# 2026-15656: EPA Drafts Next Stormwater Permit for Construction Messes 2026-15656, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 2027 Issuance of General Permit for Stormwater Discharges From Construction Activities, is a Federal Register notice from Environmental Protection Agency published 2026-08-03, effective Comments on the proposed permit must be received on or before September 2, 2026. The EPA will host a webinar during the comment period that will provide an overview of the proposed 2027 CGP and an opportunity for participants to ask questions. The EPA will announce details of the webinar at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/proposed-2027- construction-general-permit-cgp-and-related-documents.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-10). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15656 - As of: 2026-08-10 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-15656 - Title: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 2027 Issuance of General Permit for Stormwater Discharges From Construction Activities - Type: Notice - Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency - Citation: 91 FR 48862 - Published: 2026-08-03 - Effective: Comments on the proposed permit must be received on or before September 2, 2026. The EPA will host a webinar during the comment period that will provide an overview of the proposed 2027 CGP and an opportunity for participants to ask questions. The EPA will announce details of the webinar at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/proposed-2027- construction-general-permit-cgp-and-related-documents. - Comments close: 2026-09-02 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-08-10 ## In one line EPA Drafts Next Stormwater Permit for Construction Messes ## Summary All 10 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions are proposing for public comment the draft 2027 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities, also referred to as the "proposed 2027 Construction General Permit (CGP)" or the "proposed permit." The proposed permit, if finalized, will replace the existing 2022 CGP that will expire on February 17, 2027. The EPA proposes to issue this permit for five (5) years, and to provide permit coverage to eligible operators in all areas of the country where the EPA is the NPDES permitting authority, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, most Indian country lands, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and protectorates except for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Lands of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction, and certain other Federal areas. The EPA seeks comment on the proposed permit and on the accompanying fact sheet, which contains supporting documentation. The fact sheet and proposed permit can be found at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/proposed- 2027-construction-general-permit-cgp-and-related-documents. ## Effects PRIA read - Who Must Follow the 2027 CGP: cost, medium. The proposed 2027 Construction General Permit (CGP) would apply to operators of construction sites (e.g., NAICS 236 and 237) in areas where EPA is the NPDES permitting authority, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, most Indian country lands, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, an… - NOI Must Include SWPPP or URL: cost, medium. The EPA proposes to require the Notice of Intent (NOI) to include either a copy of the full Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), a URL where the SWPPP can be viewed, or a copy of the SWPPP site map and the signed certification. The EPA estimates roughly 7,800 operators will obtain coverage… - Stabilize Sediment Basins Before Use: cost, medium. For sites that install a sediment basin, the proposed permit would require stabilization of the basin embankment, side slopes, conveyances, and discharge points after initial construction and before directing stormwater to the basin. The permit leaves the specific stabilization method (vegetative o… - Perimeter Controls Only Where Needed: benefit, low. The EPA proposes to clarify that perimeter sediment controls are required only in parts of a site that have the potential to receive stormwater from disturbed areas, rather than around the entire site perimeter. This is intended to avoid unnecessary installation and costs in areas not receiving sto… - Fewer Photos Required at Project Close: benefit, low. The proposed permit would remove the requirement to submit 'before' photographs with the Notice of Termination (NOT) and would require only post-stabilization photos to show compliance when a site terminates coverage. This change is intended to reduce reporting burden. - Flexibility for Frozen Or Snow Conditions: benefit, low. The EPA proposes to allow construction sites experiencing unforeseeable winter weather (e.g., sudden snow or frozen ground) to temporarily suspend certain stabilization deadlines while those conditions persist, with an expectation that stabilization will occur as soon as practicable after condition… - Possible Turbidity Monitoring Reductions: benefit, medium. EPA is requesting comment on reducing turbidity monitoring frequency (for example, from daily to weekly) for certain dewatering discharges that continue for multiple days, and on streamlining quarterly reporting when groups of operators coordinate monitoring and one operator submits the data. If ad… - Existing 2022 CGP Sites Keep Limited Coverage: benefit, low. If the 2027 CGP is finalized, construction-site operators that obtained coverage under the 2022 CGP prior to its expiration (February 17, 2027) would automatically remain covered under the 2022 CGP for a limited period to allow time to review the new permit, update SWPPPs, and submit a new NOI unde… - Net Estimated Annual Cost Change: benefit, low. EPA's incremental cost analysis estimates an average total annual incremental cost decrease of $25,383 per year for operators covered under the proposed 2027 CGP compared to the 2022 CGP. The EPA also reports the incremental annual information-collection cost is estimated at $2,886,987 and incremen… ## Related documents - [2026-19071](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19071): Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units, 2026-09-17 - [2026-19072](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19072): Rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Findings for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants and Repeal of Regulations for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emiss…, 2026-09-17 - [2026-18317](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18317): Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”, 2026-09-09 - [2026-14112](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14112): Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions fo…, 2026-07-14 - [2026-13667](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13667): Minor New Source Review Program Air Permitting Public Participation Requirements for State Implementation Plans, 2026-07-07 - [2026-13263](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13263): Revisions To Establish the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for Public Water Systems, 2026-07-01 ## Sources - [2026-15656 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/03/2026-15656/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-2027-issuance-of-general-permit-for-stormwater) - [2026-15656 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-03/pdf/2026-15656.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-15655, Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15655) - [Next: 2026-15659, Seeking Comment on Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Certain Foreign…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15659) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15656 (as of 2026-08-10).