Permits & Standards

Use of this page assumes you already know what laws may apply to your project.  If you have questions about what laws may apply, or about application procedures or forms, please call the DEP. "On-call" staff are usually available from 8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday, to answer phone inquiries and mail materials on a first come, first served basis.  Go to office phone numbers and map of administrative regions. This page is not intended as a legal reference. 

Programs (shortcuts). Erosion and Sedimentation Control; Hydropower & Dams; Mining; Natural Resources Protection (NRPA); Shoreland Zoning; Site Location; Stormwater; Waste Discharge (including municipal/industrial, OBD, subsurface and sand/salt).

General materials Go here for general information including information on topics such as water quality certification; note about the currency of statutory materials; how to get hardcopies of materials; link to the rulemaking page; pocket guides; and list of guidelines (documents).

Related pages:
Sustainable Water Use Program (water use).
Essential Wildlife Habitat (off-site, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife). Once an area becomes designated as Essential Habitat, no state agency or municipal government may permit, license, fund or carry out projects that would significantly alter the habitat or violate protection guidelines adopted for the habitat.

Programs

	Erosion and Sedimentation Control -- This law requires basic controls and site stabilization when a project involves filling, displacing, or exposing earthen material.   No permit is required.  The law sets a minimum across-the-board standard that helps prevent harm to surface waters.
	Hydropower & Dams --  These laws provide for licensing of  hydropower projects, and response to petitions to set water levels or provide release from dam ownership.
	Mining  -- This law regulates larger gravel pits, quarries, and clay and topsoil mining operations.   For metallic mineral mining, see Site Location of Development.
	Natural Resources Protection (NRPA)-- This law regulates activities in, on, over or adjacent to natural resources such as lakes, wetlands, streams/rivers, fragile mountain areas, and sand dune systems.   The program uses permit by rule (PBR) for certain classes of activity.  Standards to be met focus on the possible impacts to the resources and to existing uses.
	Shoreland Zoning -- This law is primarily administered through municipalities, and involves the regulation of activities in the shoreland zone.
	Site Location of Development (Site Law) -- This law regulates developments that may have a substantial impact on the environment, as provided in law.  Examples:  large subdivisions, structures, 20 acre plus developments, and metallic mineral mining operations.   Standards address a range of potential environmental impacts.
	Stormwater Program -- The Stormwater Program includes the Stormwater Management Law, aspects of the Site Law, MEPDES permitting, and more.
	Waste Discharge Program -- This law regulates wastewater discharges:  municipal/industrial, overboard discharge, subsurface waste discharge, and sand/salt.   For information about water classification or monitoring, go to the Monitoring Page.