The industrial surface water discharge permit is a combined state and federal permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This permit is issued for industrial facilities that discharge to State surface waters. The permit is designed to meet federal effluent guidelines when applicable and also to ensure the discharge satisfies the State of Maryland water quality standards. All industrial, commercial, or institutional facilities that discharge wastewater (or storm water from certain facilities) to surface waters of Maryland may need this permit, or an alternative General Permit. Alternatively, an industrial discharge to the municipal wastewater collection system may require a pretreatment permit.

Municipal groundwater discharge permits are issued for land application systems of treated domestic wastewater and large onsite wastewater disposal systems with a monthly average wastewater flow of greater than 5,000 gallons per day. Municipal wastewater includes domestic wastewater from public and private community wastewater treatment systems. Before the Department can process a municipal groundwater discharge permit, proposed municipal projects must be included in county water and sewer plans. Locally issued permits for activities such as building and sediment control may be needed for these projects but are not required for the Department to process a ground water discharge permit.

The municipal surface water discharge permit is a combined state and federal permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This permit is issued for sewage treatment plants that discharge to State surface waters. The permit is designed to protect the quality of the body of water receiving the discharge. Anyone who discharges wastewater to surface waters may need a surface water discharge permit. Applicants include municipalities, counties, federal facilities, schools, and commercial wastewater treatment plants, as well as treatment systems for private residences that discharge to surface waters.

The municipal surface water discharge permit is a combined state and federal permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This permit is issued for sewage treatment plants that discharge to State surface waters. The permit is designed to protect the quality of the body of water receiving the discharge. Anyone who discharges wastewater to surface waters may need a surface water discharge permit. Applicants include municipalities, counties, federal facilities, schools, and commercial wastewater treatment plants, as well as treatment systems for private residences that discharge to surface waters.

This permit assures the proper management and recycling of natural wood wastes such as tree stumps, brush and limbs, root mats, logs, leaves, grass clippings, unadulterated wood wastes, and other natural vegetative materials that are generated when land is cleared for construction purposes. The permit is required for those persons who construct and operate natural wood waste recycling facilities in the State of Maryland. The general permit contains conditions and parameters applicable to the several similar natural wood waste recycling facilities covered under the general permit. The Department may exclude a particular facility from coverage under the general permit and require the applicant to submit a separate application for an individual Natural Wood Waste Recycling Permit pursuant to COMAR 26.04.09.04A(2)a.

This permit assures the proper management and recycling of natural wood wastes such as tree stumps, brush and limbs, root mats, logs, leaves, grass clippings, unadulterated wood wastes, and other natural vegetative materials that are generated when land is cleared for construction purposes. The permit is required for those persons who construct and operate natural wood waste recycling facilities in the State of Maryland. A natural wood waste recycling facility DOES NOT include a collection or processing facility operated by a nonprofit or governmental organization located in the State, or single individual or business that provides recycling services solely for its employees or for its own recyclable materials generated on its own premises. The general permit authorizes operation of certain types of natural wood waste recycling activities within the State of Maryland.

Application for an Equivalency Permit

The Maryland Department of the Environment’s Pretreatment Program is responsible for overseeing all approved local (municipality or county-operated) pretreatment programs in accordance with EPA’s national pretreatment program. 

This permit ensures the proper disposal of solid waste in an environmentally acceptable manner while protecting public health and the environment including surface and ground water. Any person who installs, materially alters, or extends a refuse disposal system must obtain this permit. Refuse disposal systems which require this permit include: • Municipal landfills • Land clearing debris landfills • Industrial waste landfills, including coal combustion byproducts and residuals • Rubble landfills • Incinerators (municipal and special medical waste) • Transfer stations • Processing facilities • Processing and transfer facilities

The Resource Management Program within the Land and Materials Administration of the Maryland Department of the Environment regulates several activities to ensure the protection of public health​ and the environment. The permit assures the proper management and recycling of organics such as yard trimmings, preconsumer and post-consumer food scraps, nonrecyclable paper, Department-approved animal manure and bedding, industrially produced food processing materials, animal mortalities, manufactured organic materials like waxed-corrugated cardboard, non-coated paper and other materials that the Department determines pose a low level of risk from hazardous substances and a higher level risk from physical contaminates and human pathogens. This includes Individual Composting Facility Permit and General Composting Facility Permit