DID YOU KNOW?DID YOU KNOW?

– Cuyahoga River on Fire in Cleveland, Ohio– Raw wastewater spewed in the San Francisco

Bay– City of Columbia Discharged Raw Wastewater

in early 1970’s– No Mechanism to Systematically Fix Problems

or Prevent Problems Help!!!

NPDES PermittingNPDES Permitting

Making the Grade:Making the Grade:Environmental Compliance at Environmental Compliance at

Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

NPDES Permitting Program

Brenda Green

SCDHEC

Water Facilities Permitting Division

RegulationRegulation

Federal Water Pollution Control Act

aka Clean Water Act (1972)

National

Pollutant

Discharge

Elimination

System

Clean Water ActClean Water Act

The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from discharging

"pollutants" through a "point source" into "waters of the United

States" unless they have an NPDES permit.

Typical Regulated Point Typical Regulated Point Source DischargesSource Discharges

• Treated wastewater from POTWs, industries, private utilities

• Utility Water Discharges• Stormwater

NPDES: NPDES: Individual or General Permit?Individual or General Permit?

An Individual NPDES permit is specifically tailored for an individual facility.

A General NPDES permit is developed and issued by the State to cover multiple facilities within the State of South Carolina.

Components of an Components of an NPDES PermitNPDES Permit

PermitRationale Fact SheetAttachments

NPDES Sample PermitNPDES Sample Permit

SamplePermit

Inside a Permit Inside a Permit

DefinitionsStandard ConditionsLimitations and Monitoring

RequirementsSchedule of ComplianceOther Requirements

Rationale Rationale

An explanation for why each parameter is or is not limited in the permit and, if limited, the basis for

the limitation.

• Boilerplate language

•Discussion of limitations for each outfall

AttachmentsAttachments

EXCEL spreadsheetsBackground data for receiving streamSource Water Protection Area Map

Utility water dischargesVehicle wash water discharges**Bulk petroleum storage activitiesNonmetal mineral mining dischargesPetroleum contaminated groundwater dischargesHydrostatic test water dischargesStormwater **

NPDES General PermitsNPDES General Permits

NPDES Permit NPDES Permit Reissuance ApplicationsReissuance Applications

Be On Time!- Permittee notified by DHEC 270 days prior to expiration date of permit- Second notice sent 30 days prior to due date

Be Complete!- Required 180 days prior to expiration date

- Incomplete application does not satisfy reapplication requirements

Be Paid Up!- Reissuance can be denied if there are outstanding

fees in any program area

Common Compliance IssuesCommon Compliance Issues

Incomplete applications Incomplete/Incorrect DMR forms Late submissions Permit parameter violations

– TSS– pH– BOD

Seasonal violations– Low flow during weekends/summer– Unexpected high flows during rainy season

How to Comply with an How to Comply with an NPDES Permit NPDES Permit

Review the proposed draft permit thoroughly and determine if your facility can meet limits

Request compliance schedules for new and more stringent permit limits

Upgrade treatment facilities as neededMake sure treatment plant is monitored

daily as required by permit

How to Comply with an How to Comply with an NPDES Permit (continued)NPDES Permit (continued)

Submit required reports to the Department in a timely manner

Know what the regulations requireDocument requested changes in writingAsk Questions!!

ResourcesResourcesRegulation 61-9: Water Pollution Control Permitswww.scdhec.net/water/regs/r61-9.doc

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Programwww.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/npdespage.html

NPDES Applications and Formswww.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/npdesapps.html

NPDES Frequently Asked Questionswww.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/npdesfaqs.html

Subchapter N - Effluent Guidelines and Standardswww.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/npdessubchapn.html

ResourcesResourcesRegulation 61-67: Standards for Wastewater Facility Permittingwww.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/regs/r61-67.doc

Regulation 61-30: Environmental Protection Feeswww.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/regs/r61-30.doc

Wastewater Construction Permitting Programwww.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/html/wwconpage.html

Construction Permit Application for Water/Wastewater Facilities www.scdhec.gov/eqc/water/forms/d-1970.pdf

Questions?? Questions?? Write: Brenda Green

SCDHECBureau of Water2600 Bull StreetColumbia, SC 29201

Email: greenba@dhec.sc.gov

Call: (803) 898-3375

Website: www.scdhec.gov/water