Water Quality Certification Forms | MassDEP

Permits and Water Quality Certifications ("WQC") for dredging, excavating, and hydroelectric projects that impact the waters of the Commonwealth.

MassDEP requires that submissions related to 401 WQC permit applications be submitted through ePLACE now.

Per the Clean Water Act Section 401 Rule (40 CFR 121.4), a 401 WQC Pre-Filing Meeting is required for a proponent to request a Pre-Filing Meeting with MassDEP at least 30 days prior to submitting a request for WQC; MassDEP is not required to hold such a meeting. While MassDEP's WQC Program administering 314 CMR 9.00 does not plan to waive or shorten this requirement as a general rule, applicants can request and MassDEP can agree to shorten or waive the timeframe on a case-by-case basis.

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Water Quality Certification Forms

Water Quality Certifications for Hydropower Licenses

MassDEP will review WQC applications for hydroelectric projects to determine whether they include all the information and documentation required by the application form. If all required information and documentation is included in or with the application submitted, MassDEP will issue a Notice of Administrative Completeness to the applicant and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Notice will confirm the date on which the complete application was submitted to MassDEP for the purpose of commencing the one-year time limit for MassDEP to act on the application, as required by FERC regulations at 18 CFR § 4.34(b)(5)(iii) and 18 CFR § 5.23(b)(2). If MassDEP determines the applicant did not submit all information and documentation required by the application, MassDEP will notify the applicant and FERC and specify what is missing. Upon submission of the missing information and documentation, MassDEP will issue a Notice of Administrative Completeness to the applicant and FERC specifying the date on which the application requirements were fulfilled for purposes of commencing the one-year time limit for MassDEP to act on the application.

Hydropower Licenses - Facility-Specific Information

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