N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14-8.16

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:14-8.16 - Civil administrative penalty determination for indirect dischargers

(a) The Department may assess a civil administrative penalty against any indirect discharger of not more than $ 50,000, for each violation of each provision of the Water Pollution Control Act and for each violation of any rule, pretreatment standard, effluent limitation, administrative order or permit issued pursuant thereto. The Department shall assess a minimum mandatory civil administrative penalty in an amount:

1. Not less than $ 1,000 for each serious violation as defined under 7:14-8.2; and

2. Not less than $ 5,000 for each violation that causes a violator to be, or continue to be, a significant noncomplier as defined under 7:14-8.2.

(b) Each violation of any provision of the Water Pollution Control Act or any rule, pretreatment standard, effluent limitation, administrative order or permit issued by the Department, shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct violation. In addition, the unpermitted discharge of each separate pollutant shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct violation.

(c) Each day during which a violation as set forth in (b) above continues shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct violation.

(d) Unless the Department assesses a civil administrative penalty as set forth in 7:14-8.6 through 7:14-8.12, the Department may assess a civil administrative penalty for violations described in this section as described in (e) below, including any applicable grace period in accordance with 7:14-8.18.

(e) To assess a civil administrative penalty pursuant to this section, the Department shall:

1. Identify the penalty range within the matrix in (f) below by:

i. Determining the seriousness of the violation pursuant to (g) below; and

ii. Determining the conduct of the violator pursuant to (h) below; and

2. Assess the penalty at the midpoint of the range within the matrix in (f) below, unless adjusted pursuant to (i) below.

(f) The matrix of ranges of penalties is as follows:

CONDUCT	SERIOUSNESS
	Major	Moderate	Minor
	Major	$ 10,000-	$ 5,000-	$ 2,000-
	$ 50,000	$ 25,000	$ 13,000
	Moderate	$ 5,000-	$ 2,500-	$ 500-
	$ 10,000	$ 5,000	$ 3,000
	Minor	$ 500-	$ 500-	$ 250-
	$ 7,500	$ 2,500	$ 1,250

(g) The Department shall determine the seriousness of the violation as major, moderate or minor as set forth in (g)1 through 3 below.

1. Major shall include:

i. Any violation of any effluent limitation that is measured by concentration or mass for any discharge exceeding the effluent limitation as follows:

(1) By more than 50 percent for a hazardous pollutant;

(2) By more than 100 percent for a non-hazardous pollutant; or

(3) Any discharge of a pollutant that has caused imminent endangerment to human health, welfare or to the environment; or

ii. The greatest violation of a pH effluent range in any one calendar day which violation deviates from the midpoint of the range by more than 50 percent of the midpoint of the range excluding the excursions specifically excepted by a NJPDES/SIU issued permit with continuous pH monitoring; or

iii. Any other violation not included in (g)1i or ii above which either:

(1) Has caused or has the potential to cause serious harm to human health or the environment; or

(2) Seriously deviates from the requirements of the Water Pollution Control Act or of any rule, pretreatment standards, effluent limitation, administrative order or permit issued pursuant thereto; serious deviation shall include, but not be limited to, those violations that are in complete contravention of the requirement, or if some of the requirement is met, which severely impair or undermine the operation or intent of the requirement.

2. Moderate shall include:

i. Any violation, other than a violation of an effluent limitation identified in (g)2ii or iii below, which has caused or has the potential to cause substantial harm to human health or the environment;

ii. Any violation of an effluent limitation which is measured by concentration or mass of any discharge exceeding the effluent limitation as follows:

(1) By 20 to 50 percent for a hazardous pollutant; or

(2) By 40 to 100 percent for a non-hazardous pollutant;

iii. The greatest violation of a pH effluent range in any one calendar day which violation deviates from the midpoint of the range by at least 40 percent but no more than 50 percent of the midpoint of the range excluding the excursions specifically excepted by a NJPDES/SIU issued permit with continuous pH monitoring; or

iv. Any violation, other than a violation of an effluent limitation identified in (g)2ii or iii above, which substantially deviates from the requirements of the Water Pollution Control Act or of any rule, pretreatment standards, effluent limitation, administrative order or permit issued pursuant thereto; substantial deviation shall include, but not be limited to, violations that are in substantial contravention of the requirements or which substantially impair or undermine the operation or intent of the requirement.

3. Minor shall include:

i. Any violation, other than a violation of an effluent limitation identified in (g)3ii or iii below, not included in (g)1 or 2 above;

ii. Any violation of an effluent limitation which is measured by concentration or mass for any discharge exceeding the effluent limitation as follows:

(1) By less than 20 percent for a hazardous pollutant; or

(2) By less than 40 percent for a non-hazardous pollutant; or

iii. The greatest violation of a pH effluent range in any one calendar day which violation deviates from the midpoint of the range by less than 40 percent of the midpoint of the range excluding the excursions specifically excepted by a NJPDES/SIU issued permit with continuous pH monitoring.

(h) The Department shall determine the conduct of the violator as major, moderate or minor as follows:

1. Major shall include any intentional, deliberate, purposeful, knowing or willful act or omission by the violator;

2. Moderate shall include any unintentional but foreseeable act or omission by the violator; or

3. Minor shall include any other conduct not included in (h)1 or 2 above.

(i) The Department may move from the midpoint of the range, to an amount not greater than the maximum amount nor less than the minimum amount in the range, on the basis of the following factors:

1. The compliance history of the violator;

i. No violations of the same effluent limitation and discharge point at all in the two years immediately preceding the pending violation shall result in a reduction equal to 25 percent of the midpoint.

ii. No serious or fewer than four lesser violations of the same effluent limitation and discharge point in the two years immediately preceding the pending violation shall result in a reduction equal to 10 percent reduction of the midpoint.

iii. One isolated serious violation or four or more lesser violations of the same effluent limitation and discharge point in the two years immediately preceding the date of the pending violation shall result in an increase equal to 10 percent of the midpoint.

iv. Any violation(s) which caused a person to become or remain in significant noncompliance or two or more isolated serious violations where such violations are of the same effluent limitation and discharge point in the two years immediately preceding the date of the pending violation shall result in a 25 percent increase from the midpoint;

2. Where the nature, timing and effectiveness of any measures taken by the violator to mitigate the effects of the violation for which the penalty is being assessed results in compliance within 30 days of receipt of the notice of violation from the Department;

3. Any unusual or extraordinary costs or impacts directly or indirectly imposed on the public or the environment as a result of the violation;

4. Any impacts on the receiving water, including stress upon the aquatic biota, or impairment of receiving water uses, such as for recreational or drinking water supply, resulting from the violation; and

5. Other specific circumstances of the violator or violation.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14-8.16

New Rule, R.1997 d.106, effective 5/5/1997.
See: 28 N.J.R. 720(a), 28 N.J.R. 2779(a), 28 N.J.R. 3040(a), 28 N.J.R. 3494(a), 28 N.J.R. 4697(a), 29 N.J.R. 1691(c).
Former section recodified to N.J.A.C. 7:14-8.18.
Administrative correction.
See: 29 N.J.R. 2664(a).
In (f), changed range for Major/Major from $ 40,000 - $ 50,000 to $ 10,000 - $ 50,000 and changed range for Minor/Minor from $ 500 - $ 1,250 to $ 250 - $ 1,250.
Amended by R.1999 d.32, effective 1/19/1999.
See: 30 N.J.R. 1356(a), 31 N.J.R. 157(a).
In (a), deleted "either by the Department" preceding "pursuant thereto" at the end of the introductory paragraph.
Amended by R.2007 d.234, effective 8/6/2007.
See: 38 N.J.R. 2919(a), 39 N.J.R. 3298(a).
In (d), inserted ", including any applicable grace period in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14-8.18".