Standard Operatingprocedures(SOP) for Newnpdes General Permit For

Summary of

Standard OperatingProcedures(SOP) for NewNPDES General Permit for

Stormwater DischargesAssociatedwithConstruction Activities

NOTE: ALTHOUGH PRE-APPLICATION MEETINGS ARE NOT REQUIRED BY CHAPTER 102, THEY ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. SUCH MEETINGS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE APPLICANT AND DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS POTENTIAL ISSUES PRIOR TO PERMIT APPLICATION SUBMISSION. THIS CAN SAVE VALUABLE TIME DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS AND POSSIBLY AVOID MANDATORY PERMIT WITHDRAWALS OR PERMIT DENIALS.

1. ApplicationCompleteness Review

A. The Districtwillreview the applicationpackagewithin15businessdaysofreceipttoensure thatitisa complete andtechnically adequateapplicationpackage. Thecompletenesschecklist submitted with the permit application shouldbeusedtocompletethisreview.

B. If the application is determined to be incompletetheDistrict will send theapplicant an incompleteness review letter. Theapplicant has60calendardaystoprovidethenecessary informationtomake the applicationcomplete. Theapplicantmayrequest,inwriting,an extension of 60days.The applicant will be notified in writing as to whether or not the request is granted. The notification will include aspecificduedatefortheapplicant’sresponseandlanguageproviding the applicantanoticethatfailuretoaddressthedeficiencies orrespond by theduedatewill resultin the application beingdetermined to be incomplete and consideredwithdrawn.

C. Iftheapplicantdoesnotsubmitthenecessaryinformationtomaketheapplication completewithinthetimeframespecified, including any extensions authorized in writing, thepermitapplicationwillbeconsidered withdrawn. The District will notify the applicantthat the permitapplicationiswithdrawn.Thefeesassociatedwiththefiling ofthepermit willnotbe refunded.

D. Ifthepermitapplicationiscomplete,theDistrictwillsendthe completeness notification lettertothepermitapplicant. The application will proceed to the technical review.

2.Technical Review

A. TheDistrictwillconductaformal technicalreviewoftheESPCplanwithin 22 businessdaysfromthedatethepermit applicationisconsideredcomplete. Any technical deficiencies inthe review of the ESPCplanwillbe documentedina technical deficiency letter tothe applicant/ownerandconsultant. Theletterwillincludetherequirementthat revised plans shouldbe submittedwithin 60 calendar daysof the date of the technical deficiencyletter. Theapplicantmayrequest,inwriting,an extension of 60days.The applicant will be notified in writing as to whether or not the request is granted. The notification will include aspecificduedatefortheapplicant’sresponse,andlanguageproviding the applicantanoticethatfailuretoaddressthedeficiencies orrespond by theduedatewill resultin the application beingdetermined to be incomplete and consideredwithdrawn.

B. If the ESPC plan is resubmitted theDistrictwillconductaformal technicalreviewoftheresubmittedESPCplanwithin 17 businessdaysfromthedate of the resubmittal. If after the secondtechnical review any technical deficiencies still exist with the ESPC plan the District will consult with DEP and decide to:

1. withdraw the application

2. deny the application, or

3. proceed with the elevated review process

C. Iftheapplicantdoesnotsubmitthenecessaryinformationtomaketheapplication completewithinthe 60 calendar day timeframe,thepermitapplicationwillbe consideredincompleteandwillbewithdrawn. TheDistrictwillnotify the applicant/owner and consultantthatthe necessary information was not submitted within the established time frames and the permitapplicationiswithdrawn. The fees associatedwiththefiling ofthepermitwillnotberefunded.

NOTE:THE DAUPHIN COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS NOT A PCSM DELEGATED DISTRICT. HOWEVER,THE DISTRICT DOES HAVE THE OPTION OF REFERING ANY PCSM PLAN TO DEP FOR TECHNICAL REVIEW IF, DURING DISTRICT REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION, CONCERNS ARE NOTED REGARDING THE PCSM PLAN. THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR NPDES GENERAL PERMITS DO NOT CONTAIN TIME FRAMES FOR THIS TYPE OF REVIEW. THIS MAY IMPACT THE REVIEW TIME FOR YOUR PROJECT.

3. ElevatedReviewProcess

A. When an applicant makes a request for an elevated review, or for applicationsthatcontinuetobetechnicallydeficient,andforwhichthe technical deficiencieshavenot beenresolvedsatisfactorily withintheestablishedresponsetimeframe, including any approved extension, the applicationwillbesubjecttothe elevated reviewprocess.

1. The District will notify DEP of the request or need for the elevated review process. DEP staffwill agree on a direction for final review of the permit application, which may include making a permit decision; having a face-to-face meeting with the applicant and the consultant(s); or having a telephone call with the applicant and consultant(s) to discuss the remaining technical deficiencies. Department staff will prepare a written summary of the meeting or phone call documenting decisions agreed to at the meeting or during the phone call.

1. If the meeting results in an agreement to resolve the outstanding issues, the regional office will inform the applicant that all remaining technical deficiencies must be corrected and revised plans submitted within 10 business days of the date of the meeting. The Regional Director may provide the applicant with an additional 10 business days to respond. If resolution cannot be reached, the deficiencies must be elevated to the Bureau Director for review. The Bureau Director will provide direction on the permit decision which may be advancing with denial of the permit application.

1. The District, in coordination with any additional staff, will conduct the necessary review of the resubmitted plans. The review will be completed within 5 business days of the date the revised plans were resubmitted. At the conclusion of this review, the permit decision will be made.

4. If the applicant does not submit revised plans during the elevated review process, the Department will make a permit decision based upon the permit application information available.

4. Permit Decision

A. Once the ESPCplanisfoundto betechnicallyadequate,theDistrictwill make a decision to either authorize the permit or deny the permit.

B. If the permit is approved the District will notify the applicant of approval.

C. If the permit is denied, for continuingtechnicaldeficienciesor forwhich a demonstration cannot be made that all applicable regulatory and statutory requirements havebeenmet, the DEP regional office, after consultation with the District, will sendthepermitapplicantapermitapplicationdenialletternotingthatthepermitis denied. Allpermitfeessubmitted withanapplicationthatisdeniedwillbe forfeited.

D. If the applicantofadeniedpermitapplicationwishestocontinuetopursueapprovalof theproject,theapplicantmustsubmita revisedpermitapplicationfollowingappropriate program requirementsand proceduresand willbeconsideredanewapplication.