Clean Water Branch

Early Stakeholder Outreach on Proposed Draft
Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 11-55 and Appendices BEFGK
January 12, 2026 through February 11, 2026

The Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) is seeking early stakeholder written input specifically on the proposed draft amendments to HAR 11-55 and NPDES General Permits B, E, F, G, and K. Please note that comments should address only the proposed amendments and not the existing provisions. Copies of the proposed amendments and accompanying fact sheets are listed below and are in Ramseyer format.  The proposed deletions are bracketed and proposed additions are underlined.  Please click on the links for the proposed rule or general permit amendment and corresponding fact sheet.

The NPDES Permit serves as an enforceable tool for implementing the State Water Quality Standards, which are designed to safeguard all designated and existing uses of State waters—including, but not limited to, Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. The DOH does not anticipate that the proposed amendments to the NPDES rules and General Permits will affect or impair these rights. Nevertheless, the DOH welcomes input from stakeholders who may hold a different view.

• Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 11-55 (HAR 11-55) and Fact Sheet
• HAR 11-55 Appendix B – NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Industrial Activity and Fact Sheet
• HAR 11-55 Appendix E – NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges of Once Through Cooling Water Less Than One (1) Million Gallons per Day and Fact Sheet
• HAR 11-55 Appendix F – NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges of Hydrotesting Water and Fact Sheet
• HAR 11-55 Appendix G – NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges Associated with Construction Activity Dewatering and Fact Sheet
• HAR 11-55 Appendix K – NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges of Storm Water and Certain Non-Storm Water Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems and Fact Sheet

When preparing your comments, be sure to:

• If commenting on a specific section of text, provide a citation for what text you are commenting on;
• Explain your views as clearly as possible;
• Describe any assumptions used;
• Provide any technical information and/or data used to support your views;
• Explain how you arrived at your estimate for potential burden, benefits, or costs;
• Provide specific examples to illustrate your views; and
• Offer alternatives.

Written comments will be accepted until February 11, 2026, 4:30 pm Hawaii time. 

Please note that this is not the public comment process. This is early stakeholder outreach to solicit comments prior to the formal public notice and public comment process.

Email all written comments to: [email protected]. Include in your email subject line: “Attention Engineering Section Supervisor – Early Stakeholder Input.”

If you have any questions please contact the CWB at [email protected].