Why does it take so long to get a permit?
The Conservation District makes every attempt to achieve timely issuance of permits for projects. However, often the delays are not under the control of the Conservation District.  Delays by consultants in responding to reviews can add considerable time to the process. Missing information or the need to coordinate with other permits or agencies sometimes influences  when the permit can be issued.

How long will each review take?
The Conservation District strives to provide a timely review of all plans. Administrative reviews of NPDES permit applications are conducted within 10 working days of receipt. Applicants will be notified of the acceptance of the application or deficiencies as soon as possible.

Technical review of plans cannot be completed until the plan is accepted as being administratively complete.  Technical reviews of the plans will be done in the order the application is received as complete.  Policy requires that reviews be completed within 30 days of acceptance, however the Conservation District strives to conduct reviews as soon as possible.

How can I speed up the review process?
The best way to get a speedy and complete review is to make sure the submission is complete and easily understood.  Often valuable time is spent or unnecessary review comments generated because the required information could not be found or understood.

Is a pre-submission meeting required before submission?
The Conservation District does not require but strongly recommends that a pre-submission or pre-design meeting be held for major projects.  This allows for clearer understanding of permitting requirements, ability to discuss unique conditions or concerns, early coordination of other permitting requirements and often can give the designer insights into pending requirements that might be implemented before the plan will be submitted.