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Indirect Discharge

Land-Based Indirect Discharge Sewage

  • NEW RULES The Indirect Discharge Rules (IDR), Chapter 14 of the Environmental Protection Rules, have recently been updated with an effective date of April 12, 2019. The revisions made in the new rules were in association with the newly revised Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules effective April 12, 2019. It clarifies that the revised Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules will regulate non-sewage wastewater systems that are less than 6,500 gallons per day (GPD). Subchapter 4 of the IDR contains information on how to apply for renewal of an issued permit or permit amendment. In addition, many indirect discharging systems are authorized under the General Permit and Subchapter 4 also contains information for those system owners. Finally, information related to disposal of non-sewage wastes can be found on that page. Previous rules can be found on the Division Laws and Regulations Page.

  • HOW TO APPLY  The Indirect Discharge program applications for Individual Permits, including New, Renewal and Amendments, must be submitted at this link on ANROnline.  General Permit holders must complete the Indirect Discharge General Permit Application for renewals. 

  • REVIEW PROCESS/APPEALS Subchapter 5 of the IDR describes the application review process for all Indirect Discharge Permits. At the conclusion of the public notice period and after consideration of additional information received during the public notice period on the draft permit, the Vermont ANR will make a final determination to issue or to deny the permit.

Pursuant to 10 V.S.A. Chapter 220, any appeal of this decision must be filed with the clerk of the Environmental Court within 30 days of the date of the decision. The Notice of Appeal must specify the parties taking the appeal and the statutory provision under which each party claims party status; must designate the act or decision appealed from; must name the Environmental Court; and must be signed by the appellant or their attorney. In addition, the appeal must give the address or location and description of the property, project or facility with which the appeal is concerned and the name of the applicant or any permit involved in the appeal. The appellant must also serve a copy of the Notice of Appeal in accordance with Rule 5(b)(4)(B) of the Vermont Rules for Environmental Court Proceedings.

For further information, see the Vermont Rules for Environmental Court Proceedings, available online at www.vermontjudiciary.org.

The address for the Environmental Court is: 32 Cherry Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 303, Burlington, VT 05401, Tel. # 802-951-1740

Applications received after January 1, 2018 can be viewed on the Environmental Notice Bulletin. 

  • COPIES OF FINAL PERMITS You can view a list of final indirect permits. If you need assistance finding a final permit please send an e-mail request to ANR.DWGWPIndirectPermits@vermont.gov and specify the project name, town and permit number in the subject line. You can also contact anyone in the Indirect Discharge Permit Section by phone or email for assistance.

  • GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS Holders of indirect discharge permits are required to have their sewage treatment and disposal systems inspected by a Vermont registered professional engineer on an annual basis. Here is some guidance regarding what should be included in an inspection of a septic system.

  • PROCEDURAL There is a procedure for using metered sewage flows for establishing the uncommitted reserve capacity of indirect discharging systems with design capacities of 6,500 gallons per day or more. If applicable to your system, the procedure can allow greater utilization of the capability of the system for additional connections due to the difference in magnitude between design sewage flows and metered (actual) sewage flows.

  • CERTIFIED OPERATORS The permittee is required at all times during operation of the wastewater system to employ a wastewater treatment facility operator with a minimum Grade I operator certificate in accordance with the September 25, 2014 Wastewater Treatment Facility Operator Certification Rule. The permittee shall notify the Secretary in writing of any change in operators. Information regarding operator certification can be on the Watershed Management’s Operator Certification page.

  • COMPLIANCE The Indirect Discharge Section expects full compliance with the conditions contained in Indirect Discharge Permits.

  • REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Monthly or quarterly disposal reports, laboratory results, water quality evaluations, annual inspection reports, or any other compliance-related reporting requirement should be submitted to the Indirect Discharge Program’ through the ANROnline web portal.  Below are links to the different reporting forms on ANROnline:

  • FEES   Please refer to the Fee document for information regarding administrative fees, as well as application review and operating fees associated with Indirect Discharge Permits.  Annual Indirect Discharge permits require payment of an operating fee which is based on the design flow of the system.  This is the link to the Operating Fee Payment form.

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