Oregon Combines Industrial Stormwater Permits Into One Statewide General Permit

The Oregon DEQ is midway through the process to renew and reissue the NPDES 1200-COLS and NPDES 1200-Z industrial stormwater general permits. The DEQ has maintained different permits covering different geographical areas. The NPDES 1200-COLS permit expired Sept. 30, 2016 and the NPDES 1200-Z expires June 30, 2017. DEQ intends to combine the 1200-COLS and 1200-Z permits into a single industrial stormwater permit. DEQ believes this will reduce the number of general permits requiring renewal, improve the agency’s efficiency in issuing permits, and improve consistency for permit registrants.


DEQ intends to reissue the 1200-Z (with basin-specific conditions for the 1200–COLS) on or before June 1, 2017, with an effective date of July 1, 2017. However, current 1200-COLS permit registrants were required to submit a renewal form by August 1, 2016, and current 1200-Z permit registrants must submit a renewal form by January 3, 2017. For existing registrants that submit a renewal form, coverage under their permit will be administratively extended until they receive coverage under the new permit.


Because the 1200-COLS expired before the combined permit will be available, DEQ issued the 1200-COLSB “bridge permit” for the period between when the 1200-COLS expires and a new combined permit is issued. The reissued 1200-COLSB permit is identical to the expired permit, and became effective on Oct. 1, 2016. This permit will expire on July 1, 2017, when the new combined permit takes effect.


Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training. For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Oregon DEQ Stormwater Permit Changes - MSGP

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is currently revising the State industrial stormwater general permits 1200-COLS permit (which went into effect September 2006) and the 1200-Z permit (which went into effect July 2007). Two environmental advocacy groups, Northwest Environmental Defense Center and Columbia Riverkeeper, challenged the permits validity under the Federal Clean Water Act. DEQ settled the legal challenge and as part of the settlement agreement, agreed to revise the permits.

The June 2009 settlement agreement required DEQ to amend the permits to conform to the 2008 US EPA Multi Sector General Permit (MSGP). The agreement also requires DEQ to include certain conditions of the existing permits that when beyond the MSGP, including that DEQ review and approve all stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPP). In May 2010, DEQ and the environmental advocacy groups amended the settlement agreement to provide additional time for DEQ to develop water quality based benchmarks for copper, lead, and zinc.

DEQ intends to revise these permits by the Fall 2011. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to the permits before they become effective. While these new permits are in development, the requirements under the existing permits remain in effect.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website