N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-21.4 - Categorical standards, calculation of equivalent and/or alternative limits
(a) When the categorical
pretreatment standards are expressed in terms of production, equivalent effluent
limitations shall be calculated as follows:
1.
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 or effluent concentration for purposes of calculating effluent limitations
applicable to individual indirect users.
2. A control authority calculating equivalent
mass-per-day limitations under (a)1 above shall calculate such limitations by
multiplying the limits in the categorical pretreatment standard by the indirect
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 indirect 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.
3.
A control authority calculating equivalent concentration limitations under (a)1
above shall calculate such limitations by dividing the mass limitations derived
under (a)2 above by the average daily flow rate of the indirect user's regulated
process wastewater. This average daily flow rate shall be based upon a reasonable
measure of the indirect user's actual long-term average flow rate, such as the
average daily flow rate during the representative year. For new sources, flow rate
shall be estimated using projected flow rate.
(b) When the limits in a categorical pretreatment
standard are expressed only in terms of pollutant concentrations, an indirect user
may request that the control authority convert the limits to equivalent mass limits.
The determination to convert concentration limits to mass limits is within the
discretion of the control authority .
1. To be
eligible for equivalent mass limits, the indirect user shall:
i. Employ, or demonstrate that it will employ,
water conservation methods and technologies that substantially reduce water use
during the term of its control mechanism;
ii. Currently use control and treatment
technologies adequate to achieve compliance with the applicable categorical
pretreatment standard, and not have used dilution as a substitute for
treatment;
iii. Provide sufficient
information to establish the facility 's actual average daily flow rate for all
wastestreams, based on data from a continuous effluent flow monitoring device, as
well as the facility's long-term average production rate. Both the actual average
daily flow rate and the long-term average production rate shall be representative of
current operating conditions;
iv. Not
have daily flow rates, production levels, or pollutant levels that vary so
significantly that equivalent mass limits are not appropriate to control the
discharge ; and
v. Have consistently
complied with all applicable categorical pretreatment standards during the period
(determined by the control authority ) prior to the user's request for equivalent
mass limits.
2. An indirect
user subject to equivalent mass limits shall:
i.
Maintain and effectively operate control and treatment technologies adequate to
achieve compliance with the equivalent mass limits;
ii. Continue to record the facility 's flow rates
through the use of a continuous effluent flow monitoring device;
iii. Continue to record the facility 's production
rates and notify the control authority whenever production rates are expected to
vary by more than 20 percent from those production rates determined in (b)1iii
above. Upon notification of a revised production rate, reassessment and revision of
the equivalent mass limit will be performed by the control authority as necessary to
reflect changed conditions at the facility; and
iv. Continue to employ the same or comparable
water conservation methods and technologies as those implemented pursuant to (b)1ii
above, so long as the indirect user discharges under an equivalent mass
limit.
(c) Mass
limits for the categorical pretreatment standards at 40 CFR Parts 414, 419 and 455
may be converted to concentration limits by the control authority for purposes of
calculating limitations applicable to individual indirect users provided:
1. The concentrations listed in the applicable
subparts of 40 CFR Parts 414, 419 and 455 are used; and
2. The user documents that dilution is not being
substituted for treatment as prohibited by (g) below.
(d) Equivalent limitations calculated in
accordance with (a), (b), and (c) above are deemed pretreatment standards for the
purposes of section 307(d) of the Federal Act and this subchapter. Once incorporated
into its control mechanism, the indirect user shall comply with the equivalent
limitations in lieu of the promulgated categorical standards from which the
equivalent limitations were derived.
(e)
When a categorical pretreatment standard that specifies one limit for calculating
maximum daily discharge limitations and a second limit for calculating maximum
monthly average, or four-day average, limitations are applied, the same production
or flow figure shall be used in calculating both the maximum and average equivalent
limitations.
(f) Any indirect 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 business days after the indirect user has a reasonable basis to
know that the production level will significantly change within the next calendar
month. Any indirect user that does not notify the control authority of such
anticipated change shall be required to meet the mass or concentration limits in its
IPP permit that were based on the original estimate of the long term average
production rate.
(g) Except where
expressly authorized to do so by an applicable pretreatment standard or requirement,
no indirect user shall 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 may impose mass limitations on indirect users which are using
dilution to meet applicable pretreatment standards or requirements, or in other
cases where the imposition of mass limitations is appropriate.
(h) Where process effluent is mixed prior to
treatment with wastewaters other than those generated by the regulated process,
fixed alternative categorical limits shall be derived by the control authority or by
the indirect user with the written concurrence of the control authority . These
alternative categorical limits shall be applied to the mixed effluent. When deriving
alternative categorical limits, the control authority or indirect 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 alternate
monthly or consecutive sampling day average value using the monthly or consecutive
sampling day average value(s) specified in the appropriate categorical pretreatment
standard(s). The indirect user shall comply with the alternative categorical daily
maximum and monthly average or consecutive sampling day limits fixed by the control
authority , in the indirect user's permit . Modification is authorized whenever there
is a material or significant change in the values used in the calculation to fix
alternative categorical limits for the regulated pollutant. An indirect user shall
immediately report any such material or significant change to the control authority.
Where appropriate, alternative categorical limits shall be re-calculated within 30
days of being informed of changes by the indirect user.
1. 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 shall be derived by the use of either of the
following formulas:
i. Alternative concentration
limit.
ii. Alternative mass limit:
Data in image
2.
An alternative pretreatment limit shall not be used if such alternative limit is
below the analytical detection limit for any of the regulated pollutants.
3. The indirect user shall monitor, to ensure
compliance with the alternative categorical limits, in accordance with the
requirements of N.J.A.C.
7:14A-21.3(g).
4. Where a treated regulated process wastestream
is combined prior to treatment with wastewaters other than those generated by the
regulated process, the indirect user may monitor either the segregated process
wastestream or the combined wastestream for the purpose of determining compliance
with applicable pretreatment standards. If the indirect user monitors the segregated
process wastestream, it shall apply the applicable categorical pretreatment
standard. If the indirect 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 indirect user may change monitoring points
only after receiving approval from the control authority. The control authority
shall ensure that any change in an indirect user's monitoring point(s) will not
allow the indirect user to substitute dilution for adequate treatment to achieve
compliance with applicable standards.
(i) Categorical pretreatment standards may be
adjusted to reflect the presence of pollutants in the indirect user 's intake water.
Any indirect user wishing to obtain credit for intake pollutants shall submit a
written request to the control authority . Upon such request, the applicable standard
will be calculated on a "net" basis (that is, adjusted to reflect credit for
pollutants in the intake water) if the requirements of (i)1 below are met.
1. Categorical pretreatment standards may be
adjusted to reflect the presence of pollutants in the indirect user 's intake water
provided either:
i. The applicable categorical
pretreatment standards contained in 40 CFR subchapter N specifically provide that
they shall be applied on a net basis; or
ii. The indirect user demonstrates that the
control system it proposes or uses to meet applicable categorical pretreatment
standards would, if properly installed and operated, meet the standards in the
absence of pollutants in the intake waters.
2. Credit for generic pollutants such as
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and oil and grease
shall not be granted unless the indirect user demonstrates that the constituents of
the generic measure in the indirect user's effluent are substantially similar to the
constituents of the generic measure in the intake water or unless appropriate
additional limits are placed on process water pollutants either at the outfall or
elsewhere.
3. Credit shall be granted
only to the extent necessary to meet the applicable categorical pretreatment
standard(s), up to a maximum value equal to the influent value. Additional
monitoring may be necessary to determine eligibility for credit and compliance with
standard(s) adjusted under this section.
4. Credit shall be granted only if the indirect
user demonstrates that the intake water is drawn from the same body of water as that
into which the local agency's treatment works discharges. The control authority may
waive this requirement if it finds that no environmental degradation will
result.
Notes
See: 40 N.J.R. 1478(a), 41 N.J.R. 142(a).
Added new (b) and (c); recodified former (a)4 through (a)6 as (d) through (f); in (d), updated the internal references and substituted "Once incorporated into its control mechanism, the
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