Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024
Section 096-523-5 - Establishing limitations, standards, and other permit conditions [see 40 CFR 122.44]In addition to the conditions established under Section 4(a), each NPDES permit shall include conditions meeting the following requirements when applicable.
(a) Technology-based effluent limitations and standards based on effluent limitations and standards promulgated under section 301 of CWA or new source performance standards promulgated under section 306 of CWA, on case-by-case effluent limitations determined under section 402(a)(1) of CWA, or on a combination of the two, in accordance with Chapter 523, Section 2. For new sources or new dischargers, these technology based limitations and standards are subject to the provisions of 40 CFR 122.29(d) (protection period).(b)(1) Other effluent limitations and standards under sections 301,302, 303, 307, 318 and 405 of CWA. If any applicable toxic effluent standard or prohibition (including any schedule of compliance specified in such effluent standard or prohibition) is promulgated under section 307(a) of CWA for a toxic pollutant and that standard or prohibition is more stringent than any limitation on the pollutant in the permit, the Department shall institute proceedings under these regulations to modify or revoke and reissue the permit to conform to the toxic effluent standard or prohibition. See also Section 2(a).(c) Reopener clause: for any discharger within a primary industry category (see appendix A), requirements under section 307(a)(2) of the CWA as follows: (1) On or before June 30, 1981: (i) If applicable standards or limitations have not yet been promulgated, the permit shall include a condition stating that, if an applicable standard or limitation is promulgated under sections 301(b)(2) (C) and (D), 304(b)(2), and 307(a)(2) of the CWA and that effluent standard or limitation is more stringent than any effluent limitation in the permit or controls a pollutant not limited in the permit, the permit shall be promptly modified or revoked and reissued to conform to that effluent standard or limitation.(ii) If applicable standards or limitations have been promulgated or approved, the permit shall include those standards or limitations. (if EPA approves existing effluent limitations or decides not to develop new effluent limitations, it will publish a notice in the Federal Register that the limitations are ``approved'' for the purpose of this regulation.)(2) On or after the statutory deadline set forth in section 301(b)(2) (A), (C), and (E) of the CWA, any permit issued shall include effluent limitations to meet the requirements of section 301(b)(2) (A),(C), (D), (E), (F) of the CWA, whether or not applicable effluent limitations guidelines have been promulgated or approved. These permits need not incorporate the clause required by paragraph (c)(1) of this section.(3) The Department shall promptly modify or revoke and reissue any permit containing the clause required under paragraph (c)(1) of this section to incorporate an applicable effluent standard or limitation under sections 301(b)(2) (C) and (D), 304(b)(2) and 307(a)(2) of the CWA which is promulgated or approved after the permit is issued if that effluent standard or limitation is more stringent than any effluent limitation in the permit, or controls a pollutant not limited in the permit.(d) Water quality standards and State requirements: any requirements in addition to or more stringent than promulgated effluent limitations guidelines or standards under sections 301, 304, 306, 307, 318 and 405 of the CWA necessary to: (1) Achieve water quality standards established under section 303 of the CWA, including State narrative criteria for water quality. (i) Limitations must control all pollutants or pollutant parameters (either conventional, non conventional, or toxic pollutants) which the Department determines are or may be discharged at a level which will cause, have the reasonable potential to cause, or contribute to an excursion above any State water quality standard, including State narrative criteria for water quality.(ii) When determining whether a discharge causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an in-stream excursion above a narrative or numeric criteria within a State water quality standard, the permitting authority shall use procedures which account for existing controls on point and non point sources of pollution, the variability of the pollutant or pollutant parameter in the effluent, the sensitivity of the species to toxicity testing (when evaluating whole effluent toxicity), and where appropriate, the dilution of the effluent in the receiving water.(iii) When the permitting authority determines, using the procedures in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, that a discharge causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an in-stream excursion above the allowable ambient concentration of a State numeric criteria within a State water quality standard for an individual pollutant, the permit must contain effluent limits for that pollutant.(iv) When the permitting authority determines, using the procedures in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, that a discharge causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an in-stream excursion above the numeric criterion for whole effluent toxicity, the permit must contain effluent limits for whole effluent toxicity.(v) Except as provided in this subparagraph, when the permitting authority determines, using the procedures in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, toxicity testing data, or other information, that a discharge causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an in-stream excursion above a narrative criterion within an applicable State water quality standard, the permit must contain effluent limits for whole effluent toxicity. Limits on whole effluent toxicity are not necessary where the permitting authority demonstrates in the fact sheet of the NPDES permit, using the procedures in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, that chemical- specific limits for the effluent are sufficient to attain and maintain applicable numeric and narrative State water quality standards.(vi) Where a State has not established a water quality criterion for a specific chemical pollutant that is present in an effluent at a concentration that causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an excursion above a narrative criterion within an applicable State water quality standard, the permitting authority must establish effluent limits using one or more of the following options: (A) Establish effluent limits using a calculated numeric water quality criterion for the pollutant which the permitting authority demonstrates will attain and maintain applicable narrative water quality criteria and will fully protect the designated use. Such a criterion maybe derived using a proposed State criterion, or an explicit State policy or regulation interpreting its narrative water quality criterion, supplemented with other relevant information which may include: EPA's Water Quality Standards Handbook, October 1983, risk assessment data, exposure data, information about the pollutant from the Food and Drug Administration, and current EPA criteria documents; or(B) Establish effluent limits on a case-by-case basis, using EPA's Water quality criteria, published under section 304(a) of the CWA, supplemented where necessary by other relevant information; or(C) Establish effluent limitations on an indicator parameter for the pollutant of concern, provided: (1) The permit identifies which pollutants are intended to be controlled by the use of the effluent limitation;(2) The fact sheet required by Chapter 522 Section 7 sets forth the basis for the limit, including a finding that compliance with the effluent limit on the indicator parameter will result in controls on the pollutant of concern which are sufficient to attain and maintain applicable water quality standards;(3) The permit requires all effluent and ambient monitoring necessary to show that during the term of the permit the limit on the indicator parameter continues to attain and maintain applicable water quality standards; and(4) The permit contains a reopener clause allowing the permitting authority to modify or revoke and reissue the permit if the limits on the indicator parameter no longer attain and maintain applicable water quality standards.(vii) When developing water quality-based effluent limits under this paragraph the permitting authority shall ensure that: (A) The level of water quality to be achieved by limits on point sources established under this paragraph is derived from, and complies with all applicable water quality standards; and(B) Effluent limits developed to protect a narrative water quality criterion, a numeric water quality criterion, or both, are consistent with the assumptions and requirements of any available wasteload allocation for the discharge prepared by the State and approved by EPA pursuant to 40 CFR 130.7.(2) Attain or maintain a specified water quality through water quality related effluent limits established under section 302 of CWA;(4) Conform to applicable water quality requirements under section 401(a)(2) of CWA when the discharge affects a State other than the certifying State;(5) Incorporate any more stringent limitations, treatment standards, or schedule of compliance requirements established under Federal or State law or regulations in accordance with section 301(b)(1)(C) of CWA;(6) Ensure consistency with the requirements of a Water Quality Management plan approved by EPA under section 208(b) of CWA;(8) Incorporate alternative effluent limitations or standards where warranted by ``fundamentally different factors,'' under Chapter 524.(e) Technology-based controls for toxic pollutants. Limitations established under paragraphs (a), (b), or (d) of this section, to control pollutants meeting the criteria listed in paragraph (e)(1) of this section. Limitations will be established in accordance with paragraph (e)(2) of this section. An explanation of the development of these limitations shall be included in the fact sheet under Chapter 522 Section 7(b)(1)(i). (1) Limitations must control all toxic pollutants which the Department determines (based on information reported in a permit application under Chapter 521 or in a notification under Section 3(a)(1) or on other information) are or may be discharged at a level greater than the level which can be achieved by the technology-based treatment requirements appropriate to the permittee under Chapter 524; or(2) The requirement that the limitations control the pollutants meeting the criteria of paragraph (e)(1) of this section will be satisfied by: (i) Limitations on those pollutants; or(ii) Limitations on other pollutants which, in the judgment of the Department, will provide treatment of the pollutants under paragraph (e)(1) of this section to the levels required by Chapter 524.(f) Notification level. A ``notification level'' which exceeds the notification level of Section 3(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii), upon a petition from the permittee or on the Department's initiative. This new notification level may not exceed the level which can be achieved by the technology-based treatment requirements appropriate to the permittee under Chapter 524 Section 2(II)(c).(g) Twenty-four hour reporting. Pollutants for which the permittee must report violations of maximum daily discharge limitations under Section 2(1)(6)(ii)(C) (24-hour reporting) shall be listed in the permit. This list shall include any toxic pollutant or hazardous substance, or any pollutant specifically identified as the method to control a toxic pollutant or hazardous substance.(h) Durations for permits, as set forth in 38 MRSA, Sections414(2) and 414-A(1-B).(i) Monitoring requirements. In addition to Section 8, the following monitoring requirements: (1) To assure compliance with permit limitations, requirements to monitor: (i) The mass (or other measurement specified in the permit) for each pollutant limited in the permit;(ii) The volume of effluent discharged from each outfall;(iii) Other measurements as appropriate including pollutants in internal waste streams under Section 6(i); pollutants in intake water for net limitations under Section 6(f); frequency, rate of discharge, etc., for non continuous discharges under Section 6(e); pollutants subject to notification requirements under Section 3(a)..(iv) According to test procedures approved under 40 CFR part 136 for the analyses of pollutants having approved methods under that part, and according to a test procedure specified in the permit for pollutants with no approved methods.(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (i)(4) and (i)(5) of this section, requirements to report monitoring results shall be established on a case-by-case basis with a frequency dependent on the nature and effect of the discharge, but in no case less than once a year.(3) Requirements to report monitoring results for storm water discharges associated with industrial activity which are subject to an effluent limitation guideline shall be established on a case-by-case basis with a frequency dependent on the nature and effect of the discharge, but in no case less than once a year.(4) Requirements to report monitoring results for storm water discharges associated with industrial activity (other than those addressed in paragraph (i)(3) of this section) shall be established on a case-by-case basis with a frequency dependent on the nature and effect of the discharge. At a minimum, a permit for such a discharge must require: (i) The discharger to conduct an annual inspection of the facility site to identify areas contributing to a storm water discharge associated with industrial activity and evaluate whether measures to reduce pollutant loadings identified in a storm water pollution prevention plan are adequate and properly implemented in accordance with the terms of the permit or whether additional control measures are needed;(ii) The discharger to maintain for a period of three years a record summarizing the results of the inspection and a certification that the facility is in compliance with the plan and the permit, and identifying any incidents of non-compliance;(iii) Such report and certification be signed in accordance with Chapter 521 Section 5; and(iv) Permits for storm water discharges associated with industrial activity from inactive mining operations may, where annual inspections are impracticable, require certification once every three years by a Registered Professional Engineer that the facility is in compliance with the permit, or alternative requirements.(5) Permits which do not require the submittal of monitoring result reports at least annually shall require that the permittee report all instances of noncompliance not reported under Sections 2(l) (1), (4), (5) and (6) at least annually.(j) Pretreatment program for POTWs. Requirements for POTWs to:(1) Identify, in terms of character and volume of pollutants, any significant indirect dischargers into the POTW subject to pretreatment standards under section 307(b) of CWA and Chapter 528.(2) Submit a local program when required by and in accordance with Chapter 528 to assure compliance with pretreatment standards to the extent applicable under CWA section 307(b). The local program shall be incorporated into the permit as described in Chapter 528. The program shall require all indirect dischargers to the POTW to comply with the reporting requirements of Chapter 528.(k) Best management practices to control or abate the discharge of pollutants when: (1) Authorized under section 304(e) of CWA for the control of toxic pollutants and hazardous substances from ancillary industrial activities;(2) Numeric effluent limitations are infeasible, or(3) The practices are reasonably necessary to achieve effluent limitations and standards or to carry out the purposes and intent of CWA and State law.(l) Reissued permits. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (l)(2) of this section when a permit is renewed or reissued, interim effluent limitations, standards or conditions must be at least as stringent as the final effluent limitations, standards, or conditions in the previous permit (unless the circumstances on which the previous permit was based have materially and substantially changed since the time the permit was issued and would constitute cause for permit modification or revocation and reissuance under 38 MRSA, Sections414-A(5) and 341-D.(2) In the case of effluent limitations established on the basis of Section 402(a)(1)(B) of the CWA, a permit may not be renewed, reissued, or modified on the basis of effluent guidelines promulgated under section 304(b) of the CWA subsequent to the original issuance of such permit, to contain effluent limitations which are less stringent than the comparable effluent limitations in the previous permit. (i) Exceptions--A permit with respect to which paragraph (l)(2) of this section applies may be renewed, reissued, or modified to contain a less stringent effluent limitation applicable to a pollutant, if-- (A) Material and substantial alterations or additions to the permitted facility occurred after permit issuance which justify the application of a less stringent effluent limitation;(B)(1) Information is available which was not available at the time of permit issuance (other than revised regulations, guidance, or test methods) and which would have justified the application of a less stringent effluent limitation at the time of permit issuance; or(2) The Administrator determines that technical mistakes or mistaken interpretations of law were made in issuing the permit under section 402(a)(1)(b) of the CWA;(C) A less stringent effluent limitation is necessary because of events over which the permittee has no control and for which there is no reasonably available remedy;(D) The permittee has received a permit modification under section 301(c), 301(g), 301(h), 301(i), 301(k), 301(n), or 316(a) of the CWA; or(E) The permittee has installed the treatment facilities required to meet the effluent limitations in the previous permit and has properly operated and maintained the facilities but has nevertheless been unable to achieve the previous effluent limitations, in which case the limitations in the reviewed, reissued, or modified permit may reflect the level of pollutant control actually achieved (but shall not be less stringent than required by effluent guidelines in effect at the time of permit renewal, reissuance, or modification).(ii) Limitations. In no event may a permit with respect to which paragraph (l)(2) of this section applies be renewed, reissued, or modified to contain an effluent limitation which is less stringent than required by effluent guidelines in effect at the time the permit is renewed, reissued, or modified. In no event may such a permit to discharge into waters be renewed, issued, or modified to contain a less stringent effluent limitation if the implementation of such limitation would result in a violation of a water quality standard under section 303 of the CWA applicable to such waters.(m) Privately owned treatment works. For a privately owned treatment works, any conditions expressly applicable to any user, as a limited co-permittee, that may be necessary in the permit issued to the treatment works to ensure compliance with applicable requirements under this Chapter. Alternatively, the Department may issue separate permits to the treatment works and to its users, or may require a separate permit application from any user. The Department's decision to issue a permit with no conditions applicable to any user, to impose conditions on one or more users, to issue separate permits, or to require separate applications, and the basis for that decision, shall be stated in the fact sheet for the draft permit for the treatment works.(n) Grants. Any conditions imposed in grants made by the Administrator to POTWs under sections 201 and 204 of CWA which are reasonably necessary for the achievement of effluent limitations under section 301 of CWA.(p) Coast Guard. When a permit is issued to a facility that may operate at certain times as a means of transportation over water, a condition that the discharge shall comply with any applicable regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, that establish specifications for safe transportation, handling, carriage, and storage of pollutants.(q) Navigation. Any conditions that the Secretary of the Army considers necessary to ensure that navigation and anchorage will not be substantially impaired, in accordance with 40 CFR 124.58.06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 523, § 5