Compare Regulations
Compare state-level permit requirements side-by-side (up to 4 states)
PA(3 more)
Rows with an amber indicator differ across selected states.
| Field | PA Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| NPDES Program | State-Delegated |
| Permitting Agency | Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) |
| Permit Name | NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities (PAG-02) |
| Construction Threshold | ≥ 1 acre of earth disturbance, or < 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development or sale that will ultimately disturb ≥ 1 acre; Pennsylvania also requires a separate E&S permit (via Chapter 102) for all earth disturbance ≥ 5,000 sq ft (approximately 0.11 acre) |
| NOI Lead Time | NOI must be submitted to the applicable County Conservation District (CCD) or PA DEP regional office and approved before earth disturbance begins; PA DEP targets a 30-day review period but review can extend to 60 days for complete applications |
| Application Method | Online via PA DEP's eFACTS/eNOI system or paper application submitted to the County Conservation District (CCD) or PA DEP regional office; most projects are reviewed and approved at the CCD level under delegated authority |
| Permit Fee | $100 to $500 depending on acreage for general permit (PAG-02); Individual NPDES permits (required for discharges to High Quality or Exceptional Value waters) have higher fee schedules. County Conservation Districts may charge additional review fees. |
| SWPPP Required | Yes |
| PE Certification Required | Yes |
| SWPPP Template Available | Yes |
| Inspection Frequency | Every 7 days and within 24 hours of a precipitation event that results in a discharge from the earth disturbance area. Inspections must be documented on DEP-approved inspection report forms. |
| Inspector Qualification | Inspections must be performed by an 'Responsible Person for Erosion and Sedimentation Compliance' — Pennsylvania requires that at least one person responsible for compliance hold a valid Responsible Land Disturber (RLD) certificate issued by the County Conservation District or PA DEP. The RLD must be trained and tested on Pennsylvania's E&S requirements. This is a state-specific certification; training and testing are administered through the PA State Conservation Commission. |
| Post-Construction Required | Yes |
| Turbidity Standard | No numeric NTU limit in PAG-02 for most discharges; however, discharges to High Quality (HQ) or Exceptional Value (EV) waters are prohibited under Chapter 102 unless an individual NPDES permit is obtained — no general permit coverage is available for such discharges |