United States                   Office of Water           Publication # EPA 833-F-94-001
                    Environmental Protection            4203                 April 1994
                    Agency
   EPA     SUMMARIES OF CWA104(b)(3)
                    GRANTS
                    Maryland  Model  Construction
                    General  Permit
                            FY 1991 - Grant #CP-003651-01

       In November 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency added permit requirements for storm water
discharges to the NPDES permit program. Maryland has had requirements for temporary runoff controls for
construction activities since 1970 and requirements for permanent runoff controls for construction activities since
1982 but needed a permit which would bridge the gap between the state requirements, local ordinances and the new
Federal NPDES regulations. In FY 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Maryland Department
of the Environment a 104 (b)(3) grant for a demonstration project to develop a model general permit for construction
activities. During the course of the permit development, a procedure to process Notifications of Intent (NOIs) to be
covered by a general permit would also be established. The project period ran from October 1,1991 to September
30,1992. The grant project period was then extended to September 30,1993.

       The major goals of the project were to develop a general permit for construction activity, develop a
procedure for processing NOIs, develop a procedure to issue and track permits and develop a link with enforcement
actions.

       Maryland developed an NOI scanner program to speed up data entry and tracking of NOIs. In addition to
producing form response letters to permittees, the NOI program organizes the data by jurisdiction and gives infor-
mation on the BMPs employed. Maryland has received over 1000 NOIs so far and the system produces a monthly
report on the new NOIs received and adds them to the total NOIs received for the year. Letters are sent to permit-
tees when an NOI is received. In addition, letters are sent to permittees who file incomplete NOIs. A user's manual
for the NOI system was developed.

       In the area of enforcement, Maryland has focused on educating the regulated community rather than taking
formal action although it is anticipated that as the program matures more aggressive enforcement action may be
taken.

       Recently Maryland's Department of the Environment enacted a change in regulations that enables the
Department of the Environment to collect fees for coverage under the general permit For more information contact
Molly Cannon at (410) 631-3543.
              "Clean Water... A Better Environment"
       Office of Wastewater Enforcement and Compliance (OWEC)
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