When stormwater drains off a construction site, it carries sediment and other pollutants that harm lakes, streams and wetlands. According to the 1996 National Water Quality Inventory, stormwater runoff is a leading source of water pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 20 to 150 tons of soil per acre are lost every year to stormwater runoff from construction sites.
Controlling erosion can significantly reduce the amount of sedimentation and other pollutants transported by runoff from construction sites. To keep Minnesota’s valuable water resources clean the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issues permits to construction site owners and their operators to prevent stormwater pollution during and after construction.
This page provides links to pages that address topics related to construction stormwater.
Click here to log into the e-Services then once logged in, click on Construction Stormwater General Permit Application
Visa, Master cards or checks are accepted for the $400 fee payment.
Construction stormwater permit application - FAQ
Construction Stormwater Special Waters Search tool link
NPDES/SDS permits for construction sites near specially-protected and impaired waters require additional controls, conditions or an individual permit:
The MPCA has several documents and an interactive map called Special Waters Search to help project planners identify those waters near their site that may require extra protections or an individual permit. The specific requirements are outlined in the General Stormwater Permit.