The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has introduced an online application for construction stormwater permits, specifically the NCG01/NCG25 permits. This development marks the second permit application available online through the AccessDEQ digital hub, following the earlier launch of the Erosion and Sediment Control permit application. Together, these applications enable the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) to process over 15,000 digital permit applications annually.
The stormwater permitting program in North Carolina is designed to develop and implement policies that protect surface water from quality impacts due to stormwater runoff. The new permit ensures compliance with both North Carolina’s Sedimentation Pollution Control Act (NCG01) and, when necessary, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program (NCG25). This applies to projects disturbing more than one acre of land.
According to DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson, “The new online construction stormwater permit will create streamlined application submittal and permit review and issuance processes, making it easier for people to apply and track their permit.” He noted that currently 42% of the department’s permit applications are online, with efforts underway to increase this figure.
DEMLR Director Toby Vinson highlighted that “the new NCG01/NCG25 stormwater application will allow DEMLR staff to better review and process the thousands of stormwater applications we receive each year.” Applicants can now track their application status online as they can with erosion and sediment control permits.
Applicants seeking this permit can use the AccessDEQ portal to apply for the NCG01/NCG25 Stormwater General Permit. The portal also allows users to track their application’s progress, submit payments via PayIt system, and view notifications.
For further information on the construction stormwater online application process, interested parties are encouraged to visit DEQ’s AccessDEQ webpage.
