Search

EPA’s Electronic NPDES Reporting Final Rule

Posted on 10/22/2015 by Roger Marks

In the October 22, 2015, Federal Register, US EPA posted a Final Rule to require electronic reporting and sharing of data under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES. The rule was finalized on September 24 of this year. The Final Rule is effective starting December 21, 2015.

The rule will be implemented in two “phases.”

Among some common NPDES compliance monitoring reports and notices that will now be submitted electronically are:
  • Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs);
  • Notices of intent to discharge;
  • General permit waivers, certifications, notices of termination of coverage; and
  • Other program reports.
To submit NPDES information, facilities can use EPA’s e-reporting tool, a tool developed by a state authorized to implement the NPDES program, or third-party tools that meet the requirements of the proposed rule.

Discharge to the Waters of the United States


While the mode of submission will change from paper reports to electronic reports, the information required for NPDES reporting remains the same. EPA published a User Guide for this electronic reporting rulemaking, available here.

Implementation Phases for E-reporting

EPA will implement this new Final Rule in two phases. “Phase One,” to be complete one year after the effective date of the Final Rule, will cover electronic reporting for DMR—the largest volumes of data for the NPDES program. Also included in Phase 1 are Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Reports.

In Phase Two, to be complete five years after the effective date of the Final Rule, EPA and authorized states must collect, manage, and share remaining sets of NPDES information, including general permit reports, Notices of Termination, No Exposure Certifications (NOE), MS4 Program Reports, CAFO annual program reports, and Sewer Overflow/Bypass Even Reports.

More NPDES Data Sharing Between State and Federal Agencies

In addition to requiring electronic reporting of NPDES data, the Final Rule requires authorized State programs to share a minimum set of that data with US EPA.

In the Final Rule, EPA states that the difficulty of consistently collecting, reviewing, and responding to paper-based reports and data led to an uneven approach to enforcement. In the Final Rule, EPA says, “The result of this uneven response to noncompliance by regulators means that some facilities in noncompliance will not take immediate action, which gives them a financial edge over other facilities in states where there is a timelier response to noncompliance.”

By requiring electronic data collection and sharing, EPA hopes to improve its ability—and the ability of authorized states and tribal regions—to identify and respond to NPDES compliance issues.

Find out how your state’s NPDES permit rules may be unique.

Expert Training on Clean Water Act Rules

Be confident you know your facility’s permitting and compliance requirements under major EPA programs like the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, EPCRA, TSCA, and more. The Complete Environmental Regulations Workshop is presented in cities nationwide by an expert Lion instructor. Enrollment includes resources you will use on the job and 365 days of regulatory support through Lion Membership.

Tags: Clean Water Act, EPA, new rules, NPDES, Recordkeeping and Reporting

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

My experience with Lion classes has always been good. Lion Technology always covers the EPA requirements I must follow.

Steven Erlandson

Environmental Coordinator

The instructor was great, explaining complex topics in terms that were easily understandable and answering questions clearly and thoroughly.

Brittany Holm

Lab Supervisor

I can't say enough how pleased I was with this course! Everything finally makes sense.

Kim Graham

Lab Manager

The instructor was energetic and made learning fun compared to dry instructors from other training providers.

Andy D’Amato

International Trade Compliance Manager

I had a positive experience utilizing this educational program. It was very informative, convenient, and rewarding from a career perspective.

John Gratacos

Logistics Manager

Lion is at the top of the industry in compliance training. Course content and structure are updated frequently to make annual re-training enjoyable. I like that Lion has experts that I can contact for 1 year after the training.

Caroline Froning

Plant Chemist

Much better than my previous class with another company. The Lion instructor made sense, kept me awake and made me laugh!

Marti Severs

Enterprise Safety Manager

The instructor did an excellent job presenting a very dry subject; keeping everyone interested and making it enjoyable.

Marc Bugg

Hazardous Waste Professional

Best instructor ever! I was going to take my DOT training w/a different provider, but based on this presentation, I will also be doing my DOT training w/Lion!

Donna Moot

Hazardous Waste Professional

The course was very well structured and covered the material in a clear, concise manner.

Ian Martinez

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Just starting out with shipping lithium batteries? The four fundamental concepts in this guide are the place to start.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.