Beaches - Vessel General Permit / Small Vessel General Permit (U.S. EPA)

Vessel General Permit CertificationNPDES logo

The 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) is a Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that authorizes, on a nationwide basis, discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels that are non-military and non-recreational, greater than or equal to 79 feet in length.

The Small Vessel General Permit (SVGP) is an NPDES permit that authorizes, on a nationwide basis, discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessel that are non-military and non-recreational, less than 79 feet in length.

Pursuant to federal law (Title 33, United States Code, Section 1341; Clean Water Act Section 401), applicants for a federal license or permit for activities which may discharge to waters of the United States must seek Water Quality Certification from the state or Indian tribe with jurisdiction. Such Certification is based on a finding that the discharge will meet water quality standards and other applicable requirements. In California, Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs) issue or deny Certification for Discharges within their geographical jurisdiction. The State Water Resources Control Board has this responsibility for projects affecting waters within multiple RWQCB jurisdictions.

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Documents

2013 VGP/SVGP Certification

2008 VGP Certification

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