Virginia Administrative Code
Title 9 - ENVIRONMENT
Agency 25 - STATE WATER CONTROL BOARD
Chapter 151 - VIRGINIA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (VPDES) GENERAL PERMIT REGULATION FOR DISCHARGES OF STORMWATER ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY
Part IV - Sector Specific Permit Requirements
Section 9VAC25-151-240 - Sector Q - Water transportation and ship and boat building and repairing yards

a. Pressure washing area. As defined by this permit, process wastewater related to hull work at facilities shall be any water used on a vessel's hull for any purpose, regardless of application pressure, including the activities of removing marine salts, sediments, marine growth and paint, or other hull, weather deck, or superstructure cleaning activities using water, (e.g., preparing those areas for inspection or work that may include cutting, welding, grinding, or coating). The discharge water shall be permitted as a process wastewater by a separate VPDES permit.

b. Blasting and painting areas. The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent spent abrasives, paint chips, and overspray from discharging into the receiving water or the storm sewer system. The permittee shall contain all blasting or painting activities or use other measures to prevent or minimize the discharge of contaminants (e.g., hanging plastic barriers or tarpaulins during blasting or painting operations to contain debris). Stormwater conveyances shall be regularly cleaned to remove deposits of abrasive blasting debris and paint chips. The SWPPP shall include any standard operating practices with regard to blasting and painting activities, (e.g., the prohibition of uncontained blasting or painting over open water, or the prohibition of blasting or painting during windy conditions which can render containment ineffective).

c. Material storage areas. All containerized materials shall be plainly labeled and stored in a protected, secure location away from drains. The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent or minimize the contamination of precipitation or surface runoff from the storage areas. The SWPPP shall specify which materials are stored indoors and consider containment or enclosure for materials that are stored outdoors. The permittee shall consider implementing an inventory control plan to limit the presence of potentially hazardous materials on-site. Where abrasive blasting is performed, the SWPPP shall specifically include a discussion on the storage and disposal of spent abrasive materials generated at the facility.

d. Engine maintenance and repair areas. The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent or minimize contamination of precipitation or surface runoff from all areas used for engine maintenance and repair. The permittee shall consider the following measures (or their equivalent): performing all maintenance activities indoors, maintaining an organized inventory of materials used in the shop, draining all parts of fluids before disposal, prohibiting the practice of hosing down the shop floor using dry cleanup methods, and treating or recycling stormwater runoff collected from the maintenance area.

e. Material handling areas. The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent or minimize contamination of precipitation or surface runoff from material handling operations and areas (e.g., fueling, paint and solvent mixing, disposal of process wastewater streams from vessels). The permittee shall consider the following measures or their equivalents: covering fueling areas; using spill and overflow protection; mixing paints and solvents in a designated area (preferably indoors or under a shed); and minimizing run-on of stormwater to material handling areas.

f. Drydock activities. The SWPPP shall address the routine maintenance and cleaning of the drydock to minimize the potential for pollutants in the stormwater runoff. The SWPPP shall describe the procedures for cleaning the accessible areas of the drydock before flooding and final cleanup after the vessel is removed and the dock is raised. Cleanup procedures for oil, grease, or fuel spills occurring on the drydock shall also be included within the SWPPP. The permittee shall consider the following measures or their equivalents: sweeping rather than hosing off debris and spent blasting material from the accessible areas of the drydock before flooding; and having absorbent materials and oil containment booms readily available to contain or cleanup any spills.

g. General yard area. The SWPPP shall include a schedule for routine yard maintenance and cleanup. Scrap metal, wood, plastic, miscellaneous trash, paper, glass, industrial scrap, insulation, welding rods, packaging, etc. shall be routinely removed from the general yard area.