Code of Maine Rules
06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL
Chapter 528 - PRETREATMENT PROGRAM
Section 096-528-9 - Pretreatment Program Requirements: Development and Implementation by POTW [see 40 CFR 403.8]

Universal Citation: 06 ME Code Rules ยง 096-528-9

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

(a) POTWs required to develop a pretreatment program. 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 Pass Through or Interfere with the operation of the POTW or are otherwise subject to Pretreatment Standards will be required to establish a POTW Pretreatment Program unless the NPDES State exercises its option to assume local responsibilities as provided for in 40 CFR 403.10(e). The Regional Administrator or Department may require that a POTW with a design flow of 5 mgd or less develop a POTW Pretreatment Program if he or she finds that the nature or volume of the industrial influent, treatment process upsets, violations of POTW effluent limitations, contamination of municipal sludge, or other circumstances warrant in order to prevent Interference with the POTW or Pass Through.

(b) Deadline for Program Approval. A POTW which meets the criteria of paragraph (a) of this section must receive approval of a POTW Pretreatment Program no later than 3 years after the reissuance or modification of its existing NPDES (MEPDES) permit but in no case later than July 1, 1983. POTWs whose NPDES (MEPDES) permits are modified under section 301(h) of the Act shall have a Pretreatment Program within three (3) years as provided for in 40 CFR part 125, subpart G. POTWs identified after July 1, 1983 as being required to develop a POTW Pretreatment Program under paragraph (a) of this section shall develop and submit such a program for approval as soon as possible, but in no case later than one year after written notification from the Approval Authority of such identification. The POTW Pretreatment Program shall meet the criteria set forth in paragraph (f) of this section and shall be administered by the POTW to ensure compliance by Industrial Users with applicable Pretreatment Standards and Requirements.

(c) Incorporation of approved programs in permits. A POTW may develop an appropriate POTW pretreatment program any time before the time limit set forth in paragraph (b) of this section. If the POTW is located in a State which has an approved State permit program under section 402 of the Act and an approved State pretreatment program in accordance with 40 CFR 403.10, or if the POTW is located in a State which does not have an approved permit program under section 402 of the Act, the POTW's NPDES (MEPDES) Permit will be reissued or modified by the NPDES State or EPA, respectively, to incorporate the approved Program conditions as enforceable conditions of the Permit.

(d) Incorporation of compliance schedules in permits. [Reserved].

(e) Cause for reissuance or modification of Permits. Under the authority of section 402(b)(1)(C) of the Act, the Approval Authority may modify, or alternatively, revoke and reissue a POTW's Permit in order to:

(1) Put the POTW on a compliance schedule for the development of a POTW Pretreatment Program where the addition of pollutants into a POTW by an Industrial User or combination of Industrial Users presents a substantial hazard to the functioning of the treatment works, quality of the receiving waters, human health, or the environment;

(2) Coordinate the issuance of a section 201 construction grant with the incorporation into a permit of a compliance schedule for POTW Pretreatment Program;

(3) Incorporate a modification of the permit approved under Section 301(h) or 301(i) of the Act;

(4) Incorporate an approved POTW Pretreatment Program in the POTW permit; or

(5) Incorporate a compliance schedule for the development of a POTW Pretreatment program in the POTW permit.

(6) Incorporate the removal credits (established under Section 8) in the POTW permit.

(f) POTW pretreatment requirements. A POTW pretreatment program must be based on the following legal authority and include the following procedures. These authorities and procedures shall at all times be fully and effectively exercised and implemented.

(1) Legal authority. The POTW shall operate pursuant to legal authority enforceable in Federal, State or local courts, which authorizes or enables the POTW to apply and to enforce the requirements of Sections 307(b) and (c), and 402(b)(8) of the Act and any regulations implementing those sections. Such authority may be contained in a statute, ordinance, or series of contracts or joint powers agreements which the POTW is authorized to enact, enter into or implement, and which are authorized by State law. At a minimum, this legal authority shall enable the POTW to:
(i) 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 MEPDES permit;

(ii) Require compliance with applicable Pretreatment Standards and Requirements by Industrial Users;

(iii) 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 the case of Industrial Users identified as significant under Section 4(t), this control shall be achieved through individual_permits or equivalent individual control mechanisms issued to each such user. Such control mechanisms must be enforceable and contain, at a minimum, the following conditions:
(A) Statement of duration (in no case more than five years);

(B) Statement of non-transferability without, at a minimum, prior notification to the POTW and provision of a copy of the existing control mechanism to the new owner or operator;

(C) Effluent limits, including Best Management Practices, based on applicable general pretreatment standards in this chapter, categorical pretreatment standards, local limits, and State and local law;

(D) Self-monitoring, sampling, reporting, notification and record keeping requirements, including an identification of the pollutants to be monitored,_(including the process for seeking a waiver for a pollutant neither present nor expected to be present in the Discharge in accordance with Section 12(e)(2), or a specific waived pollutant in the case of an individual control mechanism, sampling location, sampling frequency, and sample type, based on the applicable general pretreatment standards in this chapter, categorical pretreatment standards, local limits, and State and local law;

(E) Statement of applicable civil and criminal penalties for violation of pretreatment standards and requirements, and any applicable compliance schedule. Such schedules may not extend the compliance date beyond applicable federal deadlines.

(F) Requirements to control slug discharges, if determined by the POTW to be necessary.

(iv) Require
(A) the development of a compliance schedule by each Industrial User for the installation of technology required to meet applicable Pretreatment Standards and Requirements and

(B) the submission of all notices and self-monitoring reports from Industrial Users as are necessary to assess and assure compliance by Industrial Users with Pretreatment Standards and Requirements, including but not limited to the reports required in Section 12.

(v) 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 Section 12(m) to assure compliance with Pretreatment Standards. Such authority shall be at least as extensive as the authority provided under section 308 of the Act;

(vi)
(A) 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 POTWs 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.

(B) Pretreatment requirements which will be enforced through the remedies set forth in paragraph (f)(1)(vi)(A) of this section, 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 individual control mechanisms issued 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) immediately and effectively to 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 any discharge to the POTW which presents or may present an endangerment to the environment or which threatens to interfere with the operation of the POTW. the Approval Authority shall have authority to seek judicial relief and may also use administrative penalty authority when the POTW has sought a monetary penalty which the Approval Authority believes to be insufficient.

(vii) Comply with the confidentiality requirements set forth in Section 14.

(2) Procedures. The POTW shall develop and implement procedures to ensure compliance with the requirements of a Pretreatment Program. At a minimum, these procedures shall enable the POTW to:
(i) Identify and locate all possible Industrial Users which might be subject to the POTW Pretreatment Program. Any compilation, index or inventory of Industrial Users made under this paragraph shall be made available to the Regional Administrator or Department upon request;

(ii) Identify the character and volume of pollutants contributed to the POTW by the Industrial Users identified under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section. This information shall be made available to the Regional Administrator or Department upon request;

(iii) Notify Industrial Users identified under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section, of applicable Pretreatment Standards and any applicable requirements underSections 204(b) and 405 of the Act and subtitles C and D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Within 30 days of approval pursuant to Section 9(f)(6), of a list of significant industrial users, notify each significant industrial user of its status as such and of all requirements applicable to it as a result of such status.

(iv) Receive and analyze self-monitoring reports and other notices submitted by Industrial Users in accordance with the self-monitoring requirements in Section 12;

(v) 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. Evaluate whether each such Significant Industrial User needs a plan or other action to control slug discharges. For Industrial Users identified as significant prior to November 14, 2005 this evaluation must have been conducted at least once by October 14, 2006; additional Significant Industrial Users must be evaluated within one year of being designated a Significant Industrial User. For purposes of this subsection, a slug discharge is any discharge of a non-routine, episodic nature, including but not limited to an accidental spill or a non-customary batch discharge that has a reasonable potential to cause Interference or Pass Through, or in any other way violate the POTW's regulations, local limits, or Permit conditions. The results of such activities shall be available to the Approval Authority upon request. Significant Industrial Users are required to notify the POTW immediately of any changes at their facilities affecting the potential for a slug discharge. If the POTW decides that a slug control plan is needed, the plan shall contain, at a minimum, the following elements:
(A) Description of discharge practices, including non-routine batch discharges;

(B) Description of stored chemicals;

(C) Procedures for immediately notifying the POTW of slug discharges, including any discharge that would violate a prohibition under Section 6(b), with procedures for follow-up written notification within five days;

(D) If necessary, procedures to prevent adverse impact from accidental spills, including inspection and maintenance of storage areas, handling and transfer of materials, loading and unloading operations, control of plant site run-off, worker training, building of containment structures or equipment, measures for containing toxic organic pollutants (including solvents), and/or measures and equipment for emergency response;

(vi) Investigate instances of noncompliance with Pretreatment Standards and Requirements, as indicated in the reports and notices required under Section 12, or indicated by analysis, inspection, and surveillance activities described in paragraph (f)(2)(v) of this section. Sample taking and analysis and the collection of other information shall be performed with sufficient care to produce evidence admissible in enforcement proceedings or in judicial actions; and

(vii) Comply with the public participation requirements of 40 CFR part 25 in the enforcement of national pretreatment standards. These procedures shall include provision for at least annual public notification, in a newspaper 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 requirements. For the purposes of this provision, Significant Industrial User (or any Industrial User which violates paragraphs (f)(2)(vii)(C), (D), or (H) of this section) is in significant noncompliance if its violation meets one or more of the following criteria:
(A) Chronic violations of wastewater discharge limits, defined here as those in which 66 percent or more of all of the measurements taken during a 6 month period exceed (by any magnitude) a numeric Pretreatment Standard or Requirement, including instantaneous limits, as defined by Chapter 528 Section(4)(j);

(B) Technical Review Criteria (TRC) violations, defined here as those in which 33 percent or more of all of the measurements for each pollutant parameter taken during a 6 month period equal or exceed the product of the numeric Pretreatment Standard or Requirement including instantaneous limits, as defined by Chapter 528 section(4)(j), multiplied by the applicable TRC (TRC = 1.4 for BOD, TSS, fats, oil, and grease, and 1.2 for all other pollutants except pH).

(C) Any other violation of a Pretreatment Standard or Requirement, as defined by Chapter 528 Section(4)(j) (daily maximum, long-term average, instantaneous limit, or narrative standard) that the POTW determines has caused, alone or in combination with other discharges, Interference or Pass Through (including endangering the health of POTW personnel or the general public);

(D) Any discharge of a pollutant that has caused imminent endangerment to human health, welfare or to the environment or has resulted in the POTW's exercise of its emergency authority under paragraph (f)(1)(vi)(B) of this section to halt or prevent such a discharge;

(E) Failure to meet, within 90 days after the schedule date, a compliance schedule milestone contained in a local control mechanism or enforcement order for starting construction, completing construction, or attaining final compliance;

(F) Failure to provide, within 30 days after the due date, required reports such as baseline monitoring reports, 90-day compliance reports, periodic self-monitoring reports, and reports on compliance with compliance schedules;

(G) Failure to accurately report noncompliance;

(H) Any other violation or group of violations, which may include a violation of Best Management Practices, which the POTW determines will adversely affect the operation or implementation of the local pretreatment program.

(3) Funding. The POTW shall have sufficient resources and qualified personnel to carry out the authorities and procedures described in paragraphs (f) (1) and (2) of this section. In some limited circumstances, funding and personnel may be delayed where (i) the POTW has adequate legal authority and procedures to carry out the Pretreatment Program requirements described in this section, and (ii) a limited aspect of the Program does not need to be implemented immediately (see Section 10(b) ).

(4) Local limits. The POTW shall develop local limits as required in Section 6(c)(1), or demonstrate that they are not necessary.

(5) The POTW shall develop and implement an enforcement response plan. This plan shall contain detailed procedures indicating how a POTW will investigate and respond to instances of industrial user noncompliance. The plan shall, at a minimum:
(i) Describe how the POTW will investigate instances of noncompliance;

(ii) Describe the types of escalating enforcement responses the POTW will take in response to all anticipated types of industrial user violations and the time periods within which responses will take place;

(iii) Identify (by title) the official(s) responsible for each type of response;

(iv) Adequately reflect the POTW's primary responsibility to enforce all applicable pretreatment requirements and standards, as detailed in 40 CFR 403.8(f)(1) and (f)(2).

(6) The POTW shall prepare a list of its industrial users meeting the criteria in Section 4(t)(1). The list shall identify the criteria in Section 4(t)(1) applicable to each industrial user and, for industrial users meeting the criteria in Section 4(t)(1)(ii), shall also indicate whether the POTW has made a determination pursuant to Section 4(t)(2) that such industrial user should not be considered a significant industrial user. This list, and any subsequent modifications thereto, shall be submitted to the Approval Authority as a non substantial program modification pursuant to Section 18(b)(2). Discretionary designations or de-designations by the Control Authority shall be deemed to be approved by the Approval Authority 90 days after submission of the list or modifications thereto, unless the Approval Authority determines that a modification is in fact a substantial modification.

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