EPA's 2016 Pesticide General Permit (PGP) is effective from October 31, 2016 through midnight October 31, 2021.

The general permit, issued under the Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, regulates point source discharges of biological pesticides and chemical pesticides that leave a residue. The 2016 PGP replaces the 2011 PGP and contains the same requirements and provisions. The permit covers mosquito and other flying insect pest control; weed and algae pest control; animal pest control; and forest canopy pest control.

All Operators are covered automatically under the permit through January 12, 2017, although the permit requirements must be met as of October 31, 2016.

• 2016 PGP
• 2016 PGP Fact Sheet
• Federal Register Notice for Issuance of the 2016 PGP

Summary Factsheets for Permittees

• Summary of the 2016 PGP
• For-Hire Applicator Requirements
• Mosquito Control Activities

Implementation Tools for Permittees

Part 1.1.1 of the PGP: Activities Covered

• See the Clean Water Rule to learn what constitutes waters of the United States.

Part 1.1.2.1 of the PGP: Discharges to Water Quality Impaired Waters

Operators are not eligible for coverage under this permit for any discharges from a pesticide application to waters of the United States if the water is identified as impaired by a substance which either is an active ingredient in that pesticide or is a degradate of such an active ingredient.

• See information reported by the states to EPA about the conditions in their surface waters.

Part 1.1.2.2 of the PGP: Discharges to Waters Designated as Tier Three for Antidegradation Purposes

EPA's List of Tier Three Waters for the PGP (Outstanding National Resource Waters) - EPA compiled a list of tier three waters as a resource for operators who must determine whether they discharge to a tier three water. Only tier three waters specifically identified by a water quality standard authority (e.g., a state, territory, or tribe) are identified in the table.

Part 1.1.2.4 of the PGP: Endangered and threatened species and critical habitat protection under the PGP

Refer to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Procedures page.

Part 1.2.2 of the PGP: Decision-makers Required to Submit a Notice of Intent

Refer to the eNOI page.

Part 3 of the PGP: Water Quality-Based Effluent Limitations

• State, Tribal, and Territorial Standards

Part 5 of the PGP: Pesticide Discharge Management Plan

• Pesticide Discharge Management Plan Template (WORD)(24 pp, 197 K)

Part 6.4 of the PGP: Adverse Incident Documentation and Reporting

• EPA Adverse Incident Reporting Contacts
• Fish and Wildlife Contacts
• National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources Contacts

Part 6.5 of the PGP: Reportable Spills and Leaks

• Discharge of Oil (40 CFR Part 110) (PDF)(3 pp, 186 K, About PDF)
• Determination of reportable quantities for hazardous substances (40 CFR Part 117) (PDF)(9 pp, 207 K, About PDF)
• Designation, reportable quantities, and notification (40 CFR Part 302) (PDF)(54 pp, 437 K, About PDF)

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