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Alabama Environmental Regulations and Laws

Regulations

ADEM Administrative Code

Division 1
General Administration
(effective date - February 13, 2023)
This Division describes the organization of the Environmental Management Commission and the Department; prescribes methods the public may use to obtain information or make submissions or requests; describes the procedures for the submission, consideration and disposition of petitions for declaratory rulings; provides for permit application forms and the assessment of application fees.

Division 2
Environmental Management
Commission

(effective date - February 15, 2021)
This Division prescribes the rules of procedure for hearing appeals of administrative actions of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management; petitions for rulemaking; and, rules of procedure for meetings of the Alabama Environmental Management Commission.

Division 3
Air Pollution Control Program
(effective date - February 12, 2024)
This Division prescribes regulations to protect and enhance the public health and welfare through the development and implementation of coordinated statewide programs for the prevention, abatement and control of air pollution.

Division 4
Scrap Tire Program
(effective date - March 30, 2010)
This Division implements the comprehensive regulation and remediation of illegal scrap tire accumulations; provides administration and oversight of scrap tire processors, receivers and transporters; and, provides approved engineered uses of landfilled scrap tire material.

Division 5
Uniform Environmental Covenants Program
(effective date - February 12, 2024)
These regulations are promulgated to establish minimum requirements governing environmental covenants pursuant to the Alabama Uniform Environmental Covenants Act, Code of Alabama 1975, §§35-19-1 to 35-19-14.

Division 6 Volume 1
Water Quality Program (NPDES)
(e.g., Water Quality Standards, NPDES,
and UIC)

(effective date - February 15, 2021)
This Division prescribes regulations for development and implementation of water quality standards and water body use classifications for all waters of the State; prescribes conditions relevant to the issuance of permits to include effluent limitations for each discharge for which a permit is issued; and, such other rules as necessary to enforce water quality standards. Also, this Division incorporates regulations for the State's Underground Injection Control (UIC).

Division 6 Volume 2
Water Quality Program (UST)
(effective date - February 12, 2024)
This Division prescribes regulations to establish construction, installation, performance, and operating standards for underground storage tanks, as well as the administrative procedures for disbursements from the Alabama Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank (Tank Trust Fund).

Division 6 Volume 3
Reclaimed Water Reuse Program
(effective date - September 29, 2015)
This Division establishes the procedures and requirements for the issuance and maintenance of pollution source permits for publicly and privately owned wastewater treatment plants with waste streams consisting mostly of municipal wastewater to be able to voluntarily reuse highly treated effluent wastewater for beneficial irrigation purposes.

Division 7
Water Supply Program
(effective date - April 14, 2022)
This Division prescribes regulations regarding the purity, potability, wholesomeness and physical quality of water which may affect the comfort, public health or public well-being.

Division 8
Coastal Program
(effective date - May 28, 2013)
This Division is promulgated to establish rules and procedures to administer the permitting, regulatory and enforcement functions of the Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (ACAMP).

Division 9
Well Driller Licensing Program
(effective date - May 1988)
This Division is promulgated for the licensing and certification of water well drillers and the development and implementation of water well construction standards to ensure that a pure, sanitary and healthful water supply is provided to the public.

Division 10
Water Division Operator
Certification Program

(effective date - April 3, 2007)
This Division is promulgated to protect the public health and welfare and prevent pollution by establishing a program for the certification of the competency of operators to operate water and wastewater treatment plants, water distribution systems, and public wastewater systems; and classification of all such plants and systems.

Division 11
State Revolving Fund
Programs

(effective date - April 13, 2020)
These rules establish procedures for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), a subsidized loan program for the construction of wastewater, stormwater, and green infrastructure improvements.

Division 13
Solid Waste Program
(effective date - August 15, 2022)
This Division is promulgated to establish criteria for the disposal of solid waste and the design, location, operation, closure and post-closure of landfill units.

The following are the plans incorporated in Chapter 335-13-9:

Solid Waste Management Plan - May 2008

Division 14
Hazardous Waste Program
(effective date - June 12, 2023)
This Division is promulgated to provide comprehensive management of the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes.

Division 15
Brownfield Redevelopment and
Voluntary Cleanup Program

(effective date - June 13, 2022)
This Division is promulgated to provide a mechanism for the implementation of a cleanup program that encourages applicants to voluntarily assess, remediate, and reuse rural and urban areas of actual or perceived contamination.

Division 16
Drycleaning Trust Fund Program
(effective date - April 14, 2022)
This Division is promulgated to establish performance standards for new drycleaning facilities/new wholesale distribution facilities, retrofit of existing drycleaning facilities/wholesale distribution facilities, criteria for reporting suspected or discovered contamination and requirements or investigation, assessment and remediation of contamination from those facilities.
Division 17
Medical Waste Program
(effective date - January 16, 2012)


Federal Laws, Guidance, Regulations and Dockets at EPA.gov


Laws

Alabama is an "authorized" state, meaning that it is authorized by the EPA to administer state environmental law in lieu of most federal environmental laws. This is consistent with Alabama statutes that created ADEM, and which express legislative intent to have federal environmental laws administered at the state level. The scope of the Department's statutory authorities is listed below. These are the only laws under which ADEM can write regulations. Our laws are found under Title 22 of the Code of Alabama 1975.

Our State authorities are:
  • Chapter 22 Water Pollution Control.
  • Chapter 22A Environmental Management.
  • Chapter 23 Waterworks and Water Supplies Generally.
  • Chapter 23B Alabama Drinking Water Finance Authority.
  • Chapter 24 Water Well Standards.
  • Chapter 25 Water and Wastewater Systems and Treatment Plants.
  • Chapter 27 Solid Waste.
  • Chapter 28 Alabama Air Pollution Control Act.
  • Chapter 30 Hazardous Wastes Management.
  • Chapter 30A Alabama Hazardous Substance Cleanup Fund.
  • Chapter 30B Fees for Disposal Of Hazardous Waste Or Substances.
  • Chapter 30C Chemical Weapons Destruction Limitation Act.
  • Chapter 30D Alabama Drycleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund.
  • Chapter 30E Alabama Land Recycling and Economic Redevelopment Act.
  • Chapter 30F Alabama Land Recycling Finance Authority.
  • Chapter 34 Water Pollution Control Authority.
  • Chapter 35 Alabama Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.
  • Chapter 36 Alabama Underground Storage Tank and Wellhead Protection Act.
  • Chapter 37 Alabama Lead Ban Act.
  • Chapter 38 Alabama Agricultural Nonpoint Source Financial Assistance Act.
  • Chapter 40A Alabama Scrap Tire Environmental Quality Act.
  • Title 35, Chapter 19, Alabama Uniform Environmental Covenents Act
  • Title 9, Conservation and Natural Resources, Chapter 7 Preservation, Development, Etc., of Coastal Areas.
They can easily be viewed on the Alabama Legislative Information System Online.


Contact Information

ADEM
Office of General Counsel
Telephone Number: (334) 260-4510
Fax Number: (334) 394-4332