General Permits

A "general permit" covers multiple individual discharge sources and locations that have the same type of discharges and involve situations where the Department determines there is a relatively low risk for significant environmental impact. General permits may be issued for different specific categories of discharge activities.

The Department intends to reissue all of these General Permits.  The current General Permit remains in effect until an updated General Permit is finalized and reissued.  

When a draft General Permit is complete, it will be posted for public comment on the Department’s main web page, under Rulemaking and Comment Opportunity.  When the General Permit is finalized and reissued, permittees will be notified to file new NOI’s as needed.

Antifouling Paint Contaminated Wash Water. Effective July 22, 2020. Contact: Pam Parker (207) 485-3038.

Application of Herbicides, Piscicides. Contact: Laura Crossley (207) 615-6711.

  • Herbicides for the Control of Invasive Aquatic Plants. Effective June 3, 2019
  • Piscicides for the Control of Invasive Fishes. Effective June 18, 2020

Aquatic Pesticides for the Control of Mosquito-borne Diseases. Effective July 17, 2015. Contact: Laura Crossley (207) 615-6711.

Discharge of Pesticides (Incidental and Unintended Discharges of Pesticides to Surface Waters). Effective March 2, 2015. Contact: Laura Crossley (207) 615-6711.

Net Pen Aquaculture. Effective April 10, 2014. Contact for permitting: Laura Crossley (207) 615-6711. Contact for compliance: Mike Loughlin (207) 941-4578.

Post Construction Discharge of Stormwater in the Long Creek Watershed. Effective April 21, 2015. Contact: Gregg Wood (207) 287-7693.

Maine Construction General Permit (MCGP). Effective January 14, 2025. Contact Bureau of Land Resources on-call staff (207) 287-7688.

Multi-Sector Stormwater (MSGP) for Stormwater Discharge Associated with Industrial Activity. Effective December 7, 2016. Contact: Holliday Keen (207) 242-4649.

Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System (MS4). Effective July 1, 2022. Contact: Holliday Keen (207) 242-4649.

Waste Snow Discharge. Effective August 12, 2019. Contact: Laura Crossley (207) 615-6711

Related page: Opportunity for Public Comment