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NPDES :: Fee Schedule

On July 31, 2007 the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Easley put into effect a new budget that included a 20% increase to most fees associated with Division of Water Quality permit renewals, permit modifications, certifications, and project fees. The change did not affect SOC fees. (Express permitting fees for non-discharge permits may be changed at a later date.)

This increase represents the first change in fees since 1999 and reflects inflationary costs associated with program delivery.

Beginning September 1, 2007, all permit fees collected must meet the legal requirements of these changes.

The following fees schedule is effective September 1, 2007

Activity (Category A) See Notes 1,2	New Permit Application Fee / Annual Fee	Major Modification Fee *See Note 3*
Major Individual NPDES Permits	$3,440	$1,030
Minor Individual NPDES Permits	$860	$260
Single Family Residences	$60	$20
Stormwater and Wastewater Discharge General Permits	$100	Not Applicable
Recycle Systems	$360	$110
Animal Permits (Small Operations)	$60	Not Applicable
Animal Permits (Medium Operations)	$180	Not Applicable
Animal Permits (Large Operations)	$360	Not Applicable
Nondischarge Major Permits	$1,310	$395
Nondischarge Minor Permits	$810	$245

Activity (Category B) See Note 1	Additional Annual Fee *See Note 4*	Project Fee See Note 4
Special Order by Consent – Major	$500	$400
Special Order by Consent – Minor	$250	$400

Activity (Category C) See Note 1	Project Fee *See Note 5*
Sewer Extensions	$480
State Stormwater	$505
Water Quality Certifications – Major	$570
Water Quality Certifications – Minor	$240
Petroleum Contaminated Soils	$480

Miscellaneous Activities	Project Fee
Permit Renewal	No Fee
Authorization to Construct	No Fee
Minor Permit Modification	No Fee

Notes:

Refer to definitions page for specific descriptions of each activity category.
For new permit requests under activities listed in Category A, a fee equivalent to the corresponding annual fee is required. This fee is non-refundable if the permit request is denied. If the permit is granted, this fee applies as the annual fee for the first year after permit issuance.
This fee is non-refundable if the permit request is denied. A major modification shall be defined as one that increases the volume, increases the pollutant load, results in a significant relocation of the discharge point, or results in a change in the characteristics of the waste generated.
These fees shall be in addition to the associated annual fee as listed under Category A.
This fee is non-refundable if the permit request is denied.

Definitions of Permitted Activities

Major Individual NPDES Permits
>= 1.0 million gallons per day. Industries with high toxic potential; municipalities with pretreatment programs; municipal stormwater permits.

Minor Individual NPDES Permits
< 1.0 million gallons per day. Industries with low toxic potential; municipalities; small domestic waste facilities; industrial stormwater permits.

Single Family Residences
All individual systems covered under NPDES General Permit Number NCG550000 and non-discharge single family residential systems.

Stormwater and Wastewater Discharge General Permits
Facilities covered under statewide General NPDES Permits. Common examples include: mine dewatering, cooling water, vehicle maintenance activities, etc.

Recycle Systems
Must be complete closed-loop recycle system.

Animal Permits (Small Operations)
38,500 to 99,999 Steady State Live Weight

Animal Permits (Medium Operations)
100,000 to 799,999 Steady State Live Weight

Animal Permits (Large Operations)
> 800,000 Steady State Live Weight

Nondischarge Major Permits
> 10,000 gallons per day or > 300 acres of land required.

Nondischarge Minor Permits
< 10,000 gallons per day or < 300 acres of land required.

Special Order by Consent – Major
Refer to categories described above for Major facilities.

Special Order by Consent – Minor
Refer to categories described above for Minor facilities.

Sewer Extensions
Collection system construction or extension to an existing system.

State Stormwater
All new development in the 20 coastal counties. New development located throughout the state near designated sensitive waters (i.e. High Quality Waters, Outstanding Resource Waters).

Water Quality Certifications – Major
> 1.0 acre wetland fill, > 150 feet stream impacts

Water Quality Certifications – Minor
< 1.0 acre wetland fill, < 150 feet stream impacts

Petroleum Contaminated Soils
Removal, treatment and disposal of petroleum-contaminated soils.