This permit covers discharges of biological pesticides, biochemical pesticides, and chemical pesticides as defined in the permit to surface waters of the state. In addition, the discharge of residues resulting from the application of biological agents and chemicals are covered under the permit.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality (DWQ), has issued the Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES) Pesticide General Permit (PGP) for the application of pesticides to state waters which is based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide General Permit and Utah Administrative Code (UAC) in R317-8-9. The PGP is issued to protect and maintain water quality through regulation of when, how, and where pesticides may be applied to surface waters of the state. The permit will cover pesticide treatment activities of those operators who submit notice of intents (NOIs), pay their annual permit fees, and are in compliance with the PGP.
For specific permit requirements, please see the permit info on the Current Permits & Forms page under General Permits, then Application of Pesticides: UTG170000.
1. Do I require the permit?
In order to require the permit, an operator must apply pesticides to surface waters of the state, be in an approved operator group, have applications in an approved pesticide use group, and require Notice of Intent (NOI) submission based on the size of an operator’s treatment area and where pesticides are applied. Operators which do not require the PGP may voluntarily obtain the permit. In addition, some pesticide applicators which do not qualify for the PGP may need to obtain an individual UPDES permit.
1.1. Who is an Operator under the permit?
Persons involved in the application of pesticides, biological agents, or chemicals to surface waters of the state must obtain the permit.
Only pesticide treatments to state waters with actual water in the waterbody at the time of treatment requires PGP coverage.
Operators are entities or individuals who employ any person to apply pesticides, organizations or individuals who apply pesticides themselves, entities who are involved in the financing of pesticide applications, or anyone who makes decisions regarding the application of pesticides on, in, or over surface waters of the state. Operators generally include the entity with control over the financing and the decisions to perform pesticide applications and the entity with day-to-day operational control of permit-related activities (e.g. pesticide application). As such, more than one entity may require permit coverage for a given pesticide application.
1.2. Which operator group am I in?
Operators that discharge pesticides to surface waters of the state must be in one of the following operator groups:
- Group 1. Operators that apply to Category 1 Waters
- Group 2. Operators who are government, quasi-government, or special service districts
- Group 3. Other operators such as contractors, companies, individuals, hunting clubs, canal companies, etc.
- Group 4. Operators involved in a declared pest emergency situation
- Group 5. Operators that apply pesticides to Utah Lake to treat algae, cyanobacteria, pathogens, or to provide abatement of nutrients
1.3. What types of pesticide use are allowed by the permit?
The following types of pesticide treatments are covered by the permit:
- Mosquito and other flying insect control
- Weeds and plant control
- Nuisance animal control
- Forest canopy pest control
- Algae, cyanobacteria, pathogen control, and nutrient abatement
1.4. When do operators need to submit Notices of Intents (NOIs) for permit coverage?
As of January 2023, all NOIs must be submitted in NeT PGP. NOIs are required under the following conditions:
- Group 1. Operators that apply to Category 1 Waters will be notified by DWQ when a NOI is due (Category One Waters are surface waters within boundaries of National Forests)
- Group 2. Operators must submit NOIs for pesticide application of any size to surface waters of the state
- Group 3. Operators must meet a treatment threshold to require the permit
- Group 4. Operators must have a declared pest emergency situation and meet the NOI requirement for their respective operator group, whether in group 1, 2, 3, or 5
- Group 5. Operators must submit NOIs for pesticide application of any size to Utah Lake to treat algae, cyanobacteria, pathogens, or for nutrient abatement
1.5. What are the treatment area thresholds for NOI submission for operator group 3?
Pesticides must be applied to a minimum treatment area before the permit is required. Group 3 operators must submit a NOI for treatments that meet the following thresholds:
- Mosquito and other flying insect control; 6,400 acres
- Weeds and plant control; 80 acres or 20 miles in water at water’s edge
- Nuisance animal control; 80 acres or 20 miles in water at water’s edge
- Forest Canopy Pest Control; 6,400 acres
- Algae, cyanobacteria, pathogen control, and nutrient abatement; 80 acres or 20 miles in water at water’s edge for nuisance animal control
2. How do I use NeT PGP to obtain permit coverage?
To obtain permit coverage, operators must set up an account in Central Data Exchange (CDX), submit a NOI in NeT PGP, submit in NeT their Pesticide Discharge Management Plan and the request form to Apply Pesticides to Category One Waters (if Category 1 Waters are treated), pay their annual permit fee, and comply with all permit requirements.
2.1 How do I create a CDX account and access Utah NeT PGP?
2.2. How do I submit a NOI in NeT PGP?
Refer to the slides from the NeT PGP Training on Dec. 6, 2022
2.3. How do I change a NOI in NeT PGP?
Refer to the slides from the NeT PGP Training on Dec. 6, 2022
2.4. Where can I find training on how to use CDX and NeT PGP?
Two online trainings have been provided by DWQ and EPA for the operators in Utah.
Topics covered
- How to set up a Central Data Exchange (CDX) account
- How to submit a notice of intent (NOI)
- How to make permit fee payments
- How to submit annual reports, etc.
Training recordings
2.5. Is there a template for the Pesticide Discharge Management Plan (PDMP)?
Every operator must submit their PDMP at the time their NOI is submitted into NeT PGP. The PDMP and NOI must be approved by DWQ before permit coverage is given.
2.6. Where can I find the form to request pesticide applications to Category 1 Waters?
Operators need to submit the Category 1 Waters Treatment Request form prior to any pesticide applications to Category 1 Waters. Operators must have Division approval prior to treatments to Category 1 Waters. Category 1 Water treatment information and any instructions from the Director must be included in the operator’s PDMP.
3. What is my annual permit fee and how do I make a payment?
The permit fee must be paid to obtain and maintain permit coverage year-to-year. Brand-new operators should contact DWQ for fee amounts and payment instructions. Prorated quarterly-based fees are only available for new operators with new applications. Please note that fees are subject to change year to year.
Please contact Susan Woeppel, swoeppel@utah.gov , (801) 536-4354, if you have questions or need assistance regarding permit fee payments.
3.1. When are permit fees due?
Payments are due August 1st each year. NeT PGP will send payment reminders on the due date. If payment is not submitted by October 1st, permit coverage will be dropped for the payment being 60 days late.
3.2. How much is my annual permit fee?
Fees are based on the operator group and size of the area where pesticides are applied each year. The area treated and the number of treatments determine the size of the application area. If 50 acres are treated three times, the application area is 150 acres, not 50 acres. Please refer to the three tables below to determine your operation’s permit fee amount based on the size of the annual application area.
Group 2 (Government) and Group 5 (Utah Lake) Operators
| Small | Medium | Large | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquitoes | 1 to 49,999 acres | 50,000 to 74,999 acres | 75,000 + acres |
| Weed and Plant | 1 to 149 acres 1 to 199 miles | 150 to 299 acres 200 to 299 miles | 300 + acres 300 + miles |
| Nuisance Animals | 1 to 149 acres 1 to 199 miles | 150 to 299 acres 200 to 300 miles | 300 + acres 300 + miles |
| Forest Canopy | 1 to 49,999 acres | 50,000 to 99,000 acres | 100,000 + acres |
| Algae, Cyanobacteria, Pathogens, or Nutrient Abatement | 1 to 149 acres 1 to 199 miles | 150 to 299 acres 200 to 299 miles | 300 + acres 300 + miles |
Other Operators, All Operators Except Groups 2 and 5
| Small | Medium | Large | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquitoes | 6,400 to 49,000 acres | 50,000 to 74,999 acres | 75,000 + acres |
| Weed and Plant | 80 to 149 acres 100 to 199 miles | 150 to 299 acres 200 to 299 miles | 300 + acres 300 + miles |
| Nuisance Animals | 80 to 149 acres 100 to 199 miles | 150 to 299 acres 200 to 299 miles | 300 acres 300 miles |
| Canopy | 6,400 to 49,999 acres | 50,000 to 99,999 acres | 100,000 + acres |
| Algae, Cyanobacteria, Pathogens, or Nutrient Abatement | 80 to 149 acres 100 to 199 miles | 150 to 299 acres 200 to 299 miles | 300 + acres 300 + miles |
Annual Permit Fee and Quarterly Prorated Fees for FY 2024 (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024)
| Small Operator, ($) | Medium Operator, ($) | Large Operator, ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Year | 230 | 575 | 1,898 |
| New Operators After October 1 | 173 | 431 | 1,424 |
| New Operators After January 1 | 115 | 288 | 949 |
| New Operators After April 1 | 58 | 144 | 475 |
Need help?
For permit-related or NeT PGP questions…
Don Hall, dghall@utah.gov , (801) 536-4492
For permit fee payment questions…
Susan Woeppel, swoeppel@utah.gov, (801) 536-4354
For CDX account set up or problems…
CDX Help Desk, (888) 890-1995
For NeT PGP problems…
NeT Help Desk, (877) 227-8965
Emergency Contacts
In the event of an emergency immediately contact local emergency services as needed, and the local county health department.
Please contact DWQ to report pesticide-related emergencies and spills within 24-hours of the incident, or sooner if there is imminent danger to the environment or human health.
- DWQ 24-Hour Spills Line, (801) 536-4123
- DWQ Operator, (801) 536-4300
- Don Hall, (801) 536-4492