The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is extending the public comment period on a proposed 2026 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for stormwater discharges from industrial activity.
The comment period has been extended to May 19, 2025.
This proposed permit would replace the 2021 MSGP upon finalization. This proposed permit would cover stormwater discharges from industrial facilities in areas where EPA is the NPDES permitting authority.
According to the EPA, material handling and storage, equipment maintenance and cleaning, and other activities at industrial facilities are often exposed to the weather. Runoff from rainfall or snowmelt that comes in contact with these activities can pick up pollutants, and transport them directly to a nearby river, lake, or coastal water or indirectly via a storm sewer and degrade water quality.
The EPA has authorized many states to administer the NPDES stormwater permitting program. Most industrial facilities will need to obtain NPDES permit coverage through their state. EPA remains the permitting authority in a few states, most territories, and most Indian country.
