MakingWaves - CAFO Permit, Rx Take Back, Well Contractor Registration

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 02/08/2019 04:28 PM EST
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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MakingWaves - News from the Division of Water

This Week's Updates:

  • New CAFO Permit
  • Pharmaceutical Take Back Boxes
  • Water Well Contractor Program Registration

New State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) General Permit

DEC is issuing a new Clean Water Act (CWA) SPDES General Permit for CAFOs, GP-0-19-001. The new CWA SPDES General Permit for CAFOs, GP-0-19-001, will replace the previous CWA SPDES General Permit for CAFOs, GP-0-16-002 on July 8, 2019. The Environmental Conservation Law SPDES General Permit for CAFOs, GP-0-16-001, will remain in full effect. For more information, view the January 30 Environmental Notice Bulletin.

Pharmaceutical Take Back Boxes

Pharmaceutical Drop Box

Through its Pilot Pharmaceutical Take Back Program, DEC has placed over 250 pharmaceutical collection boxes in pharmacies, hospitals and long-term care facilities across the state to encourage the safe disposal of unused and expired drugs. This has kept five tons of unwanted medications out of home medicine cabinets, thereby reducing the potential of being abused and kept them out of NYS waters, including drinking water supplies.

The goal of the program is to: ensure safe, convenient disposal of unwanted medications; show retailers it’s their responsibility to encourage safe and convenient medication disposal; and protect public health, public safety and the environment.

Do Your Part

For the location of an authorized disposal location near you, visit DEC’s Safe Medication Disposal for Households webpage.

Water Well Contractor Program Registration

The DEC Water Well Contractor Program is currently accepting applications for the Certificate of Registration for the period April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020. Registration is required each year for all water well contractors who drill or repair water wells in New York State. The on-site contractor must be certified for the work that they are conducting (well drilling and/or pump installation). A Preliminary Notice must be filed prior to drilling a well and a Water Well Completion Report must be filed upon completion of water well drilling. For additional information, contact Water Well Program staff at 877-472-2619 or NYSWaterWells@dec.ny.gov.