NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Permit Coverage in Pennsylvania PAG-O2 General Permit – Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Construction Activities – Increased Permittee Responsibilities
The updated PAG-02 General Permit Conditions place increased responsibilities and obligations on the permittee for monitoring the construction and maintenance of E&S BMPs and Post-Construction Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs). These responsibilities and obligations include:
Effective December 8, 2025, NPDES permittees must use only qualified site inspectors to complete the visual site inspections required by the PAG-02 General Permit. There are three options for an inspector to be considered qualified:
- They have completed the Qualified Site Inspector Training Program in DEP’s Clean Water Academy initially, and every 2 years thereafter (you will have to register)
- They hold active certification as a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) or as a Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Stormwater Inspector (CESSWI) from a recognized organization, or
- They can demonstrate to the satisfaction of DEP/CCD that they have qualifications equivalent to or exceeding those identified above.
Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) Construction Certification From
There is now a standard PCSM SCM Construction Certification Form. The form includes General Project and SCM Information. Construction information including photographs, deviations from the approved PCSM Plan, measurements to evaluate conformance of the SCMs and its components, and infiltration SCMs testing results are required.
A licensed professional must sign and date the Licensed Professional Certification section.
Annual Report
An annual report on the status of earth disturbance activities must be submitted by December 7 of each year to the DEP/CCD office that approved the general permit coverage. For existing permit holders, the first report is due by December 7, 2025.