40 CFR Part 403 Introduction
EXISTING AND NEW SOURCES OF POLLUTION
Section
403.1 Purpose and applicability.
403.2 Objective of general pretreatment regulations.
403.3 Definitions.
403.4 State or local law.
403.5 National pretreatment standards: Prohibited discharges.
403.6 National pretreatment standards: Categorical standards.
403.7 Removal credits.
403.8 Pretreatment Program Requirements: Development and Implementation by
POTW.
403.9 POTW pretreatment programs and/or authorization to revise pretreatment
standards: Submission for approval.
403.10 Development and submission of NPDES State pretreatment programs.
403.11 Approval procedures for POTW pretreatment programs and POTW granting of
removal credits.
403.12 Reporting requirements for POTW's and industrial users.
403.13 Variances from categorical pretreatment standards for fundamentally different
factors.
403.14 Confidentiality.
403.15 Net/Gross calculation.
403.16 Upset provision.
403.17 Bypass.
403.18 Modification of POTW Pretreatment Programs.
Appendix A to Part 403 -- Program Guidance Memorandum
Appendix B to Part 403 -- 65 Toxic Pollutants
Appendix C to Part 403 -- Industrial Categories Subject to National Categorical
Pretreatment Standards
Appendix D to Part 403 -- Selected Industrial Subcategories Exempted From
Regulation Pursuant to Paragraph 8 of the NRDC v. Costle Consent Decree
Appendix E to Part 403 -- Sampling Procedures
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§403.1 Purpose and applicability.
(a) This part implements sections 204(b)(1)(C), 208(b)(2) (C)(iii), 301(b)(1)(A)(ii),
301(b)(2) (A)(ii), 301(h)(5) and 301(i)(2), 304 (e) and (g), 307, 308, 309, 402(b), 405,
and 501(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended by the Clean Water Act of
1977 (Pub. L. 95-217) or "The Act''. It establishes responsibilities of Federal,
State, and local government, industry and the public to implement National Pretreatment
Standards to control pollutants which pass through or interfere with treatment processes
in Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) or which may contaminate sewage sludge.
(b) This regulation applies:
(1) To pollutants from non-domestic sources covered by Pretreatment Standards which are
indirectly discharged into or transported by truck or rail or otherwise introduced into
POTWs as defined below in §403.3;
(2) To POTWs which receive wastewater from sources subject to National Pretreatment
Standards;
(3) To States which have or are applying for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) programs approved in accordance with section 402 of the Act; and
(4) To any new or existing source subject to Pretreatment Standards. National Pretreatment
Standards do not apply to sources which Discharge to a sewer which is not connected to a
POTW Treatment Plant.
(c) The deadlines for submission of category determination requests (§403.6(a)), baseline
monitoring reports (§403.12), fundamentally different factors variance requests
(§403.13), and applications for net/gross adjustments (§403.15) are extended ninety days
for integrated facilities subject to the electroplating pretreatment standards (40 CFR
Part 413), industrial users subject to the inorganic chemicals pretreatment standards
promulgated on June 29, 1982 (47 FR 28260; 40 CFR Part 415) and industrial users subject
to the iron and steel pretreatment standards (40 CFR Part 420).
(46 FR 9439, Jan. 28, 1981, as amended at 48 FR 2776, Jan. 21, 1983)
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§403.2 Objectives of general pretreatment regulations.
By establishing the responsibilities of government and industry to National Pretreatment
Standards this regulation fulfills three objectives:
(a) To prevent the introduction of pollutants into POTWs which will interfere with the
operation of a POTW, including interference with its use or disposal of municipal sludge;
(b) To prevent the introduction of pollutants into POTWs which will pass through the
treatment works or otherwise be incompatible with such works; and
(c) To improve opportunities to recycle and reclaim municipal and industrial wastewaters
and sludges.
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§403.3 Definitions.
For the purposes of this part:
(a) Except as discussed below, the general definitions, abbreviations, and methods of
analysis set forth in 40 CFR Part 401 shall apply to this regulation.
(b) The term Act means Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water
Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.
(c) The term Approval Authority means the Director in an NPDES State with an approved
State pretreatment program and the appropriate Regional Administrator in a non-NPDES State
or NPDES State without an approved State pretreatment program.
(d) The term Approved POTW Pretreatment Program or Program or POTW Pretreatment Program
means a program administered by a POTW that meets the criteria established in this
regulation (§§403.8 and 403.9) and which has been approved by a Regional Administrator
or State Director in accordance with §403.11 of this regulation.
(e) The term Director means the chief administrative officer of a State or Interstate
water pollution control agency with an NPDES permit program approved pursuant to section
402(b) of the Act and an approved State pretreatment program.
(f) The term Water Management Division Director means one of the Directors of the Water
Management Divisions within the Regional offices of the Environmental Protection Agency or
this person's delegated representative.
(g) The term Indirect Discharge or Discharge means the introduction of pollutants into a
POTW from any non-domestic source regulated under section 307(b), (c) or (d) of the Act.
(h) The term Industrial User or User means a source of Indirect Discharge.
(i) The term Interference means a Discharge which, alone or in conjunction with a
discharge or discharges from other sources, both:
(1) Inhibits or disrupts the POTW, its treatment processes or operations, or its sludge
processes, use or disposal; and
(2) Therefore is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW's NPDES permit
(including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation) or of the prevention
of sewage sludge use or disposal in compliance with the following statutory provisions and
regulations or permits issued thereunder (or more stringent State or local regulations):
Section 405 of the Clean Water Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) (including title
II, more commonly referred to as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and
including State regulations contained in any State sludge management plan prepared
pursuant to subtitle D of the SWDA), the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act,
and the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act.
(j) The term National Pretreatment Standard, Pretreatment Standard, or Standard means any
regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by the EPA in accordance with
section 307 (b) and (c) of the Act, which applies to Industrial Users. This term includes
prohibitive discharge limits established pursuant to §403.5.
(k)(1) The term New Source means any building, structure, facility or installation from
which there is or may be a Discharge of pollutants, the construction of which commenced
after the publication of proposed Pretreatment Standards under section 307(c) of the Act
which will be applicable to such source if such Standards are thereafter promulgated in
accordance with that section, provided that:
(i) The building, structure, facility or installation is constructed at a site at which no
other source is located; or
(ii) The building, structure, facility or installation totally replaces the process or
production equipment that causes the discharge of pollutants at an existing source; or
(iii) The production or wastewater generating processes of the building, structure,
facility or installation are substantially independent of an existing source at the same
site. In determining whether these are substantially independent, factors such as the
extent to which the new facility is integrated with the existing plant, and the extent to
which the new facility is engaged in the same general type of activity as the existing
source should be considered.
(2) Construction on a site at which an existing source is located results in a
modification rather than a new source if the construction does not create a new building,
structure, facility or installation meeting the criteria of paragraphs (k)(1)(ii), or
(k)(1)(iii) of this section but otherwise alters, replaces, or adds to existing process or
equipment.
(3) Construction of a new source as defined under this paragraph has commenced if the
owner or operator has:
(i) Begun, or caused to begin as part of a continuous onsite construction program:
(A) Any placement, assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment; or
(B) Significant site preparation work including clearing, excavation, or removal of
existing buildings, structures, or facilities which is necessary for the placement,
assembly, or installation of new source facilities or equipment; or
(ii) Entered into a binding contractual obligation for the purchase of facilities or
equipment which are intended to be used in its operation within a reasonable time. Options
to purchase or contracts which can be terminated or modified without substantial loss, and
contracts for feasibility, engineering, and design studies do not constitute a contractual
obligation under this paragraph.
(l) The terms NPDES Permit or Permit means a permit issued to a POTW pursuant to section
402 of the Act.
(m) The term NPDES State means a State (as defined in 40 CFR 122.2) or Interstate water
pollution control agency with an NPDES permit program approved pursuant to section 402(b)
of the Act.
(n) The term Pass Through means a Discharge which exits the POTW into waters of the United
States in quantities or concentrations which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or
discharges from other sources, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW's
NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation).
(o) The term Publicly Owned Treatment Works or POTW means a treatment works as defined by
section 212 of the Act, which is owned by a State or municipality (as defined by section
502(4) of the Act). This definition includes any devices and systems used in the storage,
treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid
nature. It also includes sewers, pipes and other conveyances only if they convey
wastewater to a POTW Treatment Plant. The term also means the municipality as defined in
section 502(4) of the Act, which has jurisdiction over the Indirect Discharges to and the
discharges from such a treatment works.
(p) The term POTW Treatment Plant means that portion of the POTW which is designed to
provide treatment (including recycling and reclamation) of municipal sewage and industrial
waste.
(q) The term Pretreatment means the reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination
of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater prior
to or in lieu of discharging or otherwise introducing such pollutants into a POTW. The
reduction or alteration may be obtained by physical, chemical or biological processes,
process changes or by other means, except as prohibited by §403.6(d). Appropriate
pretreatment technology includes control equipment, such as equalization tanks or
facilities, for protection against surges or slug loadings that might interfere with or
otherwise be incompatible with the POTW. However, where wastewater from a regulated
process is mixed in an equalization facility with unregulated wastewater or with
wastewater from another regulated process, the effluent from the equalization facility
must meet an adjusted pretreatment limit calculated in accordance with §403.6(e).
(r) The term Pretreatment requirements means any substantive or procedural requirement
related to Pretreatment, other than a National Pretreatment Standard, imposed on an
Industrial User.
(s) The term Regional Administrator means the appropriate EPA Regional Administrator.
(t) Significant Industrial User. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (t)(2) of this
section, the term Significant Industrial User means:
(i) All industrial users subject to Categorical Pretreatment Standards under 40 CFR
§403.6 and 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N; and
(ii) Any other industrial user that: discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day or
more of process wastewater to the POTW (excluding sanitary, noncontact cooling and boiler
blowdown wastewater); contributes a process wastestream which makes up 5 percent or more
of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the POTW treatment plant; or
is designated as such by the Control Authority as defined in 40 CFR 403.12(a) on the basis
that the industrial user has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW's
operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement (in accordance with 40
CFR §403.8(f)(6)).
(2) Upon a finding that an industrial user meeting the criteria in paragraph (t)(1)(ii) of
this section has no reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW's operation or
for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement, the Control Authority (as defined
in 40 CFR §403.12(a)) may at any time, on its own initiative or in response to a petition
received from an industrial user or POTW, and in accordance with 40 CFR §403.8(f)(6),
determine that such industrial user is not a significant industrial user.
(u) The term Submission means:
(1) A request by a POTW for approval of a Pretreatment Program to the EPA or a Director;
(2) A request by a POTW to the EPA or a Director for authority to revise the discharge
limits in categorical Pretreatment Standards to reflect POTW pollutant removals; or
(3) A request to the EPA by an NPDES State for approval of its State pretreatment program.
(46 FR 9439, Jan. 28, 1981, as amended at 49 FR 5132, Feb. 10, 1984; 49 FR 28059, July 10,
1984; 51 FR 20430, June 4, 1986; 51 FR 23760, July 1, 1986; 52 FR 1600, Jan. 14, 1987; 53
FR 40610, Oct. 17, 1988; 55 FR 30129, July 24, 1990)
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§403.4 State or local law.
Nothing in this regulation is intended to affect any Pretreatment Requirements, including
any standards or prohibitions, established by State or local law as long as the State or
local requirements are not less stringent than any set forth in National Pretreatment
Standards, or any other requirements or prohibitions established under the Act or this
regulation. States with an NPDES permit program approved in accordance with section 402
(b) and (c) of the Act, or States requesting NPDES programs, are responsible for
developing a State pretreatment program in accordance with 403.10 of this regulation.
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§403.5 National pretreatment standards: Prohibited discharges.
(a)(1) General prohibitions. A User may not introduce into a POTW any pollutant(s) which
cause Pass Through or Interference. These general prohibitions and the specific
prohibitions in paragraph (b) of this section apply to each User introducing pollutants
into a POTW whether or not the User is subject to other National Pretreatment Standards or
any national, State, or local Pretreatment Requirements.
(2) Affirmative Defenses. A User shall have an affirmative defense in any action brought
against it alleging a violation of the general prohibitions established in paragraph
(a)(1) of this section and the specific prohibitions in paragraphs (b)(3), (b)(4), (b)(5),
(b)(6), and (b)(7) of this section where the User can demonstrate that:
(i) It did not know or have reason to know that its Discharge, alone or in conjunction
with a discharge or discharges from other sources, would cause Pass Through or
Interference; and
(ii)(A) A local limit designed to prevent Pass Through and/or Interference, as the case
may be, was developed in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section for each pollutant
in the User's Discharge that caused Pass Through or Interference, and the User was in
compliance with each such local limit directly prior to and during the Pass Through or
Interference; or
(B) If a local limit designed to prevent Pass Through and/or Interference, as the case may
be, has not been developed in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section for the
pollutant(s) that caused the Pass Through or Interference, the User's Discharge directly
prior to and during the Pass Through or Interference did not change substantially in
nature or constituents from the User's prior discharge activity when the POTW was
regularly in compliance with the POTW's NPDES permit requirements and, in the case of
Interference, applicable requirements for sewage sludge use or disposal.
(b) Specific prohibitions. In addition, the following pollutants shall not be introduced
into a POTW:
(1) Pollutants which create a fire or explosion hazard in the POTW, including, but not
limited to, wastestreams with a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit
or 60 degrees Centigrade using the test methods specified in 40 CFR §261.21.
(2) Pollutants which will cause corrosive structural damage to the POTW, but in no case
Discharges with pH lower than 5.0, unless the works is specifically designed to
accommodate such Discharges;
(3) Solid or viscous pollutants in amounts which will cause obstruction to the flow in the
POTW resulting in Interference;
(4) Any pollutant, including oxygen demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.) released in a
Discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which will cause Interference with
the POTW.
(5) Heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in the POTW resulting in
Interference, but in no case heat in such quantities that the temperature at the POTW
Treatment Plant exceeds 40 °C (104 °F) unless the Approval Authority, upon request of
the POTW, approves alternate temperature limits.
(6) Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin in
amounts that will cause interference or pass through;
(7) Pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the
POTW in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems;
(8) Any trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the POTW.
(c) When specific limits must be developed by POTW. (1) Each POTW a POTW Pretreatment
Program pursuant to §403.8 shall develop and enforce specific limits to implement the
prohibitions listed in paragraphs (a)(1) and (b) of this section. Each POTW with an
approved pretreatment program shall continue to develop these limits as necessary and
effectively enforce such limits.
(2) All other POTW's shall, in cases where pollutants contributed by User(s) result in
Interference or Pass-Through, and such violation is likely to recur, develop and enforce
specific effluent limits for Industrial User(s), and all other users, as appropriate,
which, together with appropriate changes in the POTW Treatment Plant's facilities or
operation, are necessary to ensure renewed and continued compliance with the POTW's NPDES
permit or sludge use or disposal practices.
(3) Specific effluent limits shall not be developed and enforced without individual notice
to persons or groups who have requested such notice and an opportunity to respond.
(d) Local limits. Where specific prohibitions or limits on pollutants or pollutant
parameters are developed by a POTW in accordance with paragraph (c) above, such limits
shall be deemed Pretreatment Standards for the purposes of section 307(d) of the Act.
(e) EPA enforcement actions under section 309(f) of the Clean Water Act.
If, within 30 days after notice of an Interference or Pass Through violation has been sent
by EPA to the POTW, and to persons or groups who have requested such notice, the POTW
fails to commence appropriate enforcement action to correct the violation, EPA may take
appropriate enforcement action under the authority provided in section 309(f) of the Clean
Water Act.
(f) Compliance deadlines. Compliance with the provisions of this section is required
beginning on March 16, 1981, except for paragraph (b)(5) of this section which must be
complied with by August 25, 1981.
[46 FR 9439, Jan. 28, 1981, as amended at 51 FR 20430, June 4, 1986; 52
FR 1600, Jan. 14, 1987; 55 FR 30129, July 24, 1990]
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§403.6 National pretreatment standards: Categorical standards.
National pretreatment standards specifying quantities or concentrations of pollutants or
pollutant properties which may be discharged to a POTW by existing or new industrial users
in specific industrial subcategories will be established as separate regulations under the
appropriate subpart of 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N. These standards, unless
specifically noted otherwise, shall be in addition to all applicable pretreatment
standards and requirements set forth in this part.
(a) Category Determination Request -- (1) Application Deadline. Within 60 days after the
effective date of a Pretreatment Standard for a subcategory under which an Industrial User
may be included, the Industrial User or POTW may request that the Water Management
Division Director or Director, as appropriate, provide written certification on whether
the Industrial User falls within that particular subcategory. If an existing Industrial
User adds or changes a process or operation which may be included in a subcategory, the
existing Industrial User must request this certification prior to commencing discharge
from the added or changed processes or operation. A New Source must request this
certification prior to commencing discharge. Where a request for certification is
submitted by a POTW, the POTW shall notify any affected Industrial User of such
submission. The Industrial User may provide written comments on the POTW submission to the
Water Management Division Director or Director, as appropriate, within 30 days of
notification.
(2) Contents of Application. Each request shall contain a statement:
(i) Describing which subcategories might be applicable; and
(ii) Citing evidence and reasons why a particular subcategory is applicable and why others
are not applicable. Any person signing the application statement submitted pursuant to
this section shall make the following certification:
I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under
my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified
personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of
the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for
gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for
submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for
knowing violations.
(3) Deficient requests. The Water Management Division Director or Director will only act
on written requests for determinations that contain all of the information required.
Persons who have made incomplete submissions will be notified by the Water Management
Division Director or Director that their requests are deficient and, unless the time
period is extended, will be given 30 days to correct the deficiency. If the deficiency is
not corrected within 30 days or within an extended period allowed by the Water Management
Division Director or the Director, the request for a determination shall be denied.
(4) Final decision. (i) When the Water Management Division Director or Director receives a
submittal he or she will, after determining that it contains all of the information
required by paragraph (2) of this section, consider the submission, any additional
evidence that may have been requested, and any other available information relevant to the
request. The Water Management Division Director or Director will then make a written
determination of the applicable subcategory and state the reasons for the determination.
(ii) Where the request is submitted to the Director, the Director shall forward the
determination described in this paragraph to the Water Management Division Director who
may make a final determination. The Water Management Division Director may waive receipt
of these determinations. If the Water Management Division Director does not modify the
Director's decision within 60 days after receipt thereof, or if the Water Management
Division Director waives receipt of the determination, the Director's decision is final.
(iii) Where the request is submitted by the Industrial User or POTW to the Water
Management Division Director or where the Water Management Division Director elects to
modify the Director's decision, the Water Management Division Director's decision will be
final.
(iv) The Water Management Division Director or Director, as appropriate, shall send a copy
of the determination to the affected Industrial User and the POTW. Where the final
determination is made by the Water Management Division Director, he or she shall send a
copy of the determination to the Director.
(5) Requests for hearing and/or legal decision. Within 30 days following the date of
receipt of notice of the final determination as provided for by paragraph (a)(4)(iv) of
this section, the Requester may submit a petition to reconsider or contest the decision to
the Regional Administrator who shall act on such petition expeditiously and state the
reasons for his or her determination in writing.
(b) Deadline for Compliance with Categorical Standards. Compliance by existing sources
with categorical Pretreatment Standards shall be within 3 years of the date the Standard
is effective unless a shorter compliance time is specified in the appropriate subpart of
40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N. Direct dischargers with NPDES permits modified or reissued
to provide a variance pursuant to section 301(i)(2) of the Act shall be required to meet
compliance dates set in any applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard. Existing sources
which become Industrial Users subsequent to promulgation of an applicable categorical
Pretreatment Standard shall be considered existing Industrial Users except where such
sources meet the definition of a New Source as defined in §403.3(k). New Sources shall
install and have in operating condition, and shall "start-up'' all pollution control
equipment required to meet applicable Pretreatment Standards before beginning to
Discharge. Within the shortest feasible time (not to exceed 90 days), New Sources must
meet all applicable Pretreatment Standards.
(c)(1) Concentration and mass limits. Pollutant discharge limits in categorical
Pretreatment Standards will be expressed either as concentration or mass limits. Wherever
possible, where concentration limits are specified in standards, equivalent mass limits
will be provided so that local, State or Federal authorities responsible for enforcement
may use either concentration or mass limits. Limits in categorical Pretreatment Standards
shall apply to the effluent of the process regulated by the Standard, or as otherwise
specified by the standard.
(2) When the limits in a categorical Pretreatment Standard are expressed only in terms of
mass of pollutant per unit of production, the Control Authority may convert the limits to
equivalent limitations expressed either as mass of pollutant discharged per day of
effluent concentration for purposes of calculating effluent limitations applicable to
individual Industrial Users.
(3) A Control Authority calculating equivalent mass-per-day limitations under paragraph
(c)(2) of this section shall calculate such limitations by multiplying the limits in the
Standard by the Industrial User's average rate of production. This average rate of
production shall be based not upon the designed production capacity but rather upon a
reasonable measure of the Industrial User's actual long-term daily production, such as the
average daily production during a representative year. For new sources, actual production
shall be estimated using projected production.
(4) A Control Authority calculating equivalent concentration limitations under paragraph
(c)(2) of this section shall calculate such limitations by dividing the mass limitations
derived under paragraph (c)(3) of this section by the average daily flow rate of the
Industrial User's regulated process wastewater. This average daily flow rate shall be
based upon a reasonable measure of the Industrial User's actual long-term average flow
rate, such as the average daily flow rate during the representative year.
(5) Equivalent limitations calculated in accordance with paragraphs (c)(3) and (c)(4) of
this section shall be deemed Pretreatment Standards for the purposes of section 307(d) of
the Act and this part. Industrial Users will be required to comply with the equivalent
limitations in lieu of the promulgated categorical standards from which the equivalent
limitations were derived.
(6) Many categorical pretreatment standards specify one limit for calculating maximum
daily discharge limitations and a second limit for maximum monthly average, or 4-day
average, limitations. Where such Standards are being applied, the same production of flow
figure shall be used in calculating both types of equivalent limitations.
(7) Any Industrial User operating under a control mechanism incorporating equivalent mass
or concentration limits calculated from a production based standard shall notify the
Control Authority within two (2) business days after the User has a reasonable basis to
know that the production level will significantly change within the next calendar month.
Any User not notifying the Control Authority of such anticipated change will be required
to meet the mass or concentration limits in its control mechanism that were based on the
original estimate of the long term average production rate.
(d) Dilution Prohibited as Substitute for Treatment. Except where expressly authorized to
do so by an applicable Pretreatment Standard or Requirement, no Industrial User shall ever
increase the use of process water, or in any other way attempt to dilute a discharge as a
partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with a
Pretreatment Standard or Requirement. The Control Authority (as defined in §403.12(a))
may impose mass limitations on Industrial Users which are using dilution to meet
applicable Pretreatment Standards or Requirements, or in other cases where the imposition
of mass limitations is appropriate.
(e) Combined wastestream formula. Where process effluent is mixed prior to treatment with
wastewaters other than those generated by the regulated process, fixed alternative
discharge limits may be derived by the Control Authority, as defined in §403.12(a), or by
the Industrial User with the written concurrence of the Control Authority.
These alternative limits shall be applied to the mixed effluent. When
deriving alternative categorical limits, the Control Authority or Industrial User shall
calculate both an alternative daily maximum value using the daily maximum value(s)
specified in the appropriate categorical Pretreatment Standard(s) and an alternative
consecutive sampling day average value using the monthly average value(s) specified in the
appropriate categorical Pretreatment Standard(s). The Industrial User shall comply with
the alternative daily maximum and monthly average limits fixed by the Control Authority
until the Control Authority modifies the limits or approves an Industrial User
modification request. Modification is authorized whenever there is a material or
significant change in the values used in the calculation to fix alternative limits for the
regulated pollutant. An Industrial User must immediately report any such material or
significant change to the Control Authority. Where appropriate new alternative categorical
limits shall be calculated within 30 days.
(1) Alternative limit calculation. For purposes of these formulas, the "average daily
flow'' means a reasonable measure of the average daily flow for a 30-day period. For new
sources, flows shall be estimated using projected values. The alternative limit for a
specified pollutant will be derived by the use of either of the following formulas:
(i) Alternative concentration limit.
ILLUSTRATION OMITTED
where:
CT=the alternative concentration limit for the combined wastestream.
Ci=the categorical Pretreatment Standard concentration limit for a pollutant in the
regulated stream i.
Fi=the average daily flow (at least a 30-day average) of stream i to the extent that it is
regulated for such pollutant.
FD=the average daily flow (at least a 30-day average) from:
(a) Boiler blowdown streams, non-contact cooling streams, stormwater streams, and
demineralizer backwash streams; provided, however, that where such streams contain a
significant amount of a pollutant, and the combination of such streams, prior to
treatment, with an Industrial User's regulated process wastestream(s) will result in a
substantial reduction of that pollutant, the Control Authority, upon application of the
Industrial User, may exercise its discretion to determine whether such stream(s) should be
classified as diluted or unregulated. In its application to the Control Authority, the
Industrial User must provide engineering, production, sampling and analysis and such other
information so that the Control Authority can make its determination; or
(b) sanitary wastestreams where such streams are not regulated by a Categorical
Pretreatment Standard; or (c) from any process wastestreams which were or could have been
entirely exempted from categorical Pretreatment Standards pursuant to paragraph 8 of the
NRDC v. Costle Consent Decree (12 ERC 1833) for one or more of the following reasons (see
appendix D of this part):
(1) The pollutants of concern are not detectable in the effluent from the Industrial User
(paragraph (8)(a)(iii));
(2) The pollutants of concern are present only in trace amounts and are neither causing
nor likely to cause toxic effects (paragraph (8)(a)(iii));
(3) The pollutants of concern are present in amounts too small to be effectively reduced
by technologies known to the Administrator (paragraph (8)(a)(iii)); or
(4) The wastestream contains only pollutants which are compatible with the POTW (paragraph
(8)(b)(i)).
FT=The average daily flow (at least a 30-day average) through the combined treatment
facility (includes Fi, FD and unregulated streams).
N=The total number of regulated streams.
(ii) Alternative mass limit.
ILLUSTRATION OMITTED
where:
MT=the alternative mass limit for a pollutant in the combined wastestream.
Mi=the categorical Pretreatment Standard mass limit for a pollutant in the regulated
stream i (the categorical pretreatment mass multiplied by the appropriate measure of
production).
Fi=the average flow (at least a 30-day average) of stream i to the extent that it is
regulated for such pollutant.
FD=the average daily flow (at least a 30-day average) from: (a) Boiler blowdown streams,
non-contact cooling streams, stormwater streams, and demineralizer backwash streams;
provided, however, that where such streams contain a significant amount of a pollutant,
and the combination of such streams, prior to treatment, with an Industrial User's
regulated process wastestream(s) will result in a substantial reduction of that pollutant,
the Control Authority, upon application of the Industrial User, may exercise its
discretion to determine whether such stream(s) should be classified as diluted or
unregulated. In its application to the Control Authority, the Industrial User must provide
engineering, production, sampling and analysis and such other information so that the
Control Authority can make its determination; or (b) sanitary wastestreams where such
streams are not regulated by a categorical Pretreatment Standard; or (c) from any process
wastestreams which were or could have been entirely exempted from categorical Pretreatment
Standards pursuant to paragraph 8 of the NRDC v. Costle Consent Decree (12 ERC 1833) for
one or more of the following reasons (see appendix D of this part):
(1) The pollutants of concern are not detectable in the effluent from the Industrial User
(paragraph (8)(a)(iii));
(2) The pollutants of concern are present only in trace amounts and are neither causing
nor likely to cause toxic effects (paragraph (8)(a)(iii));
(3) The pollutants of concern are present in amounts too small to be effectively reduced
by technologies known to the Administrator (paragraph (8)(a)(iii)); or
(4) The wastestream contains only pollutants which are compatible with the POTW (paragraph
(8)(b)(i)).
FT=The average flow (at least a 30-day average) through the combined treatment facility
(includes Fi, FD and unregulated streams).
N=The total number of regulated streams.
(2) Alternate limits below detection limit. An alternative pretreatment limit may not be
used if the alternative limit is below the analytical detection limit for any of the
regulated pollutants.
(3) Self-monitoring. Self-monitoring required to insure compliance with the alternative
categorical limit shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of 403.12(g).
(4) Choice of monitoring location. Where a treated regulated process wastestream is
combined prior to treatment with wastewaters other than those generated by the regulated
process, the Industrial User may monitor either the segregated process wastestream or the
combined wastestream for the purpose of determining compliance with applicable
Pretreatment Standards. If the Industrial User chooses to monitor the segregated process
wastestream, it shall apply the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard. If the User
chooses to monitor the combined wastestream, it shall apply an alternative discharge limit
calculated using the combined wastestream formula as provided in this section. The
Industrial User may change monitoring points only after receiving approval from the
Control Authority. The Control Authority shall ensure that any change in an Industrial
User's monitoring point(s) will not allow the User to substitute dilution for adequate
treatment to achieve compliance with applicable Standards.
(46 FR 9439, Jan. 28, 1981, as amended at 49 FR 21037, May 17, 1984; 49 FR 31224, Aug. 3,
1984; 51 FR 20430, June 4, 1986; 51 FR 23760, July 1, 1986; 53 FR 40610, Oct. 17, 1988; 55
FR 30129, July 24, 1990)
RETURN TO THE TOP
§403.7 Removal credits.
(a) Introduction -- (1) Definitions. For the purpose of this section:
(i) Removal means a reduction in the amount of a pollutant in the POTW's effluent or
alteration of the nature of a pollutant during treatment at the POTW. The reduction or
alteration can be obtained by physical, chemical or biological means and may be the result
of specifically designed POTW capabilities or may be incidental to the operation of the
treatment system. Removal as used in this subpart shall not mean dilution of a pollutant
in the POTW.
(ii) Sludge Requirements shall mean the following statutory provisions and regulations or
permits issued thereunder (or more stringent State or local regulations): Section 405 of
the Clean Water Act; the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) (including title II more commonly
referred to as the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) and State regulations
contained in any State sludge management plan prepared pursuant to subtitle D of SWDA);
the Clean Air Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; and the Marine Protection, Research
and Sanctuaries Act.
(2) General. Any POTW receiving wastes from an Industrial User to which a categorical
Pretreatment Standard(s) applies may, at its discretion and subject to the conditions of
this section, grant removal credits to reflect removal by the POTW of pollutants specified
in the categorical Pretreatment Standard(s). The POTW may grant a removal credit equal to
or, at its discretion, less than its consistent removal rate. Upon being granted a removal
credit, each affected Industrial User shall calculate its revised discharge limits in
accordance with paragraph (a)(4) of this section. Removal credits may only be given for
indicator or surrogate pollutants regulated in a categorical Pretreatment Standard if the
categorical Pretreatment Standard so specifies.
(3) Conditions for authorization to give removal credits. A POTW is authorized to give
removal credits only if the following conditions are met:
(i) Application. The POTW applies for, and receives, authorization from the Approval
Authority to give a removal credit in accordance with the requirements and procedures
specified in paragraph (e) of this section.
(ii) Consistent removal determination. The POTW demonstrates and continues to achieve
consistent removal of the pollutant in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.
(iii) POTW local pretreatment program. The POTW has an approved pretreatment program in
accordance with and to the extent required by Part 403; provided, however, a POTW which
does not have an approved pretreatment program may, pending approval of such a program,
conditionally give credits as provided in paragraph (d) of this section.
(iv) Sludge requirements. The granting of removal credits will not cause the POTW to
violate the local, State and Federal Sludge Requirements which apply to the sludge
management method chosen by the POTW. Alternatively, the POTW can demonstrate to the
Approval Authority that even though it is not presently in compliance with applicable
Sludge Requirements, it will be in compliance when the Industrial User(s) to whom the
removal credit would apply is required to meet its categorical Pretreatment Standard(s) as
modified by the removal credit. If granting removal credits forces a POTW to incur greater
sludge management costs than would be incurred in the absence of granting removal credits,
the additional sludge management costs will not be eligible for EPA grant assistance.
(v) NPDES permit limitations. The granting of removal credits will not cause a violation
of the POTW's permit limitations or conditions. Alternatively, the POTW can demonstrate to
the Approval Authority that even though it is not presently in compliance with applicable
limitations and conditions in its NPDES permit, it will be in compliance when the
Industrial User(s) to whom the removal credit would apply is required to meet its
categorical Pretreatment Standard(s), as modified by the removal credit provision.
(4) Calculation of revised discharge limits. Revised discharge limits for a specific
pollutant shall be derived by use of the following formula:
TABLE/GRAPH OMITTED
where:
x=pollutant discharge limit specified in the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard
r=removal credit for that pollutant as established under paragraph (b) of this section
(percentage removal expressed as a proportion, i.e., a number between 0 and 1)
y=revised discharge limit for the specified pollutant (expressed in same units as x)
(b) Establishment of Removal Credits; Demonstration of Consistent Removal -- (1)
Definition of Consistent Removal. "Consistent Removal'' shall mean the average of the
lowest 50 percent of the removal measured according to paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
All sample data obtained for the measured pollutant during the time period prescribed in
paragraph (b)(2) of this section must be reported and used in computing Consistent
Removal. If a substance is measurable in influent but not in the effluent, the effluent
level may be assumed to be the limit of measurement, and those data may be used by the
POTW at its discretion and subject to approval by the Approval Authority. If the substance
is not measurable in the influent, the date may not be used. Where the number of samples
with concentrations equal to or above the limit of measurement is between 8 and 12, the
average of the lowest 6 removals shall be used. If there are less than 8 samples with
concentrations equal to or above the limit of measurement, the Approval Authority may
approve alternate means for demonstrating Consistent Removal. The term "measurement''
refers to the ability of the analytical method or protocol to quantify as well as identify
the presence of the substance in question.
(2) Consistent Removal Data. Influent and effluent operational data demonstrating
Consistent Removal or other information, as provided for in paragraph (b)(1) of this
section, which demonstrates Consistent Removal of the pollutants for which discharge limit
revisions are proposed. This data shall meet the following requirements:
(i) Representative Data; Seasonal. The data shall be representative of yearly and seasonal
conditions to which the POTW is subjected for each pollutant for which a discharge limit
revision is proposed.
(ii) Representative Data; Quality and Quantity. The data shall be representative of the
quality and quantity of normal effluent and influent flow if such data can be obtained. If
such data are unobtainable, alternate data or information may be presented for approval to
demonstrate Consistent Removal as provided for in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(iii) Sampling Procedures: Composite. (A) The influent and effluent operational data shall
be obtained through 24-hour flow-proportional composite samples. Sampling may be done
manually or automatically, and discretely or continuously. For discrete sampling, at least
12 aliquots shall be composited. Discrete sampling may be flow-proportioned either by
varying the time interval between each aliquot or the volume of each aliquot. All
composites must be flow-proportional to each stream flow at time of collection of influent
aliquot or to the total influent flow since the previous influent aliquot. Volatile
pollutant aliquots must be combined in the laboratory immediately before analysis.
(B)(1) Twelve samples shall be taken at approximately equal intervals throughout one full
year. Sampling must be evenly distributed over the days of the week so as to include
no-workdays as well as workdays. If the Approval Authority determines that this schedule
will not be most representative of the actual operation of the POTW Treatment Plant, an
alternative sampling schedule will be approved.
(2) In addition, upon the Approval Authority's concurrence, a POTW may utilize an
historical data base amassed prior to the effective data of this section provide that such
data otherwise meet the requirements of this paragraph. In order for the historical data
base to be approved it must present a statistically valid description of daily, weekly and
seasonal sewage treatment plant loadings and performance for at least one year.
(C) Effluent sample collection need not be delayed to compensate for hydraulic detention
unless the POTW elects to include detention time compensation or unless the Approval
Authority requires detention time compensation. The Approval Authority may require that
each effluent sample be taken approximately one detention time later than the
corresponding influent sample when failure to do so would result in an unrepresentative
portrayal of actual POTW operation. The detention period is to be based on a 24-hour
average daily flow value. The average daily flow used will be based upon the average of
the daily flows during the same month of the previous year.
(iv) Sampling Procedures: Grab. Where composite sampling is not an appropriate sampling
technique, a grab sample(s) shall be taken to obtain influent and effluent operational
data. Collection of influent grab samples should precede collection of effluent samples by
approximately one detention period. The detention period is to be based on a 24-hour
average daily flow value. The average daily flow used will be based upon the average of
the daily flows during the same month of the previous year. Grab samples will be required,
for example, where the parameters being evaluated are those, such as cyanide and phenol,
which may not be held for any extended period because of biological, chemical or physical
interactions which take place after sample collection and affect the results. A grab
sample is an individual sample collected over a period of time not exceeding 15 minutes.
(v) Analytical methods. The sampling referred to in paragraphs (b)(2) (i) through (iv) of
this section and an analysis of these samples shall be performed in accordance with the
techniques prescribed in 40 CFR Part 136 and amendments thereto. Where 40 CFR Part 136
does not contain sampling or analytical techniques for the pollutant in question, or where
the Administrator determines that the Part 136 sampling and analytical techniques are
inappropriate for the pollutant in question, sampling and analysis shall be performed
using validated analytical methods or any other applicable sampling and analytical
procedures, including procedures suggested by the POTW or other parties, approved by the
Administrator.
(vi) Calculation of removal. All data acquired under the provisions of this section must
be submitted to the Approval Authority. Removal for a specific pollutant shall be
determined either, for each sample, by measuring the difference between the concentrations
of the pollutant in the influent and effluent of the POTW and expressing the difference as
a percent of the influent concentration, or, where such data cannot be obtained, Removal
may be demonstrated using other data or procedures subject to concurrence by the Approval
Authority as provided for in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(c) Provisional credits. For pollutants which are not being discharged currently (i.e.,
new or modified facilities, or production changes) the POTW may apply for authorization to
give removal credits prior to the initial discharge of the pollutant. Consistent removal
shall be based provisionally on data from treatability studies or demonstrated removal at
other treatment facilities where the quality and quantity of influent are similar. Within
18 months after the commencement of discharge of pollutants in question, consistent
removal must be demonstrated pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (b) of this
section. If, within 18 months after the commencement of the discharge of the pollutant in
question, the POTW cannot demonstrate consistent removal pursuant to the requirements of
paragraph (b) of this section, the authority to grant provisional removal credits shall be
terminated by the Approval Authority and all Industrial Users to whom the revised
discharge limits had been applied shall achieve compliance with the applicable categorical
Pretreatment Standard(s) within a reasonable time, not to exceed the period of time
prescribed in the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard(s), as may be specified by
the Approval Authority.
(d) Exception to POTW Pretreatment Program Requirement. A POTW required to develop a local
pretreatment program by 403.8 may conditionally give removal credits pending approval of
such a program in accordance with the following terms and conditions:
(1) All Industrial Users who are currently subject to a categorical Pretreatment Standard
and who wish conditionally to receive a removal credit must submit to the POTW the
information required in §403.12(b)(1) through (7) (except new or modified industrial
users must only submit the information required by §403.12(b)(1) through (6)), pertaining
to the categorical Pretreatment Standard as modified by the removal credit. The Industrial
Users shall indicate what additional technology, if any, will be needed to comply with the
categorical Pretreatment Standard(s) as modified by the removal credit;
(2) The POTW must have submitted to the Approval Authority an application for pretreatment
program approval meeting the requirements of §§403.8 and 403.9 in a timely manner, not
to exceed the time limitation set forth in a compliance schedule for development of a
pretreatment program included in the POTW's NPDES permit, but in no case later than July
1, 1983, where no permit deadline exists;
(3) The POTW must:
(i) Compile and submit data demonstrating its consistent removal in accordance with
paragraph (b) of this section;
(ii) Comply with the conditions specified in paragraph (a)(3) of this section; and
(iii) Submit a complete application for removal credit authority in accordance with
paragraph (e) of this section;
(4) If a POTW receives authority to grant conditional removal credits and the Approval
Authority subsequently makes a final determination, after appropriate notice, that the
POTW failed to comply with the conditions in paragraphs (d)(2) and (3) of this section,
the authority to grant conditional removal credits shall be terminated by the Approval
Authority and all -- industrial Users to whom the revised discharge limits had been
applied shall achieve compliance with the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard(s)
within a reasonable time, not to exceed the period of time prescribed in the applicable
categorical Pretreatment Standard(s), as may be specified by the Approval Authority.
(5) If a POTW grants conditional removal credits and the POTW or the Approval Authority
subsequently makes a final determination, after appropriate notice, that the Industrial
User(s) failed to comply with the conditions in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the
conditional credit shall be terminated by the POTW or the Approval Authority for the
non-complying Industrial User(s) and the Industrial User(s) to whom the revised discharge
limits had been applied shall achieve compliance with the applicable categorical
Pretreatment Standard(s) within a reasonable time, not to exceed the period of time
prescribed in the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard(s), as may be specified by
the Approval Authority. The conditional credit shall not be terminated where a violation
of the provisions of this paragraph results from causes entirely outside of the control of
the Industrial User(s) or the Industrial User(s) had demonstrated substantial compliance.
(6) The Approval Authority may elect not to review an application for conditional removal
credit authority upon receipt of such application, in which case the conditionally revised
discharge limits will remain in effect until reviewed by the Approval Authority. This
review may occur at any time in accordance with the procedures of §403.11, but in no
event later than the time of any pretreatment program approval or any NPDES permit
reissuance thereunder.
(e) POTW application for authorization to give removal credits and Approval Authority
review -- (1) Who must apply. Any POTW that wants to give a removal credit must apply for
authorization from the Approval Authority.
(2) To whom application is made. An application for authorization to give removal credits
(or modify existing ones) shall be submitted by the POTW to the Approval Authority.
(3) When to apply. A POTW may apply for authorization to give or modify removal credits at
any time.
(4) Contents of the Application. An application for authorization to give removal credits
must be supported by the following information:
(i) List of pollutants. A list of pollutants for which removal credits are proposed.
(ii) Consistent Removal Data. The data required pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.
(iii) Calculation of revised discharge limits. Proposed revised discharge limits for each
affected subcategory of Industrial Users calculated in accordance with paragraph (a)(4) of
this section.
(iv) Local Pretreatment Program Certification. A certification that the POTW has an
approved local pretreatment program or qualifies for the exception to this requirement
found at paragraph (d) of this section.
(v) Sludge Management Certification. A specific description of the POTW's current methods
of using or disposing of its sludge and a certification that the granting of removal
credits will not cause a violation of the sludge requirements identified in paragraph
(a)(3)(iv) of this section.
(vi) NPDES Permit Limit Certification. A certification that the granting of removal
credits will not cause a violation of the POTW's NPDES permit limits and conditions as
required in paragraph (a)(3)(v) of this section.
(5) Approval Authority Review. The Approval Authority shall review the POTW's application
for authorization to give or modify removal credits in accordance with the procedures of
403.11 and shall, in no event, have more that 180 days from public notice of an
application to complete review.
(6) EPA review of State removal credit approvals. Where the NPDES State has an approved
pretreatment program, the Regional Administrator may agree in the Memorandum of Agreement
under 40 CFR §123.24(d) to waive the right to review and object to submissions for
authority to grant removal credits. Such an agreement shall not restrict the Regional
Administrator's right to comment upon or object to permits issued to POTW's except to the
extent 40 CFR §123.24(d) allows such restriction.
(7) Nothing in these regulations precludes an Industrial User or other interested party
from assisting the POTW in preparing and presenting the information necessary to apply for
authorization.
(f) Continuation and withdrawal of authorization -- (1) Effect of authorization. (i) Once
a POTW has received authorization to grant removal credits for a particular pollutant
regulated in a categorical Pretreatment Standard it may automatically extend that removal
credit to the same pollutant when it is regulated in other categorical standards, unless
granting the removal credit will cause the POTW to violate the sludge requirements
identified in paragraph (a)(3)(iv) of this section or its NPDES permit limits and
conditions as required by paragraph (a)(3)(v) of this section. If a POTW elects at a later
time to extend removal credits to a certain categorical Pretreatment Standard, industrial
subcategory or one or more Industrial Users that initially were not granted removal
credits, it must notify the Approval Authority.
(2) Inclusion in POTW permit. Once authority is granted, the removal credits shall be
included in the POTW's NPDES Permit as soon as possible and shall become an enforceable
requirement of the POTW's NPDES permit. The removal credits will remain in effect for the
term of the POTW's NPDES permit, provided the POTW maintains compliance with the
conditions specified in paragraph (f)(4) of this section.
(3) Compliance monitoring. Following authorization to give removal credits, a POTW shall
continue to monitor and report on (at such intervals as may be specified by the Approval
Authority, but in no case less than once per year) the POTW's removal capabilities. A
minimum of one representative sample per month during the reporting period is required,
and all sampling data must be included in the POTW's compliance report.
(4) Modification or withdrawal of removal credits -- (i) Notice of POTW. The Approval
Authority shall notify the POTW if, on the basis of pollutant removal capability reports
received pursuant to paragraph (f)(3) of this section or other relevant information
available to it, the Approval Authority determines:
(A) That one or more of the discharge limit revisions made by the POTW, of the POTW
itself, no longer meets the requirements of this section, or
(B) That such discharge limit revisions are causing a violation of any conditions or
limits contained in the POTW's NPDES Permit.
(ii) Corrective action. If appropriate corrective action is not taken within a reasonable
time, not to exceed 60 days unless the POTW or the affected Industrial Users demonstrate
that a longer time period is reasonably necessary to undertake the appropriate corrective
action, the Approval Authority shall either withdraw such discharge limits or require
modifications in the revised discharge limits.
(iii) Public notice of withdrawal or modification. The Approval Authority shall not
withdraw or modify revised discharge limits unless it shall first have notified the POTW
and all Industrial Users to whom revised discharge limits have been applied, and made
public, in writing, the reasons for such withdrawal or modification, and an opportunity is
provided for a hearing. Following such notice and withdrawal or modification, all
Industrial Users to whom revised discharge limits had been applied, shall be subject to
the modified discharge limits or the discharge limits prescribed in the applicable
categorical Pretreatment Standards, as appropriate, and shall achieve compliance with such
limits within a reasonable time (not to exceed the period of time prescribed in the
applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard(s) as may be specified by the Approval
Authority.
(g) Removal credits in State-run pretreatment programs under §403.10(e). Where an NPDES
State with an approved pretreatment program elects to implement a local pretreatment
program in lieu or requiring the POTW to develop such a program (as provided in
§403.10(e)), the POTW will not be required to develop a pretreatment program as a
precondition to obtaining authorization to give removal credits. The POTW will, however,
be required to comply with the other conditions of paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
(h) Compensation for overflow. "Overflow'' means the intentional or unintentional
diversion of flow from the POTW before the POTW Treatment Plant. POTWs which at least once
annually Overflow untreated wastewater to receiving waters may claims Consistent Removal
of a pollutant only by complying with either paragraph (h)(1) of (h)(2) or this section.
However, this subsection shall not apply where Industrial User(s) can demonstrate that
Overflow does not occur between the Industrial User(s) and the POTW Treatment Plant;
(1) The Industrial User provides containment or otherwise ceases or reduces Discharges
from the regulated processes which contain the pollutant for which an allowance is
requested during all circumstances in which an Overflow event can reasonably be expected
to occur at the POTW or at a sewer to which the Industrial User is connected. Discharges
must cease or be reduced, or pretreatment must be increased, to the extent necessary to
compensate for the removal not being provided by the POTW. Allowances under this provision
will only be granted where the POTW submits to the Approval Authority evidence that:
(i) All Industrial Users to which the POTW proposes to apply this provision have
demonstrated the ability to contain or otherwise cease or reduce, during circumstances in
which an Overflow event can reasonably be expected to occur, Discharges from the regulated
processes which contain pollutants for which an allowance is requested;
(ii) The POTW has identified circumstances in which an Overflow event can reasonably be
expected to occur, and has a notification or other viable plan to insure that Industrial
Users will learn of an impending Overflow in sufficient time to contain, cease or reduce
Discharging to prevent untreated Overflows from occurring. The POTW must also demonstrate
that it will monitor and verify the data required in paragraph (h)(1)(iii) of this
section, to insure that Industrial Users are containing, ceasing or reducing operations
during POTW System Overflow; and
(iii) All Industrial Users to which the POTW proposes to apply this provision have
demonstrated the ability and commitment to collect and make available, upon request by the
POTW, State Director or EPA Regional Administrator, daily flow reports or other data
sufficient to that all Discharges from regulated processes containing the pollutant for
which the allowance is requested were contained, reduced or otherwise ceased, as
appropriate, during all circumstances in which an Overflow event was reasonably expected
to occur; or
(2)(i) The Consistent Removal claimed is reduced pursuant to the following equation:
TABLE/GRAPH OMITTED
Where:
rm = POTW's Consistent Removal rate for that pollutant as established under paragraphs
(a)(1) and (b)(2) of this section
rc = removal corrected by the Overflow factor
Z = hours per year that Overflow occurred between the Industrial User(s) and the POTW
Treatment Plant, the hours either to be shown in the POTW's current NPDES permit
application or the hours, as demonstrated by verifiable techniques, that a particular
Industrial User's Discharge Overflows between the Industrial User and the POTW Treatment
Plant; and
(ii) After July 1, 1983, Consistent Removal may be claimed only where efforts to correct
the conditions resulting in untreated Discharges by the POTW are underway in accordance
with the policy and procedures set forth in "PRM 75-34'' or "Program Guidance
Memorandum-61'' (same document) published on December 16, 1975, by EPA Office of Water
Program Operations (WH-546). (See appendix A.) Revisions to discharge limits in
categorical Pretreatment Standards may not be made where efforts have not been committed
to by the POTW to minimize pollution from Overflows. At minimum, by July 1, 1983, the POTW
must have completed the analysis required by PRM 75-34 and be making an effort to
implement the plan.
(iii) If, by July 1, 1983, a POTW has begun the PRM 75-34 analysis but due to
circumstances beyond its control has not completed it, Consistent Removal, subject to the
approval of the Approval Authority, may continue to be claimed according to the formula in
paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this section as long as the POTW acts in a timely fashion to
complete the analysis and makes an effort to implement the non-structural cost-effective
measures identified by the analysis; and so long as the POTW has expressed its willingness
to apply, after completing the analysis, for a construction grant necessary to implement
any other cost-effective Overflow controls identified in the should Federal funds become
available, so applies for such funds, and proceeds with the required construction in an
expeditious manner. In addition, Consistent Removal may, subject to the approval of the
Approval Authority, continue to be claimed according to the formula in paragraph (h)(2)(i)
of this section where the POTW has completed and the Approval Authority has accepted the
analysis required by PRM 75-34 and the POTW has requested inclusion in its NPDES permit of
an acceptable compliance schedule providing for timely of cost-effective measures
identified in the analysis. (In considering what is timely implementation, the Approval
Authority shall consider the availability of funds, cost of control measures, and
seriousness of the water quality problem.)
(49 FR 31221, Aug. 3, 1984, as amended at 51 FR 20430, June 4, 1986; 53 FR 42435, Nov. 5,
1987)