General Permit for Routine Maintenance Activities

The Bureau of Water Pollution Control (BWPC) protects waters of the State from the discharge of pollutants. The BWPC issues coverage under the General Permit for Routine Maintenance to operators to prevent pollution when heavy equipment is utilized for routine maintenance in or near a waterway.

Getting Started

Who Needs Permit Coverage

The purpose of the General Permit for Routine Maintenance Activities is to authorize necessary routine maintenance activities conducted with heavy equipment in waters of the State. Examples of routine maintenance include channel maintenance such as clearing, snagging, and debris removal. This permit does not authorize installation or rehab of concrete, installation of bridges or culverts, or activities that are not for regular upkeep.  The permit requires the use of appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize water quality impacts. Refer to the General Permit for Routine Maintenance Activities for more information.

How to Apply for Coverage

You must complete the following two steps to get coverage:

  1. Complete a Notice of Intent. The Notice of Intent is available online in the General Permits System. There you can also:
  • Check the Status of your permit
  • View the contact information for your permit.

For help with the Notice of Intent online application, please see the guidance document below:

  1. Submit the filing fee and the signed Notice of Intent. To sign the Notice of Intent you must be:
    1. a principal executive officer of the corporation;
    2. a general partner of the partnership; 
    3. the proprietor of a sole proprietorship;  
    4. a principal executive officer, ranking elected official or authorized employe of the municipal, state, or other public facility; or  
    5. a duly authorized representative that has an authorization letter on file with the Bureau of Water Pollution Control. A duly authorized representative letter must be in writing by a person described in a-d above and must specify the authorization for either an individual or a position within the organization.

If you do not receive an approval letter from BWPC, you cannot start work.

How to Pay Application Fee and Annual Fee

The application and annual fee may be paid electronically or by mailing in a check. To pay electronically please visit the E-Payments page and include your site ID. To pay by check please mail the appropriate fee indicating your site ID to: 

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection 
Bureau of Water Pollution Control 
901 South Stewart Street, Suite 4001 
Carson City NV 89701 

For information on fees, and to view the latest fee schedule, please visit our Water Pollution Control Fees page.

Terminating Coverage

You may terminate permit coverage by submitting a Notice of Termination. In order to submit the Notice of Termination you must be 

  • a principal executive officer of the corporation;  
  • a general partner of the partnership;  
  • the proprietor of a sole proprietorship;  
  • a principal executive office, ranking elected official or authorized employee of the municipal, state, or other public facility; or  
  • a duly authorized representative that has an authorization letter on file with Water Pollution Control. 

If you do not terminate the project prior to the end of the current permit year, then you are responsible for paying the next annual permit fee. 

Not Finding What You Are Looking For 

See our Bureau of Water Pollution Control Contacts page to help find a person to answer your questions. 

 

 

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