WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is modifying the 2008 stormwater construction general permit, extending the permit by one year to June 30, 2011. The permit applies only where EPA is the permitting authority: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, D.C., most territories, and most Native American lands.

The permit regulates the discharge of stormwater from construction sites that disturb one acre or more of land and from smaller sites that are part of a larger, common plan of development. The permit requires construction site operators to comply with stormwater discharge requirements that are intended to prevent sediment loss, soil erosion and other pollution issues at active construction sites.

The extension of the 2008 construction general permit is needed to allow the agency sufficient time to incorporate the new federal effluent requirements for the construction and development industry, which was announced by EPA on Dec. 1, 2009.

Click here for more information on the construction general permit extension.

For more information on the new federal requirements for the construction and development industry, visit EPA's construction website.