EPA recognizes state for permit-issuing rates

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Kansas for achieving its goals for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) priority permits and permit issuance rates under the Clean Water Act.

Kansas was one of nine states in the U.S. meeting the priority permit goal of 95 percent issuance rate during the past two years. A priority permit is any permit that has been expired more than two years, and such permits are potentially of greater environmental concern.

An NPDES permit is designed to protect the state-specified uses of a body of water by specifying the level of pollutant a municipality, confined or other business or industry may safely discharge.

Kansas has achieved a 100 percent issuance rate each year since the Priority Permit initiative was launched.

Kansas is one of 44 states authorized by EPA to administer the Federal NPDES permits in lieu of the federal agency.