The NPDES Individual Permit Application (Form 1) is the federal “General Information” form that nearly every facility discharging pollutants into U.S. waters must file with the U.S. EPA or its authorized state agency before it can legally discharge. It collects basic facts about who you are, where your facility sits, and what you do, and it tells the agency which detailed companion form (2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, or 2S) you must attach. The version covered here is the current EPA Form 1, posted January 2024, carrying OMB No. 2040-0004 and an expiration date of 07/31/2026.
Get one box wrong and the whole package can stall. EPA estimates Form 1 takes only about 2.7 hours to complete, yet a single missing answer or a blank you forgot to mark “NA” can make the agency declare your application incomplete, restart the clock, and push your discharge authorization past the deadline. This guide walks you through every section the way someone who has filed it for 30 years would, in plain language.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📋 Who must file Form 1, who is exempt, and which companion form (2B–2S) pairs with your facility type
- 🗺️ How to answer every section, from the SIC and NAICS codes to the topographic map and the outfall coordinates
- ✍️ Exactly who is allowed to sign under 40 CFR 122.22 and why the wrong signature voids the form
- 🧾 The full pre-filing checklist of documents and numbers to gather before you open page one
- ⚠️ The most common field-level mistakes, the penalties under the Clean Water Act, and how to avoid them
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form 1 is the front end of the individual NPDES permit application. NPDES stands for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, the program the Clean Water Act created at 33 U.S.C. 1251 to control pollution flowing into rivers, lakes, bays, and other waters of the United States. The form itself does not grant a permit. It feeds general information into the system and routes you to the technical form that actually describes your discharge.
The rule is broad. Under 40 CFR 122.21, all applicants for an individual NPDES permit must submit Form 1, with two exceptions: publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and “sludge-only” facilities, which file Form 2A or 2S instead. If you run a manufacturing plant, a commercial site, a mine, a silvicultural point source, a concentrated animal feeding operation, or an industrial site that sheds stormwater, Form 1 is your starting point.
The agency that receives the form depends on your state. EPA runs the NPDES program directly in only a handful of states and territories; most states are authorized to run their own program. When EPA is the permitting authority, you use the federal Form 1 and mail it to your EPA regional office. When a state runs the program, you contact the state, because states often build their own application forms. You can check who runs your program on EPA’s state program list.
The deadline is tied to your situation, not a single calendar date. An existing facility renewing a permit must file 180 days before its current permit expires. A new facility that has not yet discharged process wastewater files 180 days before startup. Industrial stormwater construction filings drop to 90 days before construction begins. Miss the deadline and you risk discharging without coverage, which exposes you to civil penalties that the Clean Water Act §309 sets well above $25,000 per day per violation after inflation adjustments.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filling out Form 1 goes faster when you gather your facts first. The form asks you to certify everything is true under penalty of law, so accuracy beats speed. Pull these items together before you open page one.
- Your EPA Identification Number from the Facility Registry Service. Existing facilities have one; without it, the agency cannot match your application to your records and may slow review.
- Your current NPDES permit number if you are renewing. Leaving it off makes the agency treat a renewal like a brand-new request and can delay your coverage.
- The facility’s full legal name, exactly as registered, not a nickname. A colloquial name can fail a records cross-check and trigger questions.
- The legal name of the operator, the entity that controls operations. Naming the wrong entity raises a liability and signature problem later.
- The complete facility street address and the separate mailing address. Sending correspondence to the wrong place means you may miss agency notices and deadlines.
- SIC and NAICS codes for your principal products or services, up to four each. Wrong codes can attach the wrong effluent guidelines to your permit.
- Latitude and longitude for each intake and discharge structure, to the nearest second or as decimal degrees. Bad coordinates put your outfall on the wrong waterbody.
- A USGS topographic map covering at least one mile beyond your property lines. Without it, the application is incomplete on its face.
- A list of every other environmental permit you hold or applied for: RCRA, UIC, PSD, Section 404, and more. Omitting one hides regulatory context the reviewer needs.
- The name and title of an authorized signer under 40 CFR 122.22. An unauthorized signature voids the certification and the whole package.
If any single item is missing, the safest move is to write “NA” rather than leave a blank, because EPA may treat an empty box as an incomplete application.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official federal form lives on EPA’s website. Download the current PDF directly from the EPA Form 1 page; it is a fillable PDF you can type into, save, and print. The same package includes the General Instructions, the Line-by-Line Instructions, the list of activities that do not require permits, and the glossary, so keep all of it together while you work.
You can also reach every NPDES application form through EPA’s hub at NPDES Applications and Forms. That page links Form 1 and the companion forms 2A through 2S. Because Form 1 never travels alone, download your matching companion form at the same time so you do not have to stop midway.
If your state runs its own NPDES program, the federal PDF may not be the one you file. States such as California route applicants through the State Water Resources Control Board, and others use online portals. Confirm your channel before you spend time on the federal form. Living in San Francisco, for example, you fall under EPA Region 9 at 75 Hawthorne Street, but California water-quality permitting layers state forms on top of the federal program.
A practical tip: open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7.0 or higher. The fillable boxes and the print-and-save features do not behave the same way in a browser preview, and a saved draft protects your work if you get interrupted.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form 1 Line by Line
Form 1 is organized into eleven numbered sections, plus a header that repeats on every page. Work top to bottom, answer every item, and mark “NA” anywhere a question does not fit. Below, each section gets its own walkthrough.
Page Header: EPA ID Number, NPDES Permit Number, and Facility Name
What it asks in plain English. Every page of Form 1 and every attachment has a header asking for your EPA Identification Number, your NPDES permit number, and your facility name.
How to answer it. Copy your EPA ID Number from the Facility Registry Service into the header. Add your current NPDES permit number if you have one. Write the facility’s legal name. Repeat this on each page and each attached sheet.
Example entry. Riverside Metal Finishing, an existing plater, writes EPA ID: CAD000111222, NPDES No.: CA0099887, Facility: Riverside Metal Finishing, Inc. across the top of every page.
Nuance or edge case. If your facility is brand new and not yet built, you do not have these numbers, so write or type “New Facility” in the EPA ID and NPDES spaces.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers fill in the header on page one and leave the rest blank. If pages get separated during scanning, the agency cannot reattach yours, and your data can be lost or misfiled.
Misconception. Many think the header is optional once page one shows it. It is not; the instructions require it on each page precisely because reviewers handle pages individually.
Section 1: Activities Requiring an NPDES Permit (Items 1.1 and 1.2)
What it asks in plain English. This section is a short questionnaire that decides whether you even need Form 1 and which companion form you must attach.
How to answer it. Read Item 1.1 first. If you are a POTW or your authority directed you to Form 2A, you skip Form 1. Then answer Items 1.2.1 through 1.2.6 with “Yes” or “No.” A “Yes” to any of 1.2.1–1.2.5 means you complete Form 1 plus the named companion form; a “Yes” to 1.2.6 adds Form 2S.
Example entry. Riverside Metal Finishing, an existing manufacturer discharging process wastewater, marks “Yes” to the item pointing to Form 2C and “No” to the rest.
Nuance or edge case. A site with both industrial stormwater and process wastewater answers “Yes” to more than one item and files Form 2F together with 2C, 2D, or 2E.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers answer “No” to everything and assume they are exempt. If a discharge actually exists, that mistake means discharging without a permit, which the Clean Water Act treats as a daily violation.
Misconception. People think Section 1 is the whole application. It only routes you; the real technical detail lives in the companion form it points to.
Section 2: Name, Mailing Address, and Location (Items 2.1–2.5)
What it asks in plain English. This section captures the facility’s legal name, its EPA ID, a contact person, a mailing address, and the physical location of the site.
How to answer it. In Item 2.1 enter the official legal name. In Item 2.2 repeat the EPA ID or write “New Facility.” In Item 2.3 give the first and last name, title, work phone, and email of someone who truly knows the operation. In Item 2.4 give the mailing address for correspondence. In Item 2.5 give the physical location, county, county code if known, city, state, and zip.
Example entry. For Item 2.5, a mine without a street address writes “at intersection of County Road 12 and State Route 88, Lander County, NV.”
Nuance or edge case. The mailing address in Item 2.4 is often not the facility location in Item 2.5. A corporate headquarters may receive mail while the plant sits hundreds of miles away.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers list a plant manager in Item 2.3 who cannot answer technical questions. When the reviewer calls and gets no useful answer, the review stalls and the agency may request more information.
Misconception. People assume the contact in Item 2.3 must be the signer. It does not; the contact is for questions, while the signer is set by 40 CFR 122.22.
Section 3: SIC and NAICS Codes (Items 3.1 and 3.2)
What it asks in plain English. List the industry codes that best describe what your facility makes or does.
How to answer it. In Item 3.1 list up to four 4-digit SIC codes in descending order of significance. In Item 3.2 list up to four NAICS codes the same way. Use the latest edition of each manual and add a short description if the codes do not capture your work.
Example entry. Riverside Metal Finishing enters SIC 3471 (Electroplating, Plating, Polishing) as its primary code and the matching NAICS 332813.
Nuance or edge case. The codes describing your whole facility can differ from the codes describing the specific operation that creates the discharge; list the facility’s principal activity first.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers guess a code or copy one from an unrelated permit. The wrong code can attach the wrong effluent limitation guidelines to your permit, raising or lowering limits in ways that hurt you.
Misconception. People think SIC codes are obsolete and skip them. EPA still requires both SIC and NAICS on Form 1, so you cannot leave either blank.
Section 4: Operator Information (Items 4.1–4.6)
What it asks in plain English. This section identifies the legal entity that runs the facility and whether that entity also owns it.
How to answer it. In Item 4.1 give the operator’s legal name, the entity that controls operations, not the site manager. In Item 4.2 mark whether that operator also owns the facility. In Item 4.3 mark the ownership status: Private, Public—federal, Public—state, Other public, or Other. In Items 4.4 to 4.6 give the operator’s phone, address, and email.
Example entry. A city-run water district checks “Other public” in Item 4.3 and specifies “municipal water district” in the blank provided.
Nuance or edge case. When ownership is mixed, such as a privately operated plant on government land, check “Other” in Item 4.3 and describe the arrangement.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers name the plant manager as the operator. That misnames the legal entity responsible for compliance and can put liability and signing authority on the wrong party.
Misconception. People assume operator and owner are always the same. They often are not, which is exactly why Item 4.2 exists as a separate yes-or-no.
Section 5: Indian Land (Item 5.1)
What it asks in plain English. A single question: is the facility located on Indian Land?
How to answer it. Mark “Yes” or “No.” If you are unsure, check land status with your tribal authority or EPA region before answering.
Example entry. A gravel-washing operation off-reservation marks “No.”
Nuance or edge case. Facilities on Indian Land are usually permitted by EPA directly, even in states that otherwise run their own program, so this box can change who reviews your form.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers guess “No” without checking. If the site is on Indian Land, the wrong answer sends the application to the wrong authority and forces a restart.
Misconception. People think proximity to a reservation counts. Only land that legally qualifies as Indian Land triggers a “Yes”; nearby is not the same.
Section 6: Existing Environmental Permits (Item 6.1)
What it asks in plain English. List every other environmental permit your facility holds or has applied for.
How to answer it. Check each box that applies and write the permit number: RCRA hazardous waste, UIC, NPDES, PSD, nonattainment, NESHAPs, ocean dumping under MPRSA, Section 404 dredge-or-fill, and “other” federal, state, or local permits. If you have more than one under a program, list extras on a separate sheet.
Example entry. A chemical plant enters its RCRA number CAD009876543 and its PSD number, then checks “other” for a state air permit.
Nuance or edge case. Permits you have only applied for but not yet received still belong here; list the application number.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers list only their NPDES permit and forget RCRA or Section 404. Omitting permits hides regulatory context, and reviewers who later find them may question the application’s completeness.
Misconception. People think only federal permits count. State and local environmental permits belong here too, under the “other” category.
Section 7: Map (Item 7.1)
What it asks in plain English. Attach a topographic map of your facility and the area around it, then confirm you did so.
How to answer it. Provide a USGS topographic map extending at least one mile beyond your property lines. Show the legal boundaries, every intake and discharge structure with its serial number, hazardous waste sites, injection wells, and all nearby wells, springs, and surface waters. Add a scale, a north arrow, and latitude and longitude to the nearest second or as decimal degrees such as 38.893829, -77.029289. On rivers show current direction; in tidal waters show ebb and flow. Then mark Item 7.1 to confirm the map is attached.
Example entry. A facility marks each outfall on the map as “Outfall 001” and “Outfall 002” and notes the river flows “southwest toward the bay.”
Nuance or edge case. A concentrated animal feeding operation does not attach the Section 7 map here; it provides the map required by Section 4 of Form 2B instead.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers submit a road map or a screenshot with no scale or coordinates. A non-conforming map makes the application incomplete and is one of the top reasons packages get returned.
Misconception. People think any map will do. EPA wants a topographic quadrangle so it can see elevation and water flow, which a plain street map cannot show.
Section 8: Nature of Business
What it asks in plain English. Describe in a few sentences what your facility makes or what service it provides.
How to answer it. Write a brief, concrete description of your products or processes. The instructions give two worked examples, one for an auto-glass plant and one for a resin manufacturer, to show the level of detail expected.
Example entry. Riverside Metal Finishing writes “Electroplating and polishing of metal parts; process wastewater is generated from rinse tanks and treated on site before discharge.”
Nuance or edge case. If your facility is subject to effluent limitation guidelines, naming the applicable subcategory here helps the reviewer connect your operation to the right rule.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers write something vague like “manufacturing.” A thin description forces the reviewer to send follow-up questions, adding weeks to the review.
Misconception. People treat this as marketing copy. The agency wants process facts, not a sales pitch about product quality.
Section 9: Cooling Water Intake Structures (Items 9.1 and 9.2)
What it asks in plain English. Does your facility use cooling water, and if so, where does it come from?
How to answer it. In Item 9.1 mark whether you use cooling water. If yes, in Item 9.2 name the source: surface water, a groundwater well, a public water system, or treated effluent. If no, skip to Section 10.
Example entry. A power-adjacent plant marks “Yes” and writes “surface water withdrawn from the adjacent river” in Item 9.2.
Nuance or edge case. If you use a cooling water intake structure under 40 CFR 125, Subparts I and J, extra requirements apply under 40 CFR 122.21(r), but Form 1 does not collect that detail; your authority will tell you what to send and when.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers mark “No” because they do not think of process cooling as “cooling water.” Under-reporting the intake can leave out fish-protection requirements the law demands.
Misconception. People believe naming the source here triggers the full intake study now. It does not; Form 1 only flags the issue.
Section 10: Variance Requests (Item 10.1)
What it asks in plain English. Are you planning to request any variance from the standard effluent limits?
How to answer it. If known at application time, check all the authorized variances under 40 CFR 122.21(m) that you plan to request or renew. You do not submit the supporting detail now.
Example entry. A thermal discharger checks the box for a Section 316(a) thermal variance to flag its intent.
Nuance or edge case. You are not locked in by this box. You may request a variance later, consistent with the statutory and regulatory timing rules.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers skip this box thinking it does not apply, then try to add a variance late. A late request can be denied for missing the application window.
Misconception. People think checking a box here grants the variance. It only signals intent; the agency still reviews and decides.
Section 11: Checklist and Certification (Items 11.1 and 11.2)
What it asks in plain English. Confirm which sections you completed and which attachments you included, then sign under penalty of law.
How to answer it. In Item 11.1 use the two-column checklist: Column 1 marks the sections you completed, Column 2 marks whether you attached supporting documents. In Item 11.2 the correct person signs and dates. Under 40 CFR 122.22, a corporation signs through a responsible corporate officer, a partnership through a general partner, a sole proprietorship through the proprietor, and a public body through a principal executive officer or ranking elected official.
Example entry. Riverside Metal Finishing’s vice president of operations signs Item 11.2 as a responsible corporate officer and dates it 06/03/2026.
Nuance or edge case. A facility manager can sign for a corporation only if they meet the specific delegation tests in 40 CFR 122.22, including authority over major capital decisions.
Common mistake and consequence. A plant clerk or consultant signs the certification. An unauthorized signature voids the application, and under CWA Section 309(c)(2) a knowingly false certification carries fines up to $10,000 or up to six months in jail.
Misconception. People think a consultant who prepared the form may sign it. The certification must come from the responsible official, not the preparer.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common filers walked through the form. Each table shows what that person enters in the key sections.
Scenario 1 — Carlos Mendez, plant VP at an existing manufacturer discharging process wastewater (pairs with Form 2C).
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Section 1 (Activities) | Marks “Yes” to the item routing to Form 2C; “No” to others |
| Page Header EPA ID | TXD000456789 (existing facility) |
| Section 2.1 (Legal name) | Lone Star Coatings, Inc. |
| Section 2.3 (Contact) | Carlos Mendez, VP Operations, (214) 555-0148 |
| Section 3 (SIC/NAICS) | SIC 2851; NAICS 325510 |
| Section 4.3 (Ownership) | Checks “Private” |
| Section 6 (Other permits) | Lists RCRA number; checks “other” for state air permit |
| Section 7 (Map) | Attaches USGS topo map showing Outfall 001 on the Trinity River |
| Section 11.2 (Signature) | Signs as responsible corporate officer, dates 06/03/2026 |
Scenario 2 — Dana Whitfield, owner of a new mining operation not yet discharging (pairs with Form 2D).
| Form Section | What Dana Enters |
|---|---|
| Section 1 (Activities) | Marks “Yes” to the item routing to Form 2D |
| Page Header EPA ID | “New Facility” |
| Section 2.1 (Legal name) | Silver Ridge Mining LLC |
| Section 2.5 (Location) | “at intersection of CR 12 and SR 88, Lander County, NV” |
| Section 3 (SIC/NAICS) | SIC 1040; NAICS 212220 |
| Section 4.1 (Operator) | Silver Ridge Mining LLC (operator and owner) |
| Section 5 (Indian Land) | Marks “No” after confirming land status |
| Section 7 (Map) | Attaches topo map showing proposed Outfall 001 |
| Section 11.2 (Signature) | Signs as general member, dates the form |
Scenario 3 — Aisha Bello, environmental manager at an industrial stormwater-only site (pairs with Form 2F).
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Section 1 (Activities) | Marks “Yes” to the item routing to Form 2F |
| Page Header EPA ID | CAD000998877 (existing facility) |
| Section 2.1 (Legal name) | Bay Area Logistics Terminal |
| Section 2.3 (Contact) | Aisha Bello, Environmental Manager, (415) 555-0173 |
| Section 3 (SIC/NAICS) | SIC 4225; NAICS 493110 |
| Section 4.3 (Ownership) | Checks “Private” |
| Section 6 (Other permits) | Checks NPDES and lists prior stormwater permit number |
| Section 8 (Business) | “Warehouse and distribution; discharge is industrial stormwater only” |
| Section 11.2 (Signature) | Signed by a responsible corporate officer, dated |
How to File the Completed Form
Where you file depends on who runs your program. If you are in an EPA-administered jurisdiction, mail the signed paper application to the EPA regional office that covers your state. For San Francisco and the rest of California, that is EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, phone (415) 947-8000. EPA does not charge a fee to apply for an NPDES permit, though authorized states often do.
Mail is the core federal channel, and the form requires a wet-ink signature on the printed copy under 40 CFR 122.22. Print all pages, sign Item 11.2, and send the full package, including your companion form and topographic map, by a trackable method. Keep your tracking receipt and a complete copy as your proof of filing.
If a state runs your program, you may file through an online portal instead. California routes applicants through the State Water Resources Control Board, Ohio uses the STREAMS system in its eBusiness Center, and other states use their own e-portals. For these channels, follow the state’s payment methods, which usually accept electronic payment or check, and watch for separate state fees.
Expect processing to take months, not days, because the agency must review your package, may request more information, and then drafts and public-notices a permit. Whatever channel you use, retain proof of filing: a mailing receipt, a portal confirmation number, or a date-stamped copy. That proof protects you if a deadline dispute ever arises.
What Happens After You File
Once your package arrives, the permitting authority checks it for completeness. It judges Form 1 and your companion form together and will tell you if anything is missing. An incomplete application does not advance, so a fast completeness review depends on the care you took filling in every box and marking “NA” where needed.
If the package is complete, the agency moves into technical review. Reviewers verify your codes, your outfall locations, and your discharge characteristics, and they may contact the person you named in Item 2.3 with questions. This is why naming a knowledgeable contact matters; a good contact can resolve a question in a phone call instead of a formal letter.
The agency then drafts a permit with effluent limits, monitoring requirements, and conditions, and it issues a public notice inviting comment. In some states you must publish a public notice in a newspaper yourself, so confirm your local requirement. After the comment period and any revisions, the authority issues the final individual NPDES permit, which sets exactly what you can discharge and how you must report it.
If you applied to renew on time, 180 days before expiration, your old permit is generally administratively continued while the new one is processed, so you stay covered. Miss that window and you can fall out of coverage, which is when daily Clean Water Act penalties become a real risk.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below carries a direct consequence, so check your form against this list before you sign.
- Leaving boxes blank instead of writing “NA.” The agency can declare the application incomplete and restart your clock.
- Answering “No” to every Section 1 question when a discharge exists. You end up discharging without a permit, a daily violation.
- Using a nickname for the facility or operator. Records cross-checks fail and reviewers send questions.
- Naming the plant manager as the operator in Section 4. Liability and signing authority land on the wrong entity.
- Guessing SIC or NAICS codes. The wrong codes can attach the wrong effluent limits to your permit.
- Submitting a road map instead of a USGS topographic map. The package is incomplete and gets returned.
- Omitting latitude and longitude for outfalls. Your discharge is placed on the wrong waterbody.
- Forgetting to list other permits like RCRA or Section 404 in Section 6. Reviewers question completeness when they discover them.
- Skipping the variance box in Section 10 when you need one. A late variance request can be denied.
- Letting a consultant sign Item 11.2. An unauthorized signature voids the certification.
- Filing fewer than 180 days before expiration. You risk losing administrative continuation and falling out of coverage.
- Forgetting the header on later pages. Separated pages cannot be reattached and data is lost.
Do’s and Don’ts
These quick rules keep your application clean and on schedule.
Do’s
- Do download the current 2024 PDF, because using an outdated form can get your package rejected.
- Do write “NA” in any box that does not apply, because blanks read as incomplete.
- Do name a contact who knows the operation, because they resolve reviewer questions fast.
- Do attach the topographic map before you mail, because a missing map stops review cold.
- Do confirm whether EPA or your state runs the program, because filing with the wrong agency wastes weeks.
- Do keep a signed copy and proof of filing, because you may need it in a deadline dispute.
Don’ts
- Don’t let an unauthorized person sign, because the certification will be void.
- Don’t guess your industry codes, because the wrong code reshapes your permit limits.
- Don’t use a colloquial name, because it breaks the agency’s records match.
- Don’t file at the last minute, because you can lose administrative continuation.
- Don’t claim Form 1 information as confidential, because the rules say none of it can be withheld.
- Don’t ignore companion-form deadlines, because Form 1 alone is not a complete application.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Deciding whether to file Form 1 yourself or hire an environmental consultant depends on your facility’s complexity.
Pros of filing on your own
- Lower cost, because you avoid consultant fees that can run into thousands of dollars.
- Direct control, because you know your operation better than anyone outside it.
- Faster start, because you can begin the moment you download the form.
- Better recordkeeping, because you build internal knowledge of your own permit.
- Simplicity for small sites, because a stormwater-only facility has fewer technical traps.
Cons of filing on your own
- Higher error risk, because the companion forms demand technical sampling data.
- Code mistakes, because picking SIC and NAICS wrong is easy without experience.
- Map problems, because a conforming topographic map takes know-how to assemble.
- Signature pitfalls, because the 40 CFR 122.22 rules are easy to misread.
- Deadline exposure, because missing the 180-day window carries daily penalties.
FAQs
Do I have to file Form 1 if I am a publicly owned treatment works?
No. POTWs and sludge-only facilities skip Form 1 and instead file Form 2A or Form 2S, depending on whether they treat domestic sewage.
Is there a fee to file Form 1 with EPA?
No. EPA charges no fee for an NPDES application, though states that run their own program often charge their own application fees.
Do I write the operator’s name or the plant manager’s name in Section 4.1?
No, not the plant manager. Section 4.1 wants the legal entity that controls operations, which is usually the company, not an individual site manager.
Can my environmental consultant sign the certification in Item 11.2?
No. Only a responsible corporate officer, general partner, proprietor, or ranking public official may sign under 40 CFR 122.22, not the preparer.
Do I leave a box blank if it does not apply to my facility?
No. Write “NA” so the agency sees you considered the item; a blank box can make your application incomplete.
Is a regular road map acceptable for the Section 7 map requirement?
No. EPA requires a USGS topographic map extending one mile beyond your boundaries, with scale, north arrow, and outfall coordinates.
Do I write my EPA ID Number if my facility is brand new?
No. A facility that is not yet constructed writes “New Facility” in the EPA ID and NPDES number spaces instead of a number.
Can I claim my Form 1 answers as confidential business information?
No. None of the information on Form 1 may be claimed as confidential, though some companion-form data can be.
Do I file Form 1 by itself?
No. Form 1 must travel with at least one companion form (2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, or 2S) that matches your facility type.
Is the 180-day deadline the same for every applicant?
No. Most renewals file 180 days before expiration, but industrial stormwater construction filings drop to 90 days before construction starts.
Do I list permits I only applied for but have not received in Section 6?
Yes. Section 6 covers permits you hold and those you applied for; list the application number when you have no permit number yet.
Can checking the variance box in Section 10 lock me in?
No. Item 10.1 only signals intent; you may still request a variance later, consistent with the timing rules in 40 CFR 122.21(m).
Do I need to put the header on every page of the form?
Yes. The EPA ID, NPDES number, and facility name go on every page and every attachment so reviewers can reattach separated pages.
Is Form 1 the same in every state?
No. States that run their own NPDES program usually build their own forms, so confirm whether EPA or your state is the permitting authority first.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out EPA Form 5700-21 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida DEP Air Operation Permit (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the NPDES Permit Application Form 2C (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the NPDES Permit Application Form 2F (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the RCRA Hazardous Waste Part A Permit (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Title V Air Operating Permit Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington Ecology Water Quality Modification Permit + FAQs