Water Pollution Control Program

Water Pollution Control Program

The Water Pollution Control Program is responsible for administering the Virgin Islands’ Territorial Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) which regulates the discharge of pollutants into waters of the Virgin Islands. Pursuant to 12 V.I.C. Section 185, all discharges into waters of the Virgin Islands require a permit. This program is administered per Title 12 Chapter 7 of the Virgin Islands Code, and the Federal Clean Water Act. The Program administers individual permits and general permits. Applicants are required to apply for new or renewal permits at least 180 days before the intended date of commencing discharging or before the existing permit expires.

Most human activity produces a waste stream. Many of the US Virgin Islands’ essential industries and services operate under the TPDES Program. Establishments that produce fresh water from seawater (hotels, power plants and residences), manufacturers, refineries and power generation plants are just a few types of facilities producing waste streams that must be regulated to minimize harmful effects to coastal waters.

Such facilities must comply with site-specific discharge limits for turbidity, suspended solids, temperature and other factors or face enforcement actions and/or fines. These discharge limits are set to minimize impacts to the waters of the US Virgin Islands and to guarantee the long-term health and safety of not only the Territory’s people but also the coastal/marine environment. Facilities must obtain permits and must provide periodic reports on their discharge in order to comply with the TPDES program. DPNR-DEP also monitors the waters near these discharges as part of the Ambient Monitoring Program.

The objectives of the program include:

• Ensuring compliance with Territorial water quality standards
• Preventing degradation of marine waters by reviewing development proposals
• Ensuring that discharges into the waters of the USVI meet CWA requirements and TPDES permitting program

The types of TPDES permits are:

Individual:

• Covers point-source specific conditions such as effluent limitations, management practices, monitoring and reporting.
• Examples include:

o   Sewage treatment plant outfalls (public & private facilities)

o   Brine discharges from reverse osmosis plants

o   Desalination freshwater production plants

Related Forms:

• Directions for “APPLYING FOR A INDIVIDUAL TPDES PERMIT”
• Directions for “RE-APPLYING FOR INDIVIDUAL TPDES PERMIT”
• Form_1_3510-1
• Form_2c_3510-2cr
• Form_2d_3510-2d
• Form_2f_3510-2f
• Individual TPDES Fee Form

General:

• Covers a geographic area and different types of point sources

o   Different types of general permits

Construction General permit (VIGSA0000)

• Stormwater runoff associated with construction activity on property in excess of one acre
  • Directions for Applying for a Construction General Permit (Stormwater)
  • VIGSA0000_VI CGP_2012
  • VIGSA0000_VI CGP_Notice of Intent (NOI)_ Form
  • Fee Form for Construction General Permit
  • VIGSA0000_VI-CGP_Notice-of-Termination-NOT_-Form_with Addendum
  • VI Environmental Protection Handbook (2002)
  • CGP No Action Assurance Policy

Pesticides General Permit (VIPGP00000)

• Required for application of pesticides on or near waters of the Virgin Islands
  • TPDES_VI PGP_VIPGP0000_Final Permit
  • VIPGP0000_App C_NOI
  • Fee Form for Pesticide General Permit
  • VIPGP0000_App D_NOT with Addendum
  • VIPGP0000_App E_Pesticide Discharge Evaluation Worksheet
  • VIPGP0000_App F_Annual Report Template
  • VIPGP0000_App G_Adverse Incident Report Template

Multi-Sector General Permit (VIR0500000)

• Required for stormwater runoff associated with industrial activity
  • Directions for applying for coverage under 2017 VI MGSP
  • 2017 VIMSGP_VIR050000
  • 2017 VI MSGP_Notice of Intent
  • Fee Form for Multi-Sector General Permit
  • 2017 VI MSGP_Notice of Termination with Addendum
  • 2017 VI MSGP_No Exposure Certification
  • 2017 VI MSGP_DMR Form
  • 2017 VI MSGP_Annual Reporting Form

FEES

GUIDE ON PAYING NEW TPDES PERMIT FEES – WEBINAR   https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=757230295114765&extid=vOWh0xSdVC1TtqAc

***NEW REQUIREMENT FOR TPDES PERMIT FEES***

Pursuant to regulations approved by Governor Bryan on December 13, 2019, TPDES permit applicants must pay fees when applying for a new TPDES permit, to renew a TPDES permit, for coverage under a general permit,  or when making certain modifications to an existing permit.  In addition, in each calendar year in which a permittee is covered by a permit, permittees must pay an annual discharge fee.  For 2020, the fee is due October 1, 2020.  Thereafter, the fee is due March 31^st.  To determine the amount of fee due, the permit applicant or permittee must fil out the Fee Form for the relevant permit type.   Additional information is provided in the documents below:

• Email to Permittees 8_5_2020
• TPDES Fees Press Final 8-5-2020 (1)
• Individual TPDES Fee Form
• Fee Form for Construction General Permit
• Fee Form for Multi-Sector General Permit
• Fee Form for Pesticide General Permit
• Fee Tables from 2019 TPDES Fee Regulations
• 12_VIRR_Ch. 184_Amendments (2019)
• Power Point Presentation on TPDES Permit Fees TPDES Fees Presentation

In addition to issuing TPDES permits, the program is responsible for completing these types of inspections at regulated facilities:

• Compliance evaluation inspection (CEI)
• Compliance sampling inspections (CSI)
• Pump station inspections (PSI);
• Stormwater inspections

Water Pollution Control Regulations

12_VIRR_Ch.184 (2007)

12_VIRR_Ch. 184_Amendments (2019)