South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-9 - Water Pollution Control Permits
Subchapter 61-9.122 - THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
Part D - TRANSFER, MODIFICATION, REVOCATION, AND REISSUANCE AND TERMINATION OF PERMITS
Section 61-9.122.D.62 - Modification or revocation and reissuance of permits

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 61-9.122.D.62

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

(a) When the Department receives any information (for example, inspects the facility, receives information submitted by the permittee as required in the permit (see section122.41), receives a request for modification or revocation and reissuance under section124.5, or conducts a review of the permit file), it may determine whether or not one or more of the causes listed in paragraph (d) and (e) of this section for modification or revocation and reissuance or both exist.

(b) If cause exists, the Department may modify or revoke and reissue the permit accordingly, subject to the limitations of R.61-9.124.5(c)(2)(c), and may request an updated application if necessary. When a permit is modified, only the conditions subject to modification are reopened. If a permit is revoked and reissued, the entire permit is reopened and subject to revision and the permit is reissued for a new term. See R.61-9.124.5(c)(c)(2).

(c) If cause does not exist under this section or section122.63, the Department shall not modify or revoke and reissue the permit. If a permit modification satisfies the criteria in section122.63 for "minor modifications" the permit may be modified without a draft permit or public review. Otherwise, a draft permit must be prepared and other procedures in R.61-9.124 followed.

(d) Causes for modification. The following are causes for modification but not revocation and reissuance of permits except when the permittee requests or agrees.

(1) Alterations. There are material and substantial alterations or additions to the permitted facility or activity (including a change or changes in the permittee's sludge use or disposal practice) which occurred after permit issuance which justify the application of permit conditions that are different or absent in the existing permit.

(2) Information. The Department has received new information. Permits may be modified during their terms for this cause only if the information was not available at the time of permit issuance (other than revised regulations, guidance, or test methods) and would have justified the application of different permit conditions at the time of issuance. For NPDES general permits (section122.28) this cause includes any information indicating that cumulative effects on the environment are unacceptable. For new source or new discharger NPDES permits (sections122.21, 122.29), this cause shall include any significant information derived from effluent testing required under section122.21(k)(5)(vi)(k)(5)(vi) or section122.21(h)(4)(iii)(h)(4)(iii) after issuance of the permit.

(3) New regulations. The standards or regulations on which the permit was based have been changed by promulgation of amended standards or regulations or by judicial decision after the permit was issued. Permits may be modified during their terms for this cause, only as follows:

(i) For promulgation of amended standards or regulations, when:

(A) The permit condition requested to be modified was based on a promulgated effluent limitation guideline, EPA approved or promulgated water quality standards, or the Secondary Treatment Regulations under R.61-9.133; and

(B) EPA has revised, withdrawn, or modified that portion of the regulation or effluent limitation guideline on which the permit condition was based, or has approved a State action with regard to a water quality standard on which the permit condition was based; and

(C) A permittee requests modification in accordance with R.61-9.124.5 within ninety (90) days after Federal Register notice of the action on which the request is based.

(ii) For judicial decisions, a court of competent jurisdiction has remanded and stayed promulgated regulations or effluent limitation guidelines, if the remand and stay concern that portion of the regulations or guidelines on which the permit condition was based and a request is filed by the permittee in accordance with R.61-9.124.5 within ninety (90) days of judicial remand.

(iii) For changes based upon modified State certifications of NPDES permits, see R.61-9.124.55(b)(b).

(4) Compliance schedules. The Department determines good cause exists for modification of a compliance schedule or terms and conditions of a permit, such as an act of God, strike, flood, or materials shortage or other events over which the permittee has little or no control and for which there is no reasonably available remedy. However, in no case may an NPDES compliance schedule be modified to extend beyond an applicable CWA statutory deadline. See also section122.63(c)(c) (minor modifications) and paragraph (d)(13) of this section (NPDES innovative technology).

(5) When the permittee has filed a request for a variance under CWA section301(c)(c), 301(k), or 316(a) or for "fundamentally different factors" within the time specified in section122.21.

(6) 307(a) toxics. When required to incorporate an applicable 307(a) toxic effluent standard or prohibition (see section122.44(b)(b)).

(7) Reopener. When required by the "reopener" conditions in a permit, which are established in the permit under section122.44(c)(b) (for CWA toxic effluent limitations and standards for sewage sludge use or disposal, see also section122.44(b)(c)) or R.61-9. 403.18(e) (Pretreatment program).

(8)

(i) Net limits. Upon request of a permittee who qualifies for effluent limitations on a net basis under section122.45(g)(g).

(ii) When a discharger is no longer eligible for net limitations, as provided in section122.45(g)(1)(ii)(g)(1)(ii).

(9) Pretreatment. As necessary under R.61-9.403.8(e)(e)(compliance schedule for development of pretreatment program).

(10) Failure to notify. Upon failure of an approved State to notify, as required by section 40 CFR 402(b)(3), another State whose waters may be affected by a discharge from the approved State.

(11) Non-limited pollutants. When the level of discharge of any pollutant which is not limited in the permit exceeds the level which can be achieved by the technology-based treatment requirements appropriate to the permittee under R.61-9.125.3(c)(c).

(12) Notification levels. To establish a "notification level" as provided in section122.44(f)(f).

(13) Compliance schedules. To modify a schedule of compliance to reflect the time lost during construction of an innovative or alternative facility, in the case of a POTW which has received a grant under section202(a)(3)(a)(3) of CWA for 100% of the costs to modify or replace facilities constructed with a grant for innovative and alternative wastewater technology under section202(a)(2)(a)(2). In no case shall the compliance schedule be modified to extend beyond an applicable CWA statutory deadline for compliance.

(14) For a small MS4, to include an effluent limitation requiring implementation of a minimum control measure or measures as specified in section122.34(b)(b) when:

(i) The permit does not include such measure(s) based upon the determination that another entity was responsible for implementation of the requirement(s); and

(ii) The other entity fails to implement measure(s) that satisfy the requirement(s).

(15) To correct technical mistakes, such as errors in calculation, or mistaken interpretations of law made in determining permit conditions.

(16) When the discharger has installed the treatment technology considered by the permit writer in setting effluent limitations imposed under 402(a)(1) of the CWA and has properly operated and maintained the facilities but nevertheless has been unable to achieve those effluent limitations. In this case, the limitations in the modified permit may reflect the level of pollutant control actually achieved (but shall not be less stringent than required by a subsequently promulgated effluent limitations guideline).

(17) [Reserved]

(18) Land application plans. When required by an NPDES permit condition to incorporate a land application plan for beneficial reuse of sewage sludge, to revise an existing land application plan, or to add a land application plan.

(e) Causes for modification or revocation and reissuance. The following are causes to modify or, alternatively, revoke and reissue a permit:

(1) Cause exists for termination under section122.64, and the Department determines that modification or revocation and reissuance is appropriate.

(2) The Department has received notification (as required in the permit, see section122.41(l)(3)(l)(3)) of a proposed transfer of the permit. A permit also may be modified to reflect a transfer after the effective date of an automatic transfer (section122.61(b)(b)) but will not be revoked and reissued after the effective date of the transfer except upon the request of the new permittee.

(3) There is a violation of any terms or conditions of the permit.

(4) The permittee has obtained a permit by misrepresentation or has failed to disclose all relevant facts to the Department.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.