New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chapter 14A - NEW JERSEY POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
Subchapter 2 - GENERAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Section 7:14A-2.12 - Studies
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) Ambient water quality studies may be required to develop TMDLs in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:15-7. Where such studies are necessary, the ambient water quality sampling and data analysis and interpretation may be performed by the Department, affected cities or municipalities, permittees, or other interested parties.
(b) Ambient studies consist of water quality and/or biological studies and shall be used to supplement the Department's ongoing sampling programs. Where the data necessary to make a determination of effluent limitations have already been collected and analyzed by the Department, or are anticipated to be collected and analyzed prior to the determination of effluent limitations, duplicative studies shall not be required. Where the data do not exist and/or are incomplete, the Department may require the permittee or the applicant to undertake any and all studies that it determines necessary to determine permit limits and conditions. Such studies may include, but are not limited to, dilution analysis/mixing zone studies (including stream design flows), dissolved oxygen studies, effluent characterizations, studies to demonstrate compliance with the ocean discharge criteria, antidegradation analysis, in-stream water quality studies to develop water quality based effluent limitations, and biological, nutrient, and toxics impact analysis.
(c) All studies conducted for the purposes of implementing the requirements of this chapter shall be performed in accordance with a Department approved Work/Quality Assurance Project Plan. At a minimum, the Work/Quality Assurance Project Plan shall define the data quality objectives and specify the field sampling protocols, field survey, and laboratory analytical methods and procedures to be implemented in the project. The Work/Quality Assurance Project Plan shall be consistent with guidance from the following documents:
(d) Reuse feasibility studies performed under 7:14A-2.15 are exempt from the requirements of (c) above.