WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the public comment period for the draft Construction General Permit (CGP) from June 24, 2011, to July 11, 2011, to give stakeholders additional time to review the draft permit and provide comments. The draft permit, published on April 25, 2011, 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 in areas where EPA is the permitting authority, including four states (Idaho, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Idaho); Washington, D.C.; most territories; and most Indian country lands.

The draft CGP includes a number of modifications to the current permit, many of which are necessary to implement the new Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards for Construction and Development point sources, known as the "C&D rule."

For additional information on the Construction General Permit and to view a copy of the Federal Register notice announcing the comment period extension, visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgp.cfm.