e-permitting for Chapter 105 Water Obstruction & Encroachments General Permits
Effective January 10, 2019, inquiries and correspondence regarding new permit applications, reporting, and compliance matters related to sites in Armstrong and Indiana Counties should be directed to DEP’s
Northwest Regional Office. Questions on permit applications under review as of January 9, 2019, and pending enforcement matters for Armstrong and Indiana Counties should be directed to DEP’s
Southwest Regional Office. Inquiries can also be directed to
RA-epcontactus@pa.gov.
Mining and Radiation Protection permits and programs are not affected by this regional office change.
As part of Governor Wolf’s commitment to improve the permitting process, the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) has launched an e-permit for Chapter 105 Wetland and Waterway Obstruction and Encroachment General Permits to make application submittal and review more efficient and enable faster responses to applicants.
Timing of Access to e-permit:
The Department is transitioning away from paper to online electronic permit applications. Beginning on October 10, 2018, the Department will be accepting Chapter 105 registrations/applications for General Permits for various types of water obstruction and encroachments through the e-permitting system.
Opportunity for Input While in Beta:
When it debuts, the e-permit application will be fully functional and available for use to submit permit applications, but it is in a “beta” test phase. We are creating an opportunity for users to provide feedback. Applicants are encouraged to send comments and suggestions on the e-permit to a dedicated email account:
ra-epbweweperdwet105@pa.gov. All messages will be reviewed and considered for future improvements. Applicants will also be invited to participate in a web-based conference call to learn more about the functionality of the new tool and provide recommendations for potential enhancements. We intend to use it to perfect a tool that creates transparency, consistency, efficiency and speeds up the process.
Greenport and EFA Registration:
Unless one has already been created, a prospective user will need to create a
GreenPort account to access e-permitting. Regardless of how many Bureaus a user would like to submit permit applications to, only one
GreenPort account is necessary. However, a user will need separate permissions for some Department e-permits. The Chapter 105 General Permit e-permit is one such application which requires separate permissions. Once an account is created, the user will need to fill out and submit an EFA Registration and Security Agreement for e-permitting. Please have all prospective users fill out and submit a User Registration and Security Agreement for e-permitting. The completed EFA form may be scanned and emailed to:
RA-EPBWEWEPERDWET105@pa.govDepartment of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Waterways Engineering & Wetlands
Rachel Carson State Office Bldg.
400 Market Street, PO Box 8460
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8460
User information will require verification, and the proper connections will be made from the user’s GreenPort account to existing records in Pennsylvania’s Environmental Facility Application Compliance Tracking System (eFACTS), if any. A user may begin submitting Chapter 105 General Permit registration/applications through the e-permitting application system once you receive confirmation that user account verification is complete. Potential users having problems creating a GreenPort account should call the DEP Service Help Desk at 717-787-4357.
NOTE: It is important to note that only application/registrations for Chapter 105
General Permits through e-permitting will be accepted.
Prospective applicants for projects requiring a standard permit, a small project application, or an Environmental Assessments (EA) will continue using the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Army Corps of Engineers (Baltimore, Philadelphia, And Pittsburgh Districts) Joint Application for Pennsylvania Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit, Document # 3150-PM-BWEW0036A.
The Department or delegated Chapter 105 county conservation districts will continue to review the Chapter 105 General Permit applications/registrations for completeness and eligibility. The Department or a Chapter 105 delegated county conservation district can only authorize activities when the activity meets the terms and conditions of the Chapter 105 General Permit. Therefore, it is imperative that potential applicants read the terms and conditions of the Chapter 105 General Permit(s) they are considering applying for. Confirming that the activity meets the terms and conditions will result in quality applications and shorter timeframes for Department or delegated county conservation district review and authorization.
Webinar/Training Recordings:
On September 17, 2018, the Department held an Electronic Filing Administrator (EFA) and Applicant Training webinar during which a presentation was provided, and questions were taken. The recorded session, along with the recorded question and answers, is available here:
e-permitting and Electronic Administrator User Guide and Electronic Filing Administrator (EFA) Registration and Security Agreement
e-permitting and Greenport Operator User Guide and User's Registration and Security Agreement for e-permitting Form
Alternative of Paper Registrations Continues:
Use of e-permitting is preferred and encouraged. However, in addition to the launch of the electronic permit application, the Department will accept paper registrations to accommodate those whose only option is a paper form. The paper registration will remain an option until we're confident the online application is usable and reasonably accessible to the regulated community.
Chapter 105 General Permit Types:
Fees:
Fees for the various Chapter 105 General Permits may be determined by utilizing the
Chapter 105 Fee Calculation Worksheet, 3150-PM-BWEW0553.
Chapter 105 General Permit Source Files: