Permit Acquisition
Does your business need a Maryland stormwater permit? Confused about which permit you need or how to get it?
You’ve come to the right place - Grapewell is the Maryland stormwater company. We have helped businesses big and small across the state gain permit coverage, and we can help you.
Which Permit Do I Need?
MDE has several stormwater discharge permits for different types of facilities, but the three we work with most often are:
- The General Permit for Discharges from Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activities (20-SW)
- The General Discharge Permit for Discharges from Mineral Quarries, Borrow Pits, and Concrete and Asphalt Plants (15-MM)
- The General Permit for Discharges from Marinas including Boat Yards and Yacht Basins (16-MA)
These three permits, commonly referred to as “the industrial stormwater permit,” “the mineral mines permit,” and “the marina permit,” respectively, cover a huge set of industries. The 20-SW industrial permit is particularly comprehensive, covering businesses ranging from auto salvage facilities and breweries to lumber yards and plastics factories. Effective February 1st, 2023, the 12-SW permit has been superseded by the 20-SW. Industrial facilities must revise their SWPPP and reapply to retain coverage. The table below gives examples of some of the industries covered by each permit.
20-SW Industrial Stormwater Permit
- Scrap metal, paper, and auto recycling facilities
- Food and beverage manufacturers
- Timber yards, mulch manufacturers, and landscape suppliers
- Metal fabricators
- Most factories
- Most trucking facilities
15-MM Mineral Mines Stormwater Permit
- Permanent and portable ready-mix concrete plants
- Clay, stone, and concrete products and materials manufacturers
- Mining operations
- Asphalt paving and roofing products manufacturing
16-MA Marina Stormwater Permit
- Marinas
- Boat yards that provide storage and repair services
- Boat clubs with marinas
- Sailing and yacht clubs with marinas
For a full list of all the types of businesses required to gain coverage under one of these stormwater discharge permits, please see the Industries We Serve.
How Do I Get the Permit?
To gain coverage under any of these stormwater permits, you will need to develop a stormwater pollution prevention plan (or “SWPPP”), prepare several application forms and documents, and submit all these materials to the Maryland Department of the Environment for approval.
This is a time-consuming process that is often confusing and frustrating. It can feel like you have to become a part-time expert in stormwater just to get the permit, let alone comply with its requirements.
That’s one of the main reasons our clients are so often grateful to work with us. They’ve tried their best to take care of the permitting process themselves and either gotten stuck or sidetracked. We make things easy.
Grapewell’s Stormwater Permit Acquisition Process
From creating a custom stormwater plan for your facility to communicating with MDE officials and ensuring all documentation is properly submitted and received, Grapewell handles every step of the stormwater permit application process so you can focus on other things.
If your Maryland-based business needs a stormwater discharge permit and you’re ready to get started with the application process - contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll talk with you about your facility’s needs, review your options, and, if appropriate, offer a quote for our services.