How to Use This Page
Below on this page, you'll find a list of upcoming informational meetings and public hearings for industrial or municipal surface water discharge permits being processed by the Wastewater Pollution Prevention and Reclamation Program, Water and Science Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). This page will include events for industrial surface individual permits, municipal surface individual permits, master general permits, and groundwater individual permits..
For most meetings, the Department is currently offering the option for those requesting a meeting or hearing to agree to for the meeting to occur in a virtual setting. Approval of all requestors must be provided in order to forego having the meeting or hearing in a physical setting. For those meetings or hearings which are approved to occur virtually, the list on this page includes a link for you to sign up to attend.
NOTE: There are other units at MDE that issue discharge permits. This page does not contain information on permits being processed for discharges from
municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), from
oil-related facilities, or from
concentrated animal feeding operations
Documents related to each pending project - normally permit applications, existing and tentative permits, and fact sheets - are available for download by searching on MDE's
Wastewater Permits Search Portal. Enter the application/permit number in the State Number field and click search.
Background Information
What is the permitting process?
A flow diagram of the permitting process is provided below. The points in the process where an informational meeting and/or a public hearing would be held are in the red boxes.
What is the difference between an informational meeting and a public hearing?
Informational Meetings - If requested, the Department will hold an informational meeting following publication of the application received notice for a permit application. Informational meetings are informal. The proceedings are not transcribed. The purpose of the meeting is to allow the public to ask questions of the applicant, concerning the application they have submitted. It is also a forum for MDE to get an overview of any concerns the public has about the permit being requested. For renewals of existing permits, the Department will also present information concerning any permit that is already in place. MDE representatives will also present an overview of the public participation process, including an outline of opportunities during that process when the public may provide input. Time is provided for questions and answers regarding the permit request.
Public Hearings - If requested, the Department will hold a public hearing following the publication of the tentative determination. The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments from the public concerning the terms of the tentative determination. To facilitate receiving the best comments MDE will usually present a summary of the conditions in the tentative determination and go over the procedures to provide comments. Comments can be provided at the hearing or in writing at any time during the comment period. At the hearing, comments are usually presented orally, but we will also accept written comments as well. All substantive comments received during the comment period, whether received at a hearing or not, are given the same weight. Public hearing proceedings are transcribed by a court reporter. The transcript becomes part of the record and is available to the public upon request.
List of Hearings/Meetings
For meetings that are identified as virtual, you will need to register in advance to attend. Please click on the link provided for the permit you are interested in, complete the Google Form. A few days prior to the event, you will receive a link to attend the meeting in Google Meet with information on how to participate.
Informational Meetings
- There are currently no scheduled upcoming informational meetings.
Public Hearings
- W.M Breichner Water Treatment Plant (State Application Number 22-DP-3198, NPDES Permit MD0067741)
- IN-PERSON Public Hearing
- Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Smithsburg Public Library - Community Room
- 66 W. Water St., Smithsburg, MD 21783
- See public notice for additional details and contact information.
- AES Warrior Run (State Application Number 24-DP-2937, NPDES Number MD0066079)
- VIRTUAL Public Hearing
- See public notice for additional details and contact information.
- AquaCon Bainbridge (State Application Number 24-DP-3895, NPDES Permit MD0068209)
- IN-PERSON Public Hearing
- Monday, December 16, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Town of Elkton, Town Hall - Mayor and Commissioner's Meeting Room
- 100 Railroad Avenue, Elkton, Maryland 21921
- See public notice for additional details and contact information.
Contact Info
If you have questions about a specific meeting or hearing please use the contact information in the event’s public notice.
If you have additional
general questions or would like more information, please contact the Wastewater Pollution Prevention and Reclamation Program, Industrial & General Discharge Permits Division at 410-537-3323.
Additional Information and Related Links
