The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is proposing to increase environmental regulatory fees, with some anticipated to rise by 25 percent. Additionally, the May 15 and May 18, 2026, amendments propose adding new charges for certain review services, and automatic annual adjustments related to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The proposed changes are scheduled to be addressed on the August 14, 2026, Agenda. If approved, most fees would go into effect as early as October 15, 2026, with solid waste disposal fees effective on January 1, 2027.
Permitting and compliance activities impacted by proposed changes include the following:
- Fee increases: An approximate 25 percent increase to permit, certification, and review fees under Chapter 335-1-6 for select schedules (Schedules A–E, G, and I).
- New fees for previously uncharged services: Air permit application fees (per application), asbestos notification/registration, solid waste additive fees, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) No-Exposure Certification.
- New chapter for “Other Fees”: A new Chapter 335-1-8 that establishes solid waste disposal fees and incorporates the $36 per tank/year underground storage tank regulation fee from Chapter 335-6-15.
- Forward-looking price adjustments: Automatic annual CPI adjustments to most application fees starting in 2028. Fees will be adjusted annually and provided on ADEM’s website.
- New fee schedules: Two new fee schedules have been added for Schedule F (NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit Authorization) and Schedule K (NPDES Sand and Gravel General Permit Authorization).
Our team will continue to monitor these ongoing changes and provide relevant updates as they are available.
Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Waddell (P.E.), Managing Agent for EHS Support’s Alabama Engineering Firm, at jonathan.waddell@ehs-support.com.
Source:
Alabama Legislative Services Agency. (2026, May 29). Alabama Administrative Monthly: Environmental Management, Alabama Department—Proposed Amended and New Rules. Available at the Alabama Administrative Monthly Archive. https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-monthly/2026-05
