Enforcement Actions

The DEQ undertakes enforcement actions to preserve safe environmental conditions throughout Wyoming. 

This page contains information on the enforcement actions that the Water Quality Division may undertake, as well as a record of enforcement actions that have been undertaken by WQD.

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

Electronic Documents Submittal

Electronic document submittal is available for WQD permit applications, reports, and other communications.
Visit:  WDEQ Water Quality Division Downloads

You do NOT need to follow up the electronic submission with a hard copy submission unless you are specifically contacted by a WQD staff person with a request to do so.

Need to report a spill or complaint? Please visit https://deqspills.wyo.gov/home

Submitting a public comment? WQD is unable to accept public notice comments through this system. Refer to the public notice document for instructions on how to submit comments or visit https://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com/comment/search.

NOTICE: All applications for water distribution systems and/or sewage collection systems that are within the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) district shall be submitted to the BOPU for approval. Contact Frank Strong or Bryce Dorr at (307) 637-6460, ENGreview@cheyennebopu.org, or http://cheyennebopu.org for additional information.

Recent General Permit Authorizations

The DEQ Water Quality Division accepts comments on all permits authorized under a general permit for a period of 30 days, as provided for in W.S. 35-11-801(d).

Interested persons may mail or fax comments to the main Cheyenne office. The ‘Date’ column in the table below indicates the date the authorization was posted to the website. Comments must be received before 5:00 pm on the 30th day after the authorization was posted to the website. For example, comments for an authorization posted on 10/1/18 must be received by 5:00 p.m. on 10/31/18. DEQ does not accept emailed comments.

You may sort the table by posting date or search for the type of general permit, the county where the permit was issued, the permit number, or the name of the person or company to whom the permit was issued.

If you wish to review the general permit documents, please go to the web page for each permitting program:

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

Proposed Rules and Regulations

The Water Quality Division will present proposed revisions to Water Quality Rules Chapter 1, Wyoming Surface Water Quality Standards; and Chapter 2, Permit Regulations for Discharges to Wyoming Surface Waters to the Water and Waste Advisory Board at their December 12, 2024 meeting, starting at 9:00 a.m. The proposed revisions to Chapter 1 (1) fulfill the federal requirements at 40 CFR § 131.20, (2) restructure and align requirements with state law and federal law, regulations, and guidance; (3) revise designated uses and remove the designated use classification system; and (4) provide minor updates to specific water quality criteria. The proposed revisions to Chapter 2 (1) update references to the designated use classification system to reflect proposed revisions to Chapter 1; and (2) incorporate provisions related to fish toxicants, aquatic pesticides, and short-term sediment disturbance that Water Quality Division proposes to move from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2. More information is available at: http://deq.wyoming.gov/shwd/wwab/ under the “Upcoming Meeting” tab

Rules and Regulations

All official Wyoming State Rules and Regulations are kept at the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office. Click here to view all current Rules and Regulations.

NetDMR

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Water Quality Division has now transitioned to NetDMR for electronic submission of WYPDES discharge monitoring reports (DMRs). NetDMR is a web-based tool provided by EPA that allows permittees to electronically sign and submit DMRs to meet permit requirements. 

Previously, the Water Quality Division has facilitated electronic DMR submission through its eDMR system. As a newer system, NetDMR will offer streamlined sign-up and reporting processes to simplify DMR submittals for permittees and enhance benefits that include, but are not limited to, improved data availability, improved communication through email notifications, and improved data quality assurance/quality control. This transition is part of the Water Quality Division’s ongoing efforts improve efficiency and public transparency through the use of digital processes. In addition, the transition is an important component of ensuring compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Electronic Reporting Rule.

NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule (E-Rule)

On December 21, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first enacted the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule (E-Rule) to modernize Clean Water Act reporting. The rule pushed for municipalities, industries, and other facilities covered by the NPDES permitting program to switch over to electronic data reporting instead of submitting paper Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR). The rule required that all NPDES permittees submit their DMRs through some electronic reporting system.

NetDMR and the benefits of electronic reporting

NetDMR is a web-based reporting system developed by the EPA and channeled through the Central Data Exchange (CDX) system. Reporting on NetDMR requires only a computer, an
Internet browser, and high-speed access to the Internet.

Electronic reporting through NetDMR has several benefits including but not limited to: saving time and resources for permittees while increasing data accuracy, reducing submission errors, and improving compliance. Electronic reporting in general can help facilities and the state
streamline data and provide better clarity and compliance transparency by providing a faster, more complete, more accurate, and nationally-consistent set of data.

EPA also provides direct assistance and several training materials and sessions on how to sign up and use NetDMR, which is discussed below.

How to register and use NetDMR

As previously mentioned, NetDMR is facilitated through EPA’s CDX system, so in order to get started, a person must first create a CDX account. (Note: If you already have an existing CDX account, you may be able to skip this process). Once that has been approved, a person can register for a signatory or other reporting role for their permit through the NetDMR system.

You can begin your streamlined CDX/NetDMR registration process here: https://npdes-ereporting.epa.gov/net-netdmr

 

The link to be taken directly to CDX is: https://cdx.epa.gov/.

*Instructions for the sign up process for just CDX can be found at the following link: EPA CDX Online Registration User Guide. In addition, a Power Point presentation on how to go through the streamlined CDX/NetDMR account process can also be downloaded below. Along with an EPA user guide on how to request access to your permit on NetDMR and how to use NetDMR.

Training Materials and Guidance Documents

EPA has provided a NetDMR service now support page, which provides user guides, fact sheets, videos, and other training materials on how to sign up and use NetDMR. In addition, they provide quarterly webinar trainings to provide NetDMR users with basic understandings on how to access, navigate, and use the NetDMR tool for the purpose of electronically reporting DMR data. The service now page also provides direct support through the submission of a support request ticket or by calling the NetDMR help desk line directly (877-227-8965).

The NetDMR Service Now Support page can be found below:
https://usepa.servicenowservices.com/oeca_icis?id=netdmr_homepage

EPA NetDMR Training Schedule and Registration can be found here: https://usepa.servicenowservices.com/oeca_icis?id=kb_article_view&sys_kb_id=4c608f981ba981942486eb9ce54bcbe0&spa=1

Contact

If you have any questions about the NetDMR system or the transition over to NetDMR please send an email to deq-netdmr@wyo.gov or call:

Katherine McCrea 307-777-5990

Kevin Campbell 307-777-2431

Compliance

The WYPDES Program requires that permit holders comply with all permit requirements including:

  • submitting DMRs on time
  • submitting DMRs even when there was no discharge
  • submitting complete and legible DMRs
  • notifying the Water Quality Division of permit violations such as: excursions, failing to collect the required samples, and any other permit violations.

Failure to comply with the permit requirements may result in an enforcement action.

Management Requirements of any WPDES Permit specifies the following (for a full list of requirements check your permit):

  1. Noncompliance Notification
  2. Duty to Comply
  3. Upset Conditions
  4. Power Failures
  5. Duty to Mitigate
  6. Facility Operations
  7. Adverse Impact
  8. DMR Due Dates
Due Dates
 CBM DUE DATESNON-CBM DUE DATES
Monthly Submission45 days of the completed sampling monthMonthly DMRs are due on the 28th day of the month following the completed reporting period
Quarterly Submission1st Quarter DMRs are due on May 15th; 2nd Quarter DMRs are due on August 15th; 3rd Quarter DMRs are due on November 15th; 4th Quarter DMRs are due on February 15th1st Quarter DMRs are due on April 28th; 2nd Quarter DMRs are due on July 28th; 3rd Quarter DMRs are due on October 28th; 4th Quarter DMRs are due on January 28th
Semi-Annual Submission1st Semester DMRs are due on August 15th; 2nd Semester DMRs are due on February 15th1st Semester DMRs are due on July 28th; 2nd Semester DMRs are due on January 28th
Annual SubmissionAnnual DMRs are due on February 15thAnnual DMRs are due on January 28th