Permitting

DEP Chapter 102 / NPDES

Earth Disturbance / National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits (Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program: 25 Pennsylvania Code Chapter 102)

Pennsylvania Chapter 102 and Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations exist to reduce the impacts of development on waterways. Sediment is the leading cause of pollution in waterways with accelerated erosion from human use of land making up 70% of the total sediment deposition in rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are required to be installed and properly maintained on construction sites. Two of the most commonly used BMPs are compost filter sock and silt fence. BMPs are used to filter sediment from stormwater that may leave the site and prevent it from entering the waters of the commonwealth. Conservation Districts issue NPDES permits and inspect BMPs on construction sites.

If you need to obtain an NPDES permit or are requesting a review of an Erosion & Sedimentation Plan, please use the resources below:

CLICK HERE to review the Indiana County Conservation District NPDES and Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Review Fee Schedule.

The ICCD Erosion and Sedimentation Pollution Control Plan Review Application form must be included with any submission. To download the application form, please CLICK HERE.
Some agencies of the federal government and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are exempt from all aforementioned fees. Please check with the Indiana County Conservation District to determine if your agency is exempt from fees.
For NPDES submissions please contact the Indiana County District Office for required information. Indiana County Conservation District strongly encourages scheduling a pre-application meeting to answer questions and improve the quality of your permit application.
All INDIVIDUAL NPDES submissions are required to be submitted through DEP's E-Permitting website.
All NPDES submissions including PAG-01, PAG-02, and individual NPDES permits are required to be submitted through DEP's E-Permitting website.
A project where the applicant is the County of Indiana on property that will be owned and operated by the County of Indiana are exempt from any Erosion and Sediment Control Plan review fees owed to the Indiana County Conservation District. Permit Application Fees payable to the Indiana County Conservation District – Clean Water Fund and Disturbed Acre Review Fees payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – Clean Water fund still apply.
A project where the applicant is an Indiana County Municipality (townships and boroughs) on property that will be owned and operated by the Indiana County Municipality are exempt from any Erosion and Sediment Control Plan review fees owed to the Indiana County Conservation District. Permit Application Fees payable to the Indiana County Conservation District – Clean Water Fund and Disturbed Acre Review Fees payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania– Clean Water fund still apply.
Non-profit organizations, Religious Organizations, School Districts, and Municipal Authorities (i.e., Water, Sewer, Recreation Authorities, etc.) are not exempt from the Indiana County Conservation District’s E&S review fees
The Indiana County Conservation District Disturbed Acre Review Fee shall cover the initial Erosion & Sedimentation Control Plan review and (1) subsequent revision. If additional reviews are required, the second resubmission shall be assessed a fee of 75% of the original review fee. Each subsequent resubmission shall be assessed a fee of 100% of the original review fee.
If replies to plan deficiency letters are not received by the Indiana County Conservation District within 60 days, the application will be returned. Any re-submissions after that time will require new fees.
Applications submitted after the fact, because of a complaint or discovery of an unpermitted activity, are subject to an additional $500 fee. A check in the amount of $500 must be submitted with the permit application made payable to the “Indiana County Conservation District.”
There is a $100.00 returned check fee.

Waste Sites

Waste Site Review Fee (over 5,000 sq. ft. but under one acre): For a waste site review, please remit a check for $300 – payable to the “Indiana County Conservation District”. This fee includes the E&S plan review. The review fee must be included with the E&S plan submission. Disturbance of 1 acre or greater requires an NPDES permit.

Timber Harvesting

Timber Harvest Earth Disturbance Review Fee: $350 per acre of earth disturbance (round up). Earth disturbance is calculated based on the total area of haul roads, landings, and skid trails, not the entire acreage being timbered. If a timber harvest will result in 25acres of earth disturbance, an Erosion and Sedimentation Control General Permit(ESCGP) will be required following the above General NPDES & ESCGP Permit Fee Schedule.

Click here to access a PA DEP Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ) Document regarding timber harvests.

DEP Chapter 105 (General Permits)

Water Obstruction and Encroachment
Pennsylvania Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (25 PA Code Chapter 105)

Chapter 105 permit applications are for activities that may impact a waterway such as a stream, wetland, floodway, or other body of water. This is crucial to ensure that projects do not have negative impacts on waterways while reducing flood risk.

Chapter 105 General permits are needed for any work that impacts a stream.
This type of work includes construction, stream crossing culverts, retaining walls, fish habitat structures, agricultural crossings, utility line crossings, and other obstructions and encroachments.
Chapter 105 general permits protect and prevent aquatic ecosystems and wetlands from any threats that these encroachments may present, such as sedimentation and barriers to aquatic organism passage.

If you need to obtain a Chapter 105 permit, please utilize the resources below:

Federal, State, County, Local municipalities, and municipal agencies or municipal authorities are exempt from Chapter 105 General Permit Fees. A PNDI (PA Natural Diversity Inventory) Receipt is required for the General Permit application. You may obtain a PNDI receipt here.
Contact NWRO of DEP to submit a Chapter 105 permit by phone at 814-332-6945.

Click here to review the DEP Chapter 105 Permit Fee Calculation Worksheet.

Permits can be submitted online through the DEP E-Permitting System.

File an Electronic Permit

Contact Information for Permitting Agencies

Department of Environmental Protection,
Northwest Regional Office
230 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335
814-322-6945

Department of Environmental Protection, Central Office
Bureau of Watershed Management
Division of Waterways, Wetlands and Erosion Control
P.O. Box 8775, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8775
717-787-6827

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Chesapeake Bay Drainage
Baltimore District Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715
410-962-1846

Ohio Drainage
Pittsburgh District Corps of Engineers
Regulatory Branch, Federal Building
1000 Federal Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4186

Additional information on permitting can be obtained through the DEP website using the following links:

Stormwater Management

Currently, the Indiana County Conservation District is not delegated to administer any programs related to stormwater management. Post Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) reviews are conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection. Other questions or complaints regarding stormwater issues should be directed to your local municipality.

The Indiana County Office of Planning and Development completed a Phase 1 Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan - Scope of Study. This study can be referenced by clicking here.

Additional information about Pennsylvania's Stormwater Management Act of 1978 (Act 167) can be viewed by clicking here.

Ponds

Ponds that may not require DEP permits include the following general conditions (before constructing a pond, you should reach out to your regional DEP office to confirm permit requirements):

*Must be disturbing under one acre*
Storage less than 50 acre feet, drainage area less than 100 acres, and dam height is less than 15 feet.
Water impounded behind a dam that inundates a wetland.
Normal dam maintenance that does not change the pool level (height of dam) or spillway characteristics.
Dredging of an off-stream pond if the pond has been completely drawn down.

NOTE that even if a DEP permit is not required, Federal Authorization for a dam may still be a requirement before construction can occur.

For questions regarding pond management, please utilize the resources below or reach out to your local Penn State Extension or USDA NRCS offices.