Aquatic Pesticides SPDES General Permit
In 2009, a federal court decision mandated that pesticides applied to the waters of the US had to be covered under the NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit system. This decision reversed a long standing US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that exempted pesticide applications from obtaining a NPDES permit. Even though pesticide applications to New York State waters have been regulated under the state’s pesticide regulations, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) decided to develop a SPDES (State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) general permit to protect pesticide applicators from third party lawsuits under the federal Clean Water Act.
NYS DEC Policy DSHM-PES-05-05 Aquatic Pesticide Permit Program
NYS DEC Aquatic Pesticide Permit Page
Use of aquatic herbicides within the Adirondack Park also requires approval from the Adirondack Park Agency.