Current through Rules and Regulations filed through December 18, 2024
(1)
Purpose. The purpose of Rule
391-3-6-.09 is to provide uniform
procedures and practices to be followed for the development and submission of
POTW pretreatment programs for EPD review and approval or denial, and the
public notification methods to be used.
(2)
Definitions. All terms used
in this Rule shall be interpreted in accordance with the definitions as set
forth in the Act unless otherwise defined in this Paragraph or in any other
Rules of this Chapter:
(a) "Submission" means
a request to the Approval Authority for approval of a POTW pretreatment program
by a POTW.
(3)
Required POTW Pretreatment Programs.
(a) Any POTW or combination of POTWs operated
by the same authority with a total design flow greater than 5 million gallons
per day (MGD) and receiving from industrial users pollutants which may pass
through untreated or interfere with the operation of the POTW or are otherwise
subjects to Section 307(b) or 307(c) of the Federal Act will be required to
establish a POTW pretreatment program.
(b) The Approval Authority may require in
writing that a POTW with a design flow of 5 mgd or less develop a POTW
pretreatment program if it finds that the nature or volume of the industrial
effluent, treatment process upsets, violations of POTW effluent limitations,
contamination of municipal sludge or other circumstances warrant a POTW
pretreatment program in order to prevent interference with the POTW or pass
through of untreated pollutants.
(c) Any POTW described in Subparagraphs
391-3-6-.09(3)(a) and
(b) must obtain approval of its POTW
pretreatment program no later than three (3) years after the reissuance or
modification of its existing NPDES permit, but in no case later than July 1,
1983. POTWs whose NPDES permits are modified under Section 301(h) of the
Federal Act shall have a pretreatment program within less than three (3) years
as provided by 40 CFR Part 125, Subpart G. POTWs identified after July 1, 1983
as being required to develop a POTW pretreatment program under Subparagraph
391-3-6-09(3)(a) and (b) shall develop and submit such a program for approval
as soon as possible to the Approval Authority but in no case later than one (1)
year after written notification from the Approval Authority of such
identification.
(d) The POTW
pretreatment program shall meet the criteria set forth in
40 CFR
403.8(f) and shall be
capable of being administered by the POTW to ensure compliance by the
industrial users with applicable State and Federal pretreatment standards and
requirements in order to be approved by the Approval Authority.
(e) The Approval Authority may hold a public
hearing in the geographical area served by any POTW which fails to comply with
the Approval Authority's finding and written directive that a POTW pretreatment
program is required and a draft submission must be developed and submitted to
the Approval Authority within sixty (60) days. The public hearing will be held
to advise the public, the industrial users and other concerned parties that the
EPD will establish and operate the pretreatment program necessary to meet the
Federal requirements as a result of the failure of the POTW to carry out its
legal responsibility. The appropriate POTW, city or municipal officials will be
requested at the public hearing to explain the reasons why they failed to
comply with the Approval Authority's finding and directive. For any public
hearing held pursuant to this Subparagraph a public notice shall be provided at
least forty-five (45) days in advance of the hearing date and shall be
published and circulated in accordance with Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(a).
(f) A POTW requesting approval of a POTW
pretreatment program shall develop a program submission which includes the
information set forth in 40
CFR 403.9(b) and
403.8(f). Any
other pertinent information requested by the Director as being necessary to
clarify, support or supplement the program description must also be
submitted.
(4)
POTW
Pretreatment Program Approval or Denial.
(a) Any POTW requesting POTW pretreatment
program approval shall submit to the EPD three copies of the submission
described in 40 CFR
403.9(b). Within 60 days
after receiving the submission, the EPD shall make a preliminary determination
of whether the submission meets the requirements of 403.9(b) and whether the
submission meets the requirements as may be described by the EPD. When the EPD
is satisfied that a POTW pretreatment program meets the requirements of
40 CFR
403.8(f),
403.9(b) and such
other requirements as may be prescribed by the Approval Authority, the EPD
shall notify the POTW that the submission has been received and is under review
and commence public notice and evaluation activities set forth in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5).
(b) When the EPD determines that the POTW
pretreatment program does not meet the requirements of Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(4)(a),
the EPD shall notify the POTW in writing as appropriate and each person who has
requested individual notice. This notification shall identify any defects in
the submission and advise the POTW and each person who has requested individual
notice of the means by which the POTW can comply with the applicable
requirements of Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(4)(a).
Unless the necessary revisions and modifications are made within the time
period specified in the notification of denial, not to exceed the one year
period specified in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(3)(c),
the EPD will proceed to develop and implement a pretreatment program for the
area served by the POTW in accordance with Rules
391-3-6-.08 and
391-3-6-.09.
(5)
Notice and Public
Participation.
(a) Tentative
Determination for POTW Pretreatment Program Approval.
1. Within 20 work days after the EPD has made
a determination that a POTW pretreatment program submission meets the
requirements of 40 CFR
403.9(b), a public notice
will be issued by the EPD and the city or municipality requesting approval to
advise the public that a request has been made for approval of the submission.
This public notice shall be published and circulated in a manner designed to
inform interested and potentially interested persons of the submission.
Procedures for circulation of the public notice shall include the following:
(i) notice to adjoining State whose waters
may be affected;
(ii) notice to
section 208 Designated Planning Agencies; Federal and State fish, shellfish and
wildlife resources agencies and, upon request, to other appropriate government
agencies;
(iii) publication in a
newspaper(s) of general circulation within the city or municipality in which
the POTW pretreatment program has been established;
(iv) notice to the chief elected official of
the city or municipality requesting approval of the POTW pretreatment program
submission;
(v) a copy will be
available at the EPD office in Atlanta, posted to the EPD website, and an
electronic mailing (e-mail) notification of the public notice will be provided
to those persons or groups included on the electronic mailing list to receive
such notices. The EPD shall maintain an electronic mailing list for
distribution of public notices. Any person or group may request that their
e-mail address be added to the electronic mailing list or they may sign-up
through the EPD website;
(vi) the
EPD shall provide a period of not less than forty-five (45) days following the
date of the public notice during which interested persons may submit their
written views on the submission. All written comments submitted during the
forty-five day period will be retained by the EPD and considered in the
decision on whether or not to approve the submission. The comment period may be
extended at the discretion of the Approval Authority; and
(vii) the contents of the public notice will
be in accordance with appropriate Federal requirements and applicable State
laws.
2. The Approval
Authority shall provide an opportunity for the applicant, any affected State,
any interested State or Federal agency, person or group of persons to request a
public hearing with respect to the submission. Any such request for a public
hearing shall be filed within the forty-five (45) day comment period described
in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(a)
1.(vi) and shall indicate the interest of the
person filing such request and the reason why a hearing is warranted. The
Approval Authority shall hold the hearing if it determines that there is
sufficient public interest in holding such hearing or if the POTW requests a
hearing.
(i) any public hearing held pursuant
to this Subparagraph shall be held in the geographical area of the applicable
submission or other appropriate location at the discretion of the Approval
Authority. The Approval Authority may hold one public hearing on related groups
of submissions in the same geographical area;
(ii) public notice of any hearing held
pursuant to this Subparagraph shall be provided at least forty-five (45) days
advance of the hearing date and shall be circulated in accordance with
Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(a)
1.
(b) Final Determination for POTW Pretreatment
Program Approval or Denial.
1. Deadline for
review of submission. The Approval Authority shall have 90 days from the date
of public notice of any submission complying with the requirements of §
403.9(b) to review the submission. The Approval Authority shall review the
submission to determine compliance with the requirements of
40 CFR
403.8(b) and (f). The
Approval Authority may have up to an additional 90 days to complete the
evaluation of the submission if the public comment period provided for in
Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(a)
1.(vi) is extended beyond 45 days or if a
public hearing is held as provided for in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(a)
2. In no event, however, shall the time for
evaluation of the submission exceed a total of 180 days from the date of public
notice of a submission meeting the requirements of § 403.9(b).
2. At the conclusion of the public notice
comment period or the public comment period allowed following a public hearing
or the extension if warranted per Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(b)
1. above, the Approval Authority shall make a
determination to approve the POTW pretreatment program or deny any approval to
the program based on the requirements of Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(4) and
taking into consideration the comments submitted during the comment period and
the record of the public hearing, if held. When the Approval Authority has made
a determination to deny approval to the program the POTW shall be notified in
writing in accordance with Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(4)(b)
and each person who has requested individual notice. The Approval Authority
shall also notify these persons who submitted comments and participated in the
public hearing, if held, of the approval or disapproval of the
submission.
3. U.S. EPA's objection
to Approval Authority's decision. No POTW pretreatment program shall be
approved by the Approval Authority if, following the 45 day (or extended)
evaluation period provided for in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(a)
1.(vi) and any hearing held pursuant to
Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(a) 2
of this section, the Regional Administrator of U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 4 (Regional Administrator) sets forth in writing objections to
the approval of such submission and the reasons for such objections. A copy of
the Regional Administrator's objections shall be provided to the applicant, and
each person who has requested individual notice. The Regional Administrator
shall provide an opportunity for written comments and may convene a public
hearing on his or her objections. Unless retracted, the Regional
Administrator's objections shall constitute a final ruling to deny approval of
a POTW pretreatment program 90 days after the date the objections are
issued.
4. When the EPD has made a
determination to approve the submission, a public notice shall be issued to
advise of the decision. This public notice shall be published and circulated in
a manner designed to inform interested and potentially interested persons of
the decision. Procedures for circulation of the public notice shall include the
following:
(i) publication in the same
newspaper as the original notice of request for approval of the submission was
published;
(ii) providing notice to
those persons who submitted comments and participated in the hearing for
approval or disapproval of the submission;
(iii) the Approval Authority shall ensure
that the submission and any comments upon said submission are available to the
public for inspection and copying at the EPD offices in Atlanta during normal
business hours;
(iv) providing
notice to adjoining State whose waters may be affected; and
(v) providing notice to section 208
Designated Planning Agencies; Federal and State fish, shellfish and wildlife
resource agencies and, upon request, to other appropriate government
agencies.
(c)
Public Access to Information.
1. A copy of the
program submission, and other forms related thereto, including written public
comments and comments of all governmental agencies thereon and other reports,
files and information not involving methods or processes entitled to protection
as trade secrets, may be available online and will be available for public
inspection and copying during normal business hours at the EPD office in
Atlanta. Effluent data shall not be considered as information entitled to
protection. Public access to NPDES information shall be in accordance with
Federal Regulations, 40
C.F.R. 122.7;
2. Any information submitted with reports,
records or plans that is considered confidential by the POTW, and that is not
specifically excluded in subparagraph (c)1. above, should be clearly labeled
"Confidential" and be supported by a statement as to the reason that such
information should be considered confidential. If the Director, with the
concurrence of the Regional Administrator, determines that such information is
entitled to confidential protection, he shall label and handle same
accordingly;
3. Any information
accorded confidential status whether or not contained in a program submission
shall be made available, upon written request, to the Regional Administrator or
his authorized representative who shall maintain the information as
confidential.
(6)
Notification of POTW Pretreatment
Program Approval.
(a) Notification of
any final approval of a POTW pretreatment program will be forwarded to the POTW
in writing including any conditions or special requirements for compliance
schedules, monitoring and reporting both for the POTW and the industrial user
in accordance with 40 CFR
403.12.
(b) When the POTW accepts the approval and
any specific conditions or requirements that are a part of the approval
notification by the Approval Authority, procedures will be started to revise,
modify and reissue the POTW's discharge permit to include compliance with Rules
391-3-6-.08 and
391-3-6-.09, and the approved POTW
pretreatment program as enforceable conditions of the POTW's permit. The
modification of a POTW's discharge permit for the purposes of incorporating a
POTW pretreatment program approved by the Approval Authority in accordance with
40 CFR
403.11 and this Rule shall be deemed a minor
permit modification subject to the procedures in
40 CFR
122.63.
(7)
Modification of POTW Pretreatment
Program.
(a) Either the EPD or a POTW
with an approved POTW pretreatment program may initiate program modification at
any time to reflect exchanging conditions at the POTW. Program modification is
necessary whenever there is a significant change in the operation of the POTW
pretreatment program that differs from the information in the POTW submission
as approved by the Approval Authority. Any approved POTW pretreatment program
identified by the EPD that needs to modify its program to incorporate
requirements that have resulted from revision to Rule
391-3-6-.08 through
391-3-6-.10 or any other applicable
rule revision shall develop and submit to the EPD for approval such program
modification no later than one (1) year after written notification from the EPD
to modify the program.
(b) POTW
pretreatment program modifications shall be accomplished as follows:
1. For substantial modifications as defined
in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(7)(c):
(i) the POTW shall submit to the EPD a
statement of the basis for the desired modification, a modified program
description or such other documents the Approval Authority determines to be
necessary under the circumstances;
(ii) the Approval Authority shall approve or
disapprove the modifications based on the requirements of
40 CFR
403.8(f), following the
procedures in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(4)
-(6);
(iii) the modification shall be incorporated
into the POTW discharge permit after approval. The POTW's discharge permit will
be modified to incorporate the approved modification in accordance with
40 CFR
122.63(g);
(iv) the modification shall become effective
upon approval by the Approval Authority. Notice of approval shall be published
in the same newspaper as the notice of original request for approval of the
modification under Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(5)(a)
1.(iii).
2. The POTW shall notify the EPD of any other
(i.e., non-substantial) modifications to its pretreatment program at least
thirty (30) days prior to when they are to be implemented by the POTW, in a
statement similar to that provided for in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(7)(b)
1.(i). Such non-substantial program
modification shall be deemed to be approved by the Approval Authority, unless
the EPD determines that a modification submitted is in fact a substantial
modification thirty (30) days after the submission of the POTWs statement.
Following such approval by the Approval Authority, such modifications shall be
incorporated into the POTW's discharge permit in accordance with
40 CFR
122.63(g). If the EPD
determines that a modification reported by a POTW in its statement is in fact a
substantial modification, the EPD shall notify the POTW and initiate the
procedures in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(7)(b)
1.
(c) Substantial modifications.
1. The following are substantial
modifications for purposes of this Subparagraph:
(i) changes to the POTW's legal
authorities;
(ii) changes to local
limits;
(iii) changes to the POTW's
control mechanism as described in
40 CFR
403.8(f)(1)(iii);
(iv) changes to the POTW's method for
implementing categorical pretreatment standards;
(v) a decrease in the frequency of
self-monitoring or reporting required of industrial users;
(vi) a decrease in the frequency of
industrial user inspection or sampling by the POTW;
(vii) changes to the POTW's confidentiality
procedures;
(viii) significant
reduction in the POTW's pretreatment program resources (including personnel
commitments, equipment, and funding levels); or
(ix) changes in the POTW's sludge disposal
and management practices.
2. The Approval Authority may designate other
specific modifications in additional to those listed in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(7)(c)
1. as substantial modifications.
3. A modification that is not included in
Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(7)(c)
1. is none the less a substantial
modification for purposes of this Subparagraph if the modification:
(i) would have a significant impact on the
operation of the POTW's pretreatment program;
(ii) would result in an increase in pollutant
loadings at the POTW's or
(iii)
would result in less stringent requirements being imposed on industrial users
of the POTW.
(d) The POTW shall prepare a list of its
industrial users meeting the criteria in Subparagraphs
391-3-6-.08(2)(u)
1.(i) and 2. applicable to each industrial
user and, for industrial users meeting the criteria in Subparagraphs
391-3-6-.08(2)(u)
1.(ii) shall also indicate whether the POTW
has made a determination pursuant to Subparagraph
391-3-6-.08(2)(u)
that such industrial user should be considered a significant industrial user.
This list, and any subsequent modification thereto, shall be submitted to the
EPD as a nonsubstantial program modification pursuant to Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(7)(b)
2. Discretionary designations or
de-designations by the POTW pretreatment program shall be deemed to be approved
by the EPD ninety (90) days after submission of the list or modifications
thereto, unless EPD determines that a modification is in fact a substantial
modification.
(8)
Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Requirements for POTW Pretreatment
Programs and the EPD Pretreatment Program.
(a) Both the EPD and each POTW pretreatment
program shall develop and implement procedures to ensure compliance with the
requirements of a pretreatment program. At a minimum, these procedures shall
enable the Control Authority to:
1. Identify
and locate all possible industrial users which might be subject to the
pretreatment program;
2. Identify
the character and volume of pollutants contributed to the POTW by the
industrial users identified under Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(8)(a)
1.;
3. Notify industrial users identified under
Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(8)(a)
1. of applicable pretreatment standards and
applicable pretreatment requirements under Sections 204(b) and 405 of the
Federal Act and Subtitles C and D of the Resource Conversation and Recovery
Act. Within 30 days of approval pursuant to
40 CFR
403.8(f)(6), of a list of
significant industrial users, notify each significant industrial user of its
status as such and all requirements applicable to it as a result of such
status;
4. Receive and analyze
self-monitoring reports and other notices submitted by industrial users in
accordance with the self-monitoring requirements in
40 CFR
403.12;
5. Randomly sample and analyze the effluent
from industrial users and conduct surveillance activities in order to identify,
independent of information supplied by industrial users, occasional and
continuing noncompliance with pretreatment standards. Inspect and sample the
effluent from each significant industrial user at least once a year except as
otherwise specified below:
(i) Where the
Control Authority has authorized the industrial user subject to a categorical
pretreatment standard to forego sampling of a pollutant regulated by a
categorical pretreatment standard in accordance with
40 CFR
403.12(e)(3), the Control
Authority must sample for the waived pollutant(s) at least once during the term
of the categorical industrial user's control mechanism. In the event that the
Control Authority subsequently determines that a waived pollutant is present or
is expected to be present in the industrial user's wastewater based on changes
that occur in the industrial user's operations, the Control Authority must
immediately begin at least annual effluent monitoring of the industrial user's
discharge and inspection.
(ii)
Where the Control Authority has determined that an industrial user meets the
criteria for classification as a Non-Significant Categorical Industrial User,
the Control Authority must evaluate, at least once per year, whether an
industrial user continues to meet the criteria in
40 CFR
403.3(v)(2).
(iii) In the case of industrial users subject
to reduced reporting requirements under
40 CFR
403.12(e)(3), the Control
Authority must randomly sample and analyze the effluent from industrial users
and conduct inspections at least once every two years. If the industrial user
no longer meets the conditions for reduced reporting in
40 CFR
403.12(e)(3), the Control
Authority must immediately begin sampling and inspecting the industrial user at
least once a year.
6.
Evaluate, within one year whether each such significant industrial user needs a
plan or other action to control slug discharges. Additional significant
industrial users must be evaluated within 1 year of being designated a
significant industrial user. If the Control Authority decides that a slug
control plan is needed, the plan shall be based on the requirements in
40 CFR
403.8(f)(2)(vi).
7. Investigate instances of noncompliance
with pretreatment standards and requirements, as indicated in the reports and
notices required under 40
CFR 403.12 or indicated by analysis,
inspection, and surveillance activities described in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(8)(a)
5. Sample taking and analysis and the
collection of other information shall be performed using appropriate procedures
to produce evidence admissible in enforcement proceedings or in judicial
actions;
8. Comply with the public
participation requirement of 40 CFR Parts 25 in the enforcement of national
pretreatment standards. These procedures shall include provision for at least
annual public notification, in a newspaper(s) of general circulation that
provides meaningful public notice within the jurisdiction(s) served by the POTW
of industrial users which, at any time during the previous 12 months, were in
significant noncompliance with applicable pretreatment requirement as defined
under Subparagraph
391-3-6-.08(2)(v);
and
9. Deny or condition new
increased contributions of pollutants, to the POTW by industrial users where
such contributions do not meet applicable pretreatment standards and
requirements or where such contribution would cause the POTW to violate its
NPDES Permit.
(b) Both
the EPD pretreatment program and each POTW pretreatment program shall require
the following industrial user reports and notification for their regulated
industrial users:
1. Notice of potential
problems including slug loading as described in
40 CFR
403.12(f);
2. Report on the monitoring and analysis to
demonstrate continued compliance as described in
40 CFR
403.12(g)(1)-(6);
3. Reports for industrial users not subject
to categorical pretreatment standards as described in
40 CFR
403.12(h);
4. Notification of changed discharge as
described under 40 CFR
403.12(j);
5. Notification of discharge of hazardous
waste as described in 403.12(p)(1)-(4).
6. Baseline reports as described in
40 CFR
403.12(b)(1)-(7);
7. Compliance scheduling and progress reports
as described in 40 CFR
403.12(c)(1)-(3);
8. Report on compliance with categorical
pretreatment standards deadlines as described in
40 CFR
403.12(d);
9. Periodic reports on continued compliance
as described in 40 CFR
403.12(e)(1)-(5);
and
10. Annual certification by
Non-Significant Categorical Industrial Users (as defined in Subparagraph
391-3-6-.08(2)(r)(2))
as required in 40 CFR
403.12(q).
(c) Signatory requirements for industrial
user reports and POTW pretreatment program reports shall comply with
requirements described in 40
CFR 403.12(l) and (m),
respectively.
(d) Records keeping
for industrial users and POTW pretreatment programs shall comply with the
requirements described in 40
CFR 403.12(o).
(e) The EPD may require a POTW pretreatment
program to sample and analyze the POTW influent, effluent and/or sludge for the
toxic priority pollutants as listed under Subparagraphs
391-3-6-.03(5)(e)(i)(ii) and
(iii) and any other identified pollutants at
a frequency that adequately characterizes pollutant loading at the POTW. In
addition, the POTW pretreatment program may be required to conduct
biomonitoring of the POTW effluent.
(f) The federal NPDES Electronic Reporting
rule, 40 CFR Part 127 and associated amendments (including amendments to
40 CFR
403.12), became effective on December 21,
2015. The requirements of this paragraph may include electronic reporting, as
applicable and approved by EPD or the Control Authority. A Control Authority
that receives electronic documents must satisfy the requirements of 40 CFR Part
3 (Electronic Reporting) and the NPDES Electronic Reporting
rule.
(9)
Legal
Authority Requirements for Control Authorities.
(a) Each Control Authority shall operate
pursuant to a legal authority enforceable in Federal, State or local courts,
which authorizes or enables the Control Authority to apply and to enforce the
requirements of sections 307(b) and (c), and 402(b)(8) of the Federal Act and
any regulations implementing those sections. Such authority may be contained in
a statute, ordinance, or series of contracts or joint powers agreement, which
the Control Authority is authorized to enact, enter into or implement and which
are authorized by the Act or State law. At a minimum, this legal authority
shall enable the Control Authority to:
1.
Require compliance with applicable pretreatment standards and requirements by
industrial users.
2. Deny or
condition new or increased contributions of pollutants, or changes in the
nature of pollutants, to the POTW by industrial users where such contributions
do not meet applicable pretreatment standards and requirements or where such
contributions would cause the POTW to violate its NPDES permit.
3. Control through permit, order, or similar
means, the contribution to the POTW by each industrial user to ensure
compliance with applicable pretreatment standards and requirements. In case of
industrial users identified as significant under Subparagraph
391-3-6-.08(2)(u),
this control shall be achieved through individual permits or equivalent
individual control mechanism issued to each such user except as follows.
(i) At the discretion of the Control
Authority, this control may include use of general control mechanisms if the
following conditions are met. All of the facilities to be covered must:
(I) Involve the same or substantially similar
types of operations;
(II) Discharge
the same types of wastes;
(III)
Require the same effluent limitations;
(IV) Require the same or similar monitoring;
and
(V) In the opinion of the
Control Authority, are more appropriately controlled under a general control
mechanism than under individual control mechanisms.
(ii) To be covered by the general control
mechanism, a significant industrial user must file a written request for
coverage that identifies its contact information, production processes, the
types of wastes generated, the location for monitoring all wastes covered by
the general control mechanism, any requests in accordance with
40 CFR
403.12(e)(2) for a
monitoring waiver for a pollutant neither present nor expected to be present in
the discharge, and any other information the Control Authority deems
appropriate. A monitoring waiver for a pollutant neither present nor expected
to be present in the discharge is not effective in the general control
mechanism until after the Control Authority has provided written notice to the
significant industrial user that such a waiver request has been granted in
accordance with 40 CFR
403.12(e)(2). The Control
Authority must retain a copy of the general control mechanism, documentation to
support the Control Authority's determination that a specific significant
industrial user meets the criteria in
40 CFR
403.8(f)(1)(iii)(A)(1) through
(f)(1)(iii)(A)(5), and a copy of the
significant industrial user's written request for coverage for 3 years after
the expiration of the general control mechanism. A Control Authority may not
control a significant industrial user through a general control mechanism where
the facility is subject to production-based categorical pretreatment standards
or categorical pretreatment standards expressed as mass of pollutant discharged
per day, or for industrial users whose limits are based on the combined
wastestream formula in 40
CFR 403.6(e). Both
individual and general control mechanisms must, be enforceable and contain the
minimum conditions described in
40 CFR
403.8(f)(1)(iii)(B)(1)-(6).
Each pretreatment permit will include, where appropriate, conditions and limits
which ensure that concentration and mass limit requirements under
40 CFR
403.6(c)(1)-(9), dilution
prohibition requirements under
40 CFR
403.6(d) and combined
wastestream formula requirements under
40 CFR
403.6(e)(1)-(4) are complied
with;
4. Require the
development of a compliance schedule by each industrial user for the
installation of technology required to meet applicable pretreatment standards
and requirements and the submission of all notices and self-monitoring reports
from industrial users with pretreatment standards and requirements, including,
but not limited to the reports required in
40 CFR
403.12;
5. Carry out all inspection, surveillance and
monitoring procedures necessary to determine, independent of information
supplied by industrial users, compliance or noncompliance with applicable
pretreatment standards and requirements by industrial users. Representatives of
the POTW shall be authorized to enter any premises of any industrial user in
which a discharge source or treatment system is located or in which records are
required to be kept under 40
CFR 403.12(o) to assure
compliance with pretreatment standards. Such authority shall be at least as
extensive as the authority provided under Section 308 of the Federal
Act;
6. Obtain remedies for
noncompliance by any industrial user with any pretreatment standard and
requirement. All POTW's shall be able to seek injunctive relief for
noncompliance by industrial users with pretreatment standards and requirements.
All POTW's shall also have authority to seek or assess civil or criminal
penalties in at least the amount of $1,000 a day for each violation by
industrial users of pretreatment standards and requirements. Pretreatment
requirements which will be enforced through the remedies set forth in this
Subparagraph will include but not be limited to, the duty to allow or carry out
inspections, entry, or monitoring activities; any rules, regulations or orders
issued by the POTW; any requirements set forth in control mechanisms issued by
the POTW; or any reporting requirements imposed by the POTW; or any reporting
requirements imposed by the POTW or these regulations. The POTW shall have
authority and procedures (after informal notice to the discharger) to
immediately and effectively halt or prevent any discharge of pollutants to the
POTW which reasonably appears to present an imminent endangerment to the health
or welfare of persons. The POTW shall also have authority and procedures (which
shall include notice to the affected industrial users and an opportunity to
respond) to halt or prevent an endangerment to the environment or which
threatens to interfere with the operation of the POTW. The EPD shall have the
authority to take additional enforcement action when the EPD determines that
the Control Authority's enforcement response to noncompliance by an industrial
user is insufficient;
7. Comply
with the confidentiality requirements set forth in
40 CFR
403.14.
(b) The Control Authority shall develop and
implement an enforcement response plan which contains detailed procedures
indicating how a POTW will investigate and respond to instances of industrial
user noncompliance. The plan shall be developed in accordance with requirements
described in 40 CFR
403.8(f)(5).
(c) Control Authority shall ensure that
industrial users comply with the deadline for compliance with categorical
standards as described in 40
CFR 403.6(b) or take
appropriate enforcement actions to address noncompliance with
40 CFR
403.6(b) through the
enforcement response plan under subparagraph
391-3-6-.09(9)(b).
(d) Control Authority shall ensure that
proper legal authority exists to require industrial user compliance with the
general prohibitions under 40 CFR
403.5(a)(1), the specific
prohibitions under 40 CFR
403.5(b)(1)-(8) and local
limits under 40 CFR
403.5(c) and (d). The
Control Authority shall develop and enforce specific limits as described under
40 CFR
403.5(c) and (d) to
implement the prohibitions listed in
40 CFR
403.5(a)(1) and
40 CFR
403.5(b)(1)-(8). The Control
Authority shall continue to develop these limits as necessary and effectively
enforce such limits.
(10)
POTW Pretreatment Program Annual Report.
Each POTW pretreatment program shall provide the Approval
Authority with a report that describes POTW program activities including
activities of all participating agencies if more than one jurisdiction is
involved in the local program. The report required by this paragraph shall be
submitted no later than one year after approval of the POTW's pretreatment
program and at least annually thereafter and shall include, at a minimum, the
information required in 40
CFR 403.12(i). The federal
NPDES Electronic Reporting rule, 40 CFR Part 127 and associated amendments,
includes requirements under 40 CFR 403.12(i)
for the electronic submission of annual reports on or after December 21,
2020.
(11)
Approval
Authority Oversight of POTW Pretreatment Programs.
The Approval Authority retains the authority to enforce all
pretreatment standards (including categorical standards, prohibited discharge
standards, and local limits as described in 40 CFR 403) in cases where the
Approval Authority determines that insufficient enforcement action has been
taken by the POTW pretreatment program against industrial users. The Approval
Authority also has the legal authority to review self-monitoring reports
submitted by the industrial users described in
40 CFR
403.10(f)(1)(ii) and to
carry out inspection surveillance, and monitoring procedures as described in
40 CFR
403.10(f)(1)(iii). The
Approval Authority also has the legal authority to obtain remedies for
noncompliance as described in
40 CFR
403.8(f)(1)(vi).
(12)
Enforcement.
Any person who violates any provision of the Act, any rule
promulgated and adopted pursuant thereto, or any term, condition, schedule or
compliance or other requirements contained in a permit issued pursuant to the
Act shall be subject to enforcement proceedings pursuant to the Act. Any
reports submitted to the Control Authority or Approval Authority are also
subject to the conditions of 40 CFR 403.12(n)
and applicable Georgia laws.
O.C.G.A. §
12-5-20
et
seq.