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The Notice of Availability of the final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permits for the Discharge of Wastewater from Certain Publicly Owned Treatment Works Treatment Plants (POTW Treatment Plants) and Other Treatment Works Treating Domestic Sewage in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New Hampshire was published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2011. General Permit MAG58000 applies to discharges in Massachusetts, and General Permit NHG58000 applies to discharges in New Hampshire. Unless otherwise specified, these two permits are collectively referred to as the "Publicly Owned Treatment Works General Permit" ("POTW GP" or the "General Permit"). This permit is effective on July 6, 2011, and will expire on July 6, 2016. This permit replaces the POTW GP that was issued in 2005 and expired on September 22, 2010.

The POTW GP authorizes discharges of wastewater from certain POTWs and other treatment works treating domestic sewage (collectively "facilities"). Facilities eligible for coverage under the General Permit would continue to include those in Massachusetts classified as minor facilities and those in New Hampshire classified as major or minor facilities. The POTW GP establishes Notice of Intent (NOI) requirements as well as effluent limitations, standards, and prohibitions for facilities that discharge to fresh and marine waters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (including both Commonwealth and Indian country lands) and the State of New Hampshire. Specific eligibility and notification requirements are provided for in the General Permit. Following the submittal of the required information to EPA and the appropriate state, EPA and the State will review the NOI. EPA will subsequently provide applicants with written notification of whether authorization to discharge under the General Permit has been granted.

Permittees seeking coverage under the final POTW GP, including those facilities whose coverage under the POTW GP that expired on September 22, 2010 was administratively continued in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 558(c)) and 40 CFR § 122.6, must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) in accordance with the final POTW GP to EPA and the appropriate State by 90 days following the effective date. Those facilities covered under the POTW GP that expired on September 22, 2010, that choose not to submit an NOI, must submit an Application for an Individual Permit or a Notice of Termination to EPA and the appropriate State by 90 days following the effective date. These requirements are fully explained in the POTW GP.

Notices of Intent may be sent to EPA at U.S. EPA, POTW GP Processing, Municipal Assistance Unit (CMU), 5 Post Office Square – Suite 100, Mail Code: OEP06-3, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-3912; and to the appropriate State at the addresses listed in Appendix E of the General Permit.

Final POTW GP Documents

• Federal Register Notice
• Publicly Owned Treatment Works General Permit (PDF) (67 pp, 311 K)
• Part VIII Standard Conditions (PDF) (26 pp, 174 K)
• Attachment A: Freshwater Acute Toxicity Test Procedure and Protocol (PDF) (8 pp, 47 K)
• Attachment B: Marine Acute Toxicity Test Procedure and Protocol (PDF) (8 pp, 40 K)
• Attachment C: Historic Properties Requirements (PDF) (4 pp, 60 K)
• Attachment D: Endangered Species Act Requirements (PDF) (12 pp, 64 K)
• Attachment E: Endangered Species Act: County Species List (PDF) (3 pp, 266 K)
• Attachment F: Agency Addresses (PDF) (4 pp, 67 K)
• NHDES Notice of Intent Form (PDF) (9 pp, 196 K)
• MASSDEP Transmittal and Application Forms:
  • Transmittal form Exit
  • Application Forms Exit

Helpful Information and Links

• Fact Sheet (PDF) (48 pp, 328 K)
• Response to Comments (PDF) (26 pp, 1.4 MB)
• USFWS Endangered Species Website
• National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places Website

Expired POTW GP Documents

• Final POTW General Permit (PDF) (43 pp, 142 K)
• Response to Comments (PDF) (11 pp, 66 K)
• Fact Sheet (PDF) (30 pp, 132 K)
• Attachment A - Freshwater Acute Toxicity Test (PDF) (8 pp, 40 K)
• Attachment B - Marine Acute Toxicity Test (PDF) (7 pp, 40 K)
• Attachment C - National Historic Preservation Act Review (PDF) (3 pp, 20 K)
• Attachment D - Endangered Species Act Review (PDF) (10 pp, 47 K)
• Sludge Compliance Guidance (PDF) (70 pp, 535 K)
• Part IV. Standard Conditions (PDF) (19 pp, 76 K)
• Massachusetts DEP application and transmittal forms Exit
• New Hampshire DES notice of intent form (PDF) (9 pp, 196 K) Exit

EPA Contacts

Meridith Timony (timony.meridith@epa.gov)
phone: (617) 918-1533
5 Post Office Square-Suite 100
Mail Code: OEP06-1
Boston, MA 02109-3912

Shelley Puleo (puleo.shelly@epa.gov)
phone: (617) 918-1545
5 Post Office Square-Suite 100
Mail Code: OEP06-3
Boston, MA 02109-3912

State Contacts

NHDES:
Hayley Franz (Hayley.Franz@des.nh.gov), 603-271-0671

MassDEP:
Claire Golden (Claire.Golden@state.ma.us)

Notices of Intent

Notices of Intent (NOI) will be posted on this page for a minimum of 30 days after EPA receives them. Please contact Shelly Puleo (puleo.shelly@epa.gov; 617-918-1545) or Meridith Timony (timony.meridith@epa.gov; 617-918-1533) if you have any questions regarding NOIs. See the table below for a chronological listing of NOIs.

Older NOIs are listed in the POTW GP NOI archive.