NPDES eReporting – Information for Permittees and Other Regulated Entities

• Scope and Schedule
• How to Submit NPDES Information Electronically
• Waivers from Electronic Reporting
• Additional Resources for NPDES Permittees

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This page is intended to provide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permittees and other regulated entities with information on implementing the NPDES Electronic Reporting rule (“NPDES eRule”) (40 CFR part 127).

UPDATE: On November 2, 2020, EPA published the NPDES eRule Phase 2 Extension final rule which provides states and EPA additional time to implement electronic reporting for certain Clean Water Act discharge permitting requirements. The final rule extended the compliance deadline for implementation of Phase 2 of the eRule by five years, from December 21, 2020 to December 21, 2025.

Scope and Schedule

EPA split implementation of the NPDES electronic reporting rule into two phases.

Phase 1

This implementation phase includes NPDES permittees that are currently required to electronically submit their Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) (unless their permit directs otherwise or they received a waiver). Also included in Phase 1 is electronic reporting of the Biosolids/Sewage Sludge Annual Program Reports within the 42 states where EPA implements the Federal Biosolids Program. The Phase 1 compliance deadline was December 21, 2016.

Phase 2

This phase includes all other NPDES reports covered by the NPDES eRule. NPDES permittees and other regulated entities that are currently required to submit the following reports must begin submitting them electronically by December 21, 2025 (unless their regulatory authority directs otherwise, or they received a waiver):

• Notices of Intent to discharge (NOIs) under a general permit
• Notices of Termination (NOTs) of coverage under a general permit
• No Exposure Certifications (NOEs) under a stormwater general permit
• Low Erosivity Waivers (LEWs) under a stormwater general permit
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Annual Program Reports
• Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program Reports
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports
• Significant Industrial User (SIU) Bi-annual Compliance Reports in municipalities without approved pretreatment programs
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports
• Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports

Additionally, facilities located in states authorized for the biosolids program (Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin) must begin submitting their Biosolids/Sewage Sludge Annual Program Reports by December 21, 2025 (unless their regulatory authority directs otherwise, or they received a waiver).

For more information see Biosolids/Sewage Sludge Annual Program Reports on Compliance and Annual Reporting Guidance about Clean Water Act Laws web page.

How to Submit NPDES Information Electronically

NPDES-regulated entities are required to submit their NPDES program data to an authorized state, territory, or tribe, or EPA. To determine the NPDES programs that your state, tribe, or territory are authorized to administer, visit NPDES State Program Information. Please note some authorized NPDES programs have elected to use EPA’s electronic reporting tools.

EPA’s tools are web-based and require only a computer, an Internet browser and access to the Internet. These tools communicate securely, requiring passwords and known responses to security questions. They are designed to provide electronic submittals with the same level of legal dependability as paper submittals.

Recognizing, however, that many states, tribes, and territories have their own electronic data systems and reporting tools for managing NPDES data, the electronic reporting rule provides flexibility on the specific data systems and reporting tools to be used. States have the option of using EPA’s tools directly, installing and hosting their own version of EPA’s tools, or developing their own tools. Therefore, the process for electronic reporting depends on the permitting authority and on the type of information to be submitted.

Discharge Monitoring Reports

States may elect to use EPA’s electronic reporting tool for DMRs (called “NetDMR”) or build their own state electronic discharge monitoring report (state eDMR) systems. The following webpage provides a listing of the states that use NetDMR and states that have their own systems.

Biosolids/Sewage Sludge Annual Program Reports

Facilities located in the 42 states where EPA implements the Federal Biosolids Program must use EPA’s NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool for Biosolids (or “NeT-Biosolids”) to annually submit these reports. Three states (South Dakota, Texas, and Utah) have also elected to start using NeT-Biosolids. Facilities in the five remaining states (Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin) should contact their regulatory authority to identify how to electronically submit these annual reports.

Phase 2 General Permits and Program Reports

States may elect to use EPA’s electronic reporting tool for these Phase 2 reports (called NPDES Electronic Reporting Tool or “NeT”) or build their own state electronic reporting tools. The online “NPDES eRule Phase 2 Implementation Dashboard” provides an inventory of all general permits and program reports covered by the NPDES eRule and the EPA or state electronic reporting tool. This dashboard also provides an updated view of EPA’s progress in deploying NPDES electronic reporting tools for Phase 2 general permits and program reports.

• NeT: Please access the NeT Help Center if you are located in a state that uses NeT to learn more about how to electronically file a Phase 2 report.
• State Phase 2 Tools: Please contact your state regulatory agency if you are located in a state that has its own electronic report tool for Phase 2 reports.

Waivers from Electronic Reporting

The rule provides flexibility to grant temporary waivers from electronic reporting. To obtain an electronic reporting waiver, permittees must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to their authorized NPDES program. NPDES authorized programs may have their own program specific waiver request. Please consult with your NPDES authorized program to determine the appropriate format for a waiver request. Below are some example waiver request forms:

• State -  Example eReporting Waiver Request - State (doc) (39 KB, 22 FEB 2016)
• Region -  Example eReporting Waiver Request - EPA Region (doc) (67 KB, 22 FEB 2016)
• Biosolids -  Biosolids eReporting Waiver Request (doc) (67 KB)

Additional Resources for NPDES Permittees

• GovDelivery Subscription Request - To receive, from EPA, our rule-related updates, meetings, webinars, notices and more.