Great Bay Total Nitrogen General Permit Finalized by EPA

Concord, NH - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Great Bay Total Nitrogen General Permit, which seeks to improve water quality and restore damaged ecosystems in the Great Bay estuary by establishing effluent limitations and enhancing monitoring and reporting at 13 wastewater treatment plants in 12 New Hampshire communities to reduce overall levels of nitrogen discharge.

This innovative permit and its adaptive management approach provide flexibility to the municipalities around the Great Bay estuary to reduce nitrogen discharge from both point sources, such as wastewater treatment facilities, and nonpoint sources, such as runoff from lawns and parking lots. This flexible permitting structure allows the municipalities to be good stewards of their financial resources while they continue to make strides to preserve the environment and restore the estuary.

“This permit is a product of years of careful and deliberative collaboration between the communities it affects, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “Since this problem was identified over a decade ago, community stakeholders have worked hand-in-hand to develop this solution, which serves to benefit the environment, the economy, and New Hampshire’s communities. I thank all those involved for their hard work and commitment to see this project through."

Additional information on the Great Bay Total Nitrogen General Permit can be found here.