • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit

    • For municipalities to regulate stormwater discharges from separate storm sewer systems, with requirements to manage pollutants like sediments, nutrients, and oils from urban runoff.

  • Non-Discharge Permits

    • For activities where wastewater is managed on-site without direct discharge to surface waters, such as land application of wastewater or biosolids, ensuring proper management to protect water quality.

  • Pretreatment Permits

    • Required for facilities that discharge wastewater to a publicly owned treatment works (POTW), requiring pretreatment to reduce pollutants before reaching the municipal system, thus protecting the infrastructure and water quality.

  • Reclaimed Water Use Permits

    • Authorizes the distribution and use of reclaimed or recycled water for various purposes, including irrigation and industrial processes, while ensuring compliance with water quality standards for reuse.

  • Section 10 Permits (Rivers and Harbors Act)

    • Regulates structures and work in navigable waters, often required for docks, piers, and other activities that could obstruct navigation or harm the aquatic environment.

  • Stormwater NPDES Permit

    • For facilities with stormwater discharges, such as construction or industrial sites, ensuring that runoff is managed to minimize pollutants entering water bodies. This category includes Construction and Industrial Stormwater Permits as well as MS4 Permits.

  • Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permits

    • Class I: Industrial and municipal waste disposal wells.

    • Class II: Oil and gas-related injection wells.

    • Class III: Mining solution injection wells.

    • Class IV: Shallow hazardous and radioactive waste injection wells (mostly banned).

    • Class V: Non-hazardous injection wells, such as stormwater drainage or geothermal systems.

  • Water Withdrawal Permits

    • For withdrawing specific quantities of water from surface or groundwater sources, often for agricultural, industrial, or municipal uses, to protect water resources from overuse and environmental harm.

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