Minnesota businesses, organizations, and municipalities seeking or holding MPCA wastewater permits are charged two basic types of permit fees: application fees and annual fees. The statute covering application and annual fees is Minn. Stat. 116.07, subd. 4d. Basic permit fee requirements are in Minn. Rules Ch. 7002.
Application fees
Fees are determined based on points assigned to each permit action in two categories: application points and additional points. Each point represents $310 in fees.
- Application points are based on the permit action and the work necessary to complete it.
- Additional points are based on the size of the project and the activities necessary based on a specific flow volume.
Annual fees
Yearly fees based on a facility's permit type and flow capacity.
Application fees
Application fees reflect the level of effort required to process the application and develop the permit. Fees must be submitted with the application.
Water quality wastewater permit application points fees
| Permit action | Points ($310 per point) | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer/name change | 0 | $0 |
| Permit termination | 0 | $0 |
| General permit coverage | 4 | $1,240 |
| General permit modification | 4 | $1,240 |
| Individual permit reissuance, no modifications | 4 | $1,240 |
| Individual permit minor modification request | 4 | $1,240 |
| Individual permit major modification request (no construction) | 8 | $2,480 |
| Individual permit major modification request (construction, no increased design flow) | 8 | $2,480 |
| Individual pretreatment permit | 8 | $2,480 |
| Individual dredge material disposal permit | 8 | $2,480 |
| Individual permit major modification request (construction, increased design flow) | 30 | $9,300 |
| Individual wastewater permit | 30 | $9,300 |
| Individual biosolids treatment or storage permit | 30 | $9,300 |
| Sewer extension, flow Increase of 0 to 0.10 million gallons per day | 1 | $310 |
| Sewer extension, flow Increase of 0.10 to 1 million gallons per day | 2 | $620 |
| Sewer extension, flow Increase greater than 1 million gallons per day | 3 | $930 |
Additional information on various permit actions and the points assigned:
Additional application fees
Additional application fees for specific permit actions reflect the additional work needed to review those applications. The applicant will be billed when the permit is placed on public notice, and the fees must be paid before the permit will be issued, reissued, or modified.
Wastewater permit application additional fees
| Permit action | Points ($310 per point) | Additional fee |
|---|---|---|
| Antidegradation review | 20 | $6,200 |
| Variance request | 35 | $10,850 |
| Confidentiality request | 2 | $620 |
Individual permit: new or increased maximum daily or average wet weather design flow
-
not applicable to non-contact cooling water discharges
-
not due to mine pit or quarry de-watering or sewer extensions
| Flow increase | Points ($310 per point) | Additional fee |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 0.2 million gallons per day | 0 | $0 |
| 0.2 to less than 1 million gallons per day | 5 | $1,550 |
| 1 million to less than 5 million gallons per day | 10 | $3,100 |
| 5 million to less than 20 million gallons per day | 20 | $6,200 |
| 20 million to less than 50 million gallons per day | 30 | $9,300 |
| 50 million gallons per day or more | 40 | $12,400 |
Individual permit with noncontact cooling water discharge, new or increased flow
| Flow increase | Points ($310 per point) | Additional fee |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 50 million gallons per day | 5 | $1,550 |
| 50 million gallons per day or more | 20 | $6,200 |
Mandatory environmental assessment worksheet (EAW)
- Where MPCA is the responsible government unit
- If an EAW is required for both air quality and water quality, permittee will pay lower of the two fees.
| Applicable regulation | Points ($310 per point | Additional fee |
|---|---|---|
| Complete EAW under Minn. R. 4410.4300, subp. 18 item A or 29 | 15 | $4,650 |
| Complete EAW under Minn. R. 4410.4300, subp. 8 item A or B, 10 items A to C, 16 item A or D; 17 items A to C or E to G; or 18 item B or C | 35 | $10,850 |
| Complete EAW under Minn. R. 4410.4300, subp. 4; 5 item A or B; 13; 15; 16 item B or C; or 17 item D | 70 | $21,700 |
Annual fees
Annual fees depend on permit type and in some cases, a facility's design flow or design capacity.
Water quality wastewater permit annual fees
| Major/non | Facility type | Design flow | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | Generals (not including Stormwater General) | N/A | $345 |
| Major | Municipal | 50+ MGD | $175,500 |
| Major | Municipal | 20 - 49.99 MGD | $40,350 |
| Major | Municipal | 5 - 19.99 MGD | $14,350 |
| Major | Municipal | Up to 4.99 MGD | $5,900 |
| Major | Industrial | 20 - 49.99 MGD | $44,200 |
| Major | Industrial | 5 - 19.99 MGD | $18,250 |
| Major | Industrial | Up to 4.99 MGD | $8,450 |
| Major | Industrial - Cooling/Mine Pit Dewatering | Any flow | $16,900 |
| Nonmajor | Municipal | > 100,000 GD | $1,450 |
| Nonmajor | Municipal | 0 - 100,000 GD | $505 |
| Nonmajor | Municipal - Sewage sludge/Landspread only | N/A | $500 |
| Nonmajor | Industrial | N/A | $1,230 |
| Nonmajor | Non-municipal Sewage | 0 - 100,000 GD | $495 |
| Nonmajor | Non-municipal Sewage | > 100,000 GD | $1,230 |