Section 13-14-8-11.5 - Site-specific limitation for NPDES permit; application process and criteria(a) The department shall prepare and publish in the Indiana Register guidance on the application process and criteria for obtaining a site-specific limitation for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Criteria to be considered must include wet weather events, water effects ratio, and other site-specific considerations as determined by the department. Water effects ratio shall be the ratio of the aquatic toxicity of a parameter in the water of the receiving stream compared to the aquatic toxicity of the parameter in the laboratory water used to determine the standard.(b) Beginning January 1, 1997, the department shall review any application and make a preliminary determination for a site-specific limitation not later than one hundred eighty (180) days after receipt of the application. The department may request additional information necessary to make the preliminary determination consistent with the guidance published under subsection (a). The one hundred eighty (180) day period does not include any days between the date the department requests additional information and the date the additional information is received by the department.(c) The final determination on a site-specific limitation will be part of the NPDES permit decision under 327 IAC 5.(d) If the agency does not issue a preliminary determination within the one hundred eighty (180) days provided for in subsection (b), the applicant may require that the department hire a qualified outside consultant to prepare the preliminary determination as expeditiously as possible.(e) The department and the applicant may agree to extend the one hundred eighty (180) day period provided for in subsection (b).As added by P.L. 123-1996, SEC.3.