Section 13.1
Definitions
As used in these regulations the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated below unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context:
(a) The term "Act" means
Title 10, Chapter 47 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated, as amended.
(b) The term "Agency" means the Vermont
Agency of Environmental Conservation.
(c) The term "Federal Act" means the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended,
33 U.S.C.
1251 et seq.
(d) The term "Refuse Act" means section 13 of
the River and Harbor Act of March 3, 1899.
(e) The term "EPA" means the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
(f) The term "Administrator" means the
Administrator of EPA.
(g) The term
"Regional Administrator" means the Regional Administrator of EPA, Region
I.
(h) The term "National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)" means the national system for the
issuance of permits under section
402
of the Federal Act and includes the Vermont program after it has been approved
by the Administrator pursuant to section
402
of the Federal Act.
(i) The term
"incompatible substance" means any waste being discharged into a publicly owned
treatment works which interferes with, passes through without treatment, or is
otherwise incompatible with such works or would have a substantial adverse
effect on such works or on water quality.
(j) The term "well" shall include any
openings in the ground used as a means of discharging pollutants into the
ground except for a dry hole not exceeding seven feet in depth which is
constructed as, and used solely for, the gravity disposal of domestic sanitary
waste.
(k) The term "application"
means either (i) the uniform national forms (including subsequent additions,
revisions, or modifications duly promulgated by the Administrator pursuant to
the Federal Act) for application for a permit, including a Refuse Act
application, or (ii) the forms prescribed by the Secretary for use in applying
for issuance or renewal of a permit.
(l) The term "reporting form" means the
uniform national forms (including subsequent additions, revisions, or
modifications duly promulgated by the Administrator pursuant to the Federal
Act) for reporting data and information pursuant to monitoring and other
conditions of permits.
(m) The term
"permit" means any permit or equivalent document or requirements issued by the
Administrator, or, where appropriate, by the Secretary after enactment of the
Federal Act to regulate the discharge of pollutants pursuant to section
402
of the Federal Act, including a discharge permit and a temporary pollution
permit.
(n) The term "NPDES form"
means any issued NPDES and any uniform national form developed for use in the
NPDES and prescribed in regulations promulgated by the Administrator, including
the Refuse Act application, the NPDES application and the NPDES reporting forms
or equivalent forms prescribed by the Secretary.
(o) The term "Refuse Act application" means
the application for a permit under the Refuse Act.
(p) The term "Refuse Act permit" means any
permit issued under the Refuse Act.
(q) The definitions of the following terms
contained in section
502 of
the Federal Act shall be applicable to such terms as used in this part: (unless
the context otherwise required) "interstate agency," "State," "municipality,"
"pollutant," "point source," "biological monitoring," and "industrial use" and
"pollution."
(r) The definitions of
the following terms contained in section 1251 of the Act shall be applicable to
such terms as used in these regulations: (unless the context otherwise
required: "discharge," "person," "waste," "waters," "effluent limitation,"
"schedule of compliance" and "Secretary."
(s) The term "treatment works" means any
facility, method or system for the storage, treatment recycling, or reclamation
of municipal sewage or industrial waste of a liquid nature, including waste in
combined storm water and sanitary sewer systems.
(t) The term "national data bank" means a
facility or system established or to be established by the Administrator for
the purposes of assembling, organizing, and analyzing data pertaining to water
quality and the discharge of pollutants.
(u) The term "applicable water quality
standards" means all water quality standards to which a discharge is subject
under the Federal Act or the Act and which have been (1) approved or permitted
to remain in effect by the Administrator pursuant to section 303(a) or 303(e)
of The Federal Act. or (2) promulgated by the Administrator pursuant to section
303(b) or 303(c) of the Federal Act.
(v) The term "applicable effluent standards
and limitations" means all Vermont and Federal effluent standards and
limitations to which a discharge is subject under the Act and the Federal Act
including, but not limited to, effluent limitations, standards of performance,
toxic effluent standards and prohibitions, and pretreatment
standards.
(w) The term "minor
discharge" means any discharge which (1) has a total volume of less than 50,000
gallons on every day of the year, (2) does not affect the waters of any other
state, and (3) is not identified by the Secretary, the Regional Administrator
or by the Administrator in regulations issued pursuant to section 307(a) of the
Federal Act as a discharge which is not a minor discharge. If there is more
than one discharge from a facility and the sum of the volumes of all discharges
from the facility exceeds 50,000 gallons on any day of the year, then no
discharge from the facility is a "minor discharge" as defined herein.
(x) The term "discharge permit" means a
permit issued pursuant to section 1263 of the Act for a discharge which will
not reduce the quality of the receiving waters below the classification
established for them and which will not violate any state of federal laws or
regulations.
(y) The term
"temporary pollution permit" means a permit issued pursuant to section 1265 of
the Act for a discharge which is not eligible for a discharge permit.
Section 13.2 Permit Application
and Forms
a. Requirements for Filing. Any
person who is presently discharging any waste, substance or material into the
waters of the state or a well or who is presently discharging any incompatible
substance into a publicly owned treatment works who has not previously filed
with EPA or the Agency a complete application with respect to such discharge
shall file a complete application with the Agency. A permit previously issued
by the Agency or its predecessor shall be revoked upon the happening of (i) the
failure or refusal of the holder of such permit to apply for a permit hereunder
within 60 days of being requested to do so by the Secretary or (ii) the
issuance of a permit to such holder by the Agency.
b. Proposed Discharges. Any person who wishes
to discharge any waste, substance or material into any waters of the state or
who wishes to discharge any incompatible substance into any publicly owned
treatment works shall file a complete application on the earlier of:
(1) at leat [least] 180 days in advance of
the date on which it is desired to commence such discharge, or
(2) sufficient time prior to the commencement
of the discharge of pollutants to insure compliance with the requirements of
section 306 of the Federal Act, or with any applicable zoning or siting
requirements established pursuant to section 208(b)(2)(C) of the Federal Act,
and any other applicable water quality standards and applicable effluent
standards and limitations.
c. Requirement as to Completeness of
Application. Any application submitted to the Secretary shall be promptly
forwarded by the Secretary to the Regional Administrator. The Secretary shall
not issue any permit. on the basis of any application which the Regional
Administrator has identified as incomplete or otherwise deficient until the
Secretary receives additional information to correct any deficiency to the
satisfaction of the Secretary or of the Regional Administrator. The rights of
the Regional Administrator under this regulation and the procedures for
implementing such rights (including any waiver or partial waiver of such
rights) may be set forth in a written agreement between the Secretary and the
Regional Administrator.
d.
Furnishing of Additional Information. Within sixty days following a request of
the Secretary, a person who has filed an application shall furnish the
Secretary with such additional information as may be necessary to insure that
such application is complete or which may otherwise be necessary to enable the
Secretary to issue a permit for such discharge.
e. Signatures. Any form submitted to the
Secretary shall be signed as follows:
(1) In
the case of corporations, by a principal executive officer of at least the
level of vice president, or his duly authorized representative, if such
representative is responsible for the overall operation of the facility from
which the discharge described in the form originates.
(2) In the case of a partnership, by a
general partner.
(3) In the case of
a sole proprietorship, by the proprietor.
(4) In the case of a municipal, State, or
other public facility, by either a principal executive officer, ranking elected
official or other duly authorized employee.
Section 13.3 Agency Processing of Completed
Applications
a. Determination as to Type of
Permit. When an application for an existing discharge is found to be complete,
the Secretary shall make determinations as to the type of permit to be issued.
If the discharge will neither (i) reduce the quality of the receiving waters
below the classification established for such waters nor (ii) violate any state
or federal laws or regulations, then the application shall be determined to be
an application for a discharge permit under section 1263 of the Act. Otherwise,
the application shall be determined to be an application for a temporary
pollution permit under section 1265 of the Act. Any such temporary pollution
permit shall contain the additional conditions set forth in section 13.4(b)(3)
of these regulations.
b.
Formulation of Tentative Determination and Draft Permit.
(1) The Secretary shall formulate and prepare
tentative determinations with respect to an application in advance of public
notice of the proposed issuance or denial of a permit. Such tentative
determinations shall state whether the permit is a discharge permit or a
temporary pollution permit and shall include at least the following:
(a) A proposed determination to issue or deny
a permit for the discharge described in the application; and,
(b) If the determination proposed in
paragraph 1 of this section is to issue the permit, the following additional
tentative determinations:
(i) Proposed
effluent limitations, identified pursuant to section 13.4(b) and (c) for those
pollutants proposed to be limited;
(ii) A proposed schedule of compliance,
including interim dates and requirements, for meeting the proposed effluent
limitations, identified pursuant to section 13.4(d);
(iii) A proposed set of periodic pollution
charges to be applied in the case of any temporary pollution permit;
and
(iv) A brief description of any
other proposed special conditions (other than those required in section 13.4(e)
which will have a significant impact upon the discharge described in the
application.
(2) The Secretary shall organize the
tentative determinations prepared pursuant to paragraph (1) of this section
into a draft permit for the application.
c. Public Notice
(1) Public notice of every complete
application for a permit shall be circulated in a manner designed to inform
interested and potentially interested persons of the proposed discharge and of
the proposed determination to issue or deny a permit for the proposed
discharge. Procedures for a circulation of public notice shall include at least
the following:
(a) Notice shall be circulated
within the geographical areas of the proposed discharge; such circulation may
include any or all of the following:
(i)
Posting in the post office and public places of the municipality nearest the
premises of the applicant in which the effluent source is located;
(ii) Posting near the entrance to the
applicant's premises and in nearby places; and
(iii) Publishing in local newspapers and
periodicals, or, if appropriate, in a daily newspaper of general
circulation;
(b) Notice
shall be mailed to any person or group upon request; and
(c) The Secretary shall add the name of any
person or group upon request to a mailing list to receive copies of notices for
all applications within Vermont or within a certain geographical
area.
(2) The Secretary
shall provide a period of not less than thirty (30) days following the date of
the public notice during which time interested persons may submit their written
views on the tentative determinations with respect to the application. All
written comments submitted during the 30-day comment period shall be retained
by the Secretary and considered in the formulation of his final determinations
with respect to the application. The period for comment may be extended at the
discretion of the Secretary.
(3)
The contents of public notice of applications for permits shall include at
least the following:
(a) Name, address, phone
number of the Agency;
(b) Name and
address of each applicant;
(c)
Brief description of each applicant's activities or operations which result in
the discharge described in the application (e.g., municipal waste treatment
plant, steel manufacturing, drainage from mining activites
[activities]);
(d) Name of waterway
to which each discharge is made and a short description of the location of each
discharge on the waterway indicating whether such discharge is a new or an
existing discharge;
(e) A statement
of the tentative determination to issue or deny a permit for the discharge
described in the application;
(f) A
brief description of the procedures for the formulation of final
determinations, including the 30-day comment period required by paragraph
(c)(2) of this section and any other means by which interested persons may
influence or comment upon those determinations; and
(g) Address and phone number of Agency
premises at which interested persons may obtain further information, request a
copy of the draft permit prepared pursuant to section 13.3(b), request a copy
of the fact sheet described in section 13.3(d) and inspect and copy forms and
related documents.
d. Fact Sheets
(1) For every discharge which has a total
volume of more than 500,000 gallons on any day of the year, the Secretary shall
prepare and, following public notice, shall send, upon request to any person a
fact sheet with respect to the application described in the public notice. The
contents of such fact sheets shall include at least the following information:
(a) A sketch or detailed description of the
location of the discharge described in the application;
(b) A quantitative description of the
discharge described in the application which includes at least the following:
(i) The rate of frequency of the proposed
discharge; if the discharge is continuous, the average daily flow in gallons
per day or million gallons per day;
(ii) For thermal discharges subject to
limitation under the Act or the Federal Act, the average summer and winter
temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit; and
(iii) The average daily discharge in pounds
per day of any pollutants which are present in significant quantities or which
are subject to limitations or prohibition under sections 301, 302, 306, 307 of
the Federal Act and regulations published thereunder;
(2) The tentative determinations
required under section 13.3(b);
(3)
A brief citation, including a brief identification of the uses for which the
receiving waters have been classified, of the water quality standards and
effluent standards and limitations applied to proposed discharge; and
(4) A fuller description of the procedures
for the formulation of final determinations than that given in the public
notice including:
(i) The 30-day comment
period required by 13.3(b)(2);
(ii)
Procedures for requesting a public hearing and the nature thereof;
and
(iii) Any other procedures by
which the public may participate in the formulation of the final
determinations.
(5) The
Secretary shall add the name of any person or group upon request to a mailing
list to receive copies of fact sheets. The Secretary may charge a reasonable
fee for copies of fact sheets, draft permits and other documents.
e. Notice of Other Government
Agencies.
The Secretary shall notify other appropriate Government
agencies of each complete application for a permit and shall provide such
agencies an opportunity to submit their written views and recommendations.
Procedures for such notification shall include the following:
(1) At the time of issuance of public notice
pursuant to section 13.3(c) transmission of such notice and, in cases where a
fact sheet is required to be prepared, a fact sheet to any other States whose
waters may be affected by the issuance of a permit and, upon request, providing
such States with a copy of the application and a copy of the proposed permit
prepared pursuant to section 13.3(b). Each affected State shall be afforded an
opportunity to submit written recommendations to the Secretary and to the
Regional Administrator which the Secretary may incorporate into the permit if
issued. Should the Secretary fail to incorporate any written recommendations
thus received, he shall provide to the affected State or States (and to the
Regional Administrator) a written explanation of his reasons for failing to
accept any of the written recommendations.
(2) A procedure, similar to paragraph (1) of
this section, for notifying any interstate agency having water quality control
authority over waters which may be affected by the issuance of a
permit.
(3) At the time of issuance
of public notice pursuant to section 13.3(c), transmission of such notice and,
where a fact sheet is required to be prepared, a fact sheet to the appropriate
District Engineer of the Army Corps of Engineers of applications for discharges
(other than minor discharges) into navigable waters:
(a) The Secretary and the Corps of Engineers
may enter into written agreements providing for (i) notice to the District
Engineer of minor discharges, (ii) waiver by the Corps of Engineers of its
rights to receive fact sheets with respect to classes, types, and sizes within
any category of point sources and with respect to discharges to particular
navigable waters or parts thereof and (iii) any procedures for the transmission
of forms, period for comment by the Corps of Engineers and for objections of
the Corps of Engineers.
(b) A
written copy of any agreements between the Agency and the Corps of Engineers
shall be made available to the public for inspection and copying.
(4) A procedure for mailing copies
of the public notice (or upon specific request, copies of fact sheets) for
application for permits to any other Federal, Vermont or local agency, or any
affected country, upon request, and providing such agencies an opportunity to
respond, comment, or request a public hearing pursuant to section 13.3(c). Such
agencies shall include at least the agency responsible for the preparation of
an approved plan pursuant to section 208(b) of the Federal Act.
(5) Procedures for notice to and coordination
with appropriate public health agencies for the purpose of assisting the
applicant in coordinating the applicable requirements of the Act or the Federal
Act with any applicable requirements of such public health agencies.
f. Public Access to Information.
(1) The Secretary shall insure that any forms
(including the draft permit prepared pursuant to section 13.3(b)(2) of any
public comment upon those forms pursuant to section 13.3(c)(2) shall be
available to the public for inspection and copying. The Secretary, in his
discretion may also make available to the public any other records, reports,
plans, or information obtained by the Agency.
(2) The Secretary shall protect any
information (other than effluent data) contained in such form, or other
records, reports, or plans as confidential upon showing by any person that such
information if made public would divulge methods or processes entitled to
protection as trade secrets of such person. If, however, the information being
considered for confidential treatment is contained in a form, the Secretary
shall forward such information to the Regional Administrator for his
concurrence in any determination of confidentiality pursuant to the agreement
between EPA and the Agency described in section 13.2(c).
(3) Any information accorded confidential
status, whether or not contained in a form, shall be disclosed, upon request,
to the Regional Administrator, or his authorized representative.
(4) The Secretary shall provide facilities
for the inspection of information relating to forms and shall insure that
Agency employees honor requests for such inspection promptly without undue
requirements or restrictions. The Secretary shall either (a) insure that a
machine or device for the copying of papers and documents is available for a
reasonable fee, or (b) otherwise provide for or coordinate with copying
facilities or services such that requests for copies of nonconfidential
documents may be honored promptly.
g. Public Hearings
The Secretary shall provide an opportunity for the applicant,
any affected Vermont Agency, any affected interstate agency, any affected
country, the Regional Administrator, or any interested agency, person, or group
of persons to request or petition for a public hearing with respect to
applications. Any such request or petition for public hearing shall be filed
within the 30-day period prescribed in section 13.3(c)(2) and shall indicate
the interest of the party filing such request and the reasons why a hearing is
warranted. The Secretary shall hold a hearing if there is a significant public
interest (including the filing of requests or petitions for such hearing) in
holding such a hearing. Instances of doubt should be resolved in favor of
holding the hearing. Any hearing brought pursuant to this subsection shall be
held in the geographical area of the proposed discharge or other appropriate
area, in the discretion of the Secretary, and may, as appropriate, consider
related groups of permit applications.
h. Public Notice of Public Hearings.
(1) Public notice of any hearing held
pursuant to section 13.3(g) above shall be circulated at least as widely as was
the notice of the application. Procedures for the circulation of public notice
for hearings held under section 13.3(g) shall include at least the following:
(a) Notice shall be published in at least one
newspaper of general circulation within the geographical area of the
discharge;
(b) Notice shall be sent
to all persons and Government agencies which received a copy of the notice or
the fact sheet for the application;
(c) Notice shall be mailed to any person or
group upon request; and
(d) Notice
shall be effected pursuant to subparagraphs (a) and (c) of this paragraph at
least thirty (30) days in advance of the hearing.
(2) The contents of public notice of any
hearing held pursuant to section 13.3(g) shall include at least the following:
(a) Name, address, and phone number of the
Agency;
(b) Name and address of
each applicant whose application will be considered at the hearing;
(c) Name of waterway to which each discharge
is made and a short description of the location of each discharge on the
waterway;
(d) A breif [brief]
reference to the public notice issued for each application, including
identification number and date of issuance;
(e) Information regarding the time and
location for the hearing;
(f) The
purpose of the hearing;
(g) A
concise statement of the issues raised by the persons requesting the
hearing;
(h) Address and phone
number of Agency premises at which interested persons may obtain further
information, request a copy of each draft permit prepared pursuant to section
13.3(b) (2) above, request a copy of each fact sheet prepared pursuant to
section 13.3(d) and inspect and copy forms and related documents; and
(i) A brief description of the nature of the
hearing, including the rules and procedures to be followed.
Section 13. 3i PROCEDURE FOR
PUBLIC HEARINGS
(1) Except as provided in
paragraph (4) of this section, where the Secretary finds a significant degree
of public interest in a proposed permit or group of permits, he shall hold a
public hearing to consider such permit or permits. Public notice of such
hearing shall be given in a manner specified in subsection (h) of this
rule.
(2) Hearings held pursuant to
this section shall be conducted by the Secretary or his designee.
(3) Any person shall be permitted to submit
oral or written statements and data concerning the proposed permit. The
Secretary shall have discretion to fix reasonable limits on the time allowed
for oral statements and may require the submission of statements in
writing.
(4) If the Secretary
determines that useful information and data may be obtained thereby, the
Secretary may hold a public hearing anytime prior to the issuance of the
permit. Notice of a public hearing pursuant to this section shall be circulated
30 days prior to the hearing. The hearings shall be conducted in a manner set
forth in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this section. All statements, comments and
data presented at the hearing shall be retained by the Secretary and considered
in the formulation of his determination. Where a public hearing is held
pursuant to this paragraph, no public hearing is required pursuant to paragraph
(1) above.
Section 13.4 Terms and Conditions of Permits
a. Prohibited Discharges. The Secretary shall
not issue a permit authorizing any of the following discharges:
(1) The discharge of any radiological,
chemical, or biological warfare agent or high-level radioactive waste into
navigable waters;
(2) Any discharge
which the Secretary of the Army acting through the chief of engineers finds
would substantially impair anchorage and navigation;
(3) Any discharge to which the Regional
Administrator has objected in writing pursuant to any right to object provided
the Administrator in section
403(d)
of the Federal Act; and
(4) Any
discharge from a point source which is in conflict with a plan or amendment
thereto approved pursuant to section 208(b) of the Federal Act.
b. Application of State and
Federal Requirements.
(1) The terms and
conditions of each permit shall apply and insure compliance with all of the
following, whenever applicable:
(a) Effluent
limitations under section 301 and 302 of the Federal Act;
(b) Standards of performance for new sources
under section 306 of the Federal Act;
(c) Effluent standards, effluent
prohibitions, and pretreatment standards under section 307 of the Federal
Act;
(d) Any more stringent
limitation, including those (i) necessary to meet water quality standards,
treatment standards, or schedules of compliance, established pursuant to
Vermont law or regulations (under authority preserved by section
510
of the Federal Act), or (ii) necessary to meet any other Federal law or
regulation, or (iii) required to implement any applicable water quality
standards, such limitations to include any legally applicable requirements
necessary to implement total maximum daily loads established pursuant to
section 303(d) and incorporated in the continuing planning process approved
under section 303(e) of the Federal Act and any regulations and guidelines
issued pursuant thereto;
(e) Any
more stringent legally applicable requirements necessary to comply with a plan
approved pursuant to section 208(b) of the Federal Act; and
(f) Prior to promulgation by the
Administrator of applicable effluent standards and limitations pursuant to
sections 301, 302, 306, and 307, such conditions as the Secretary determines
are necessary to carry out the provisions of the Federal Act;
(g) If the permit is for the discharge of
pollutants into the navigable waters from a vessel or other floating craft, any
applicable regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the department in which
the Coast Guard is operating, establishing specifications for safe
transportation, handling, carriage, storage, and stowage of
pollutants.
(2) In any
case where a permit applies the effluent standards and limitations described in
subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (f) of paragraph (1) of this section, the
Secretary must state that the discharge authorized by the permit will not
violate applicable water quality standards and, if the Secretary deems it
necessary, shall prepare some explicit verification of that statement. In any
case where applicable water quality standards require a permit to contain
effluent limitations more stringent than those described in subparagraphs (a),
(b), (c) or (f) of paragraph 1 of this section, a waste load allocation must be
prepared where the Secretary deems necessary in order to ensure that the
discharge authorized by the permit is consistent with applicable water quality
standards.
(3) In addition to the
terms and conditions of permits required elsewhere by these regulations, a
temporary pollution permit shall also:
(a) be
for a fixed term, not to exceed five years, which is determined by the
Secretary to be the shortest period of time necessary for the permittee to
construct and place in operation the treatment facility, system or method
necessary to qualify the permittee for a discharge permit, and
(b) require the payment of the periodic
pollution charges as provided in section 1265(d)(5) of the Act.
c. Effluent
Limitations in Issued Permits.
In the application of effluent standards and limitations,
water quality standards, and other legally applicable requirements, pursuant to
section 13.4(b) the Secretary shall, for each issued permit, specify average
and maximum daily quantitative limitations for the level of pollutants in the
authorized discharge in terms of weight (except pH, temperature, radiation, and
any other pollutants not appropriately expressed by weight). The Secretary may,
in his discretion, in addition to the specification of daily quantitative
limitations by weight, specify other limitations, such as average or maximum
concentrated limits, for the level of pollutants in the authorized discharge.
Effluent limitations for multiproduct operations shall provide for appropriate
waste variations from such plants. Where a schedule of compliance is included
as a condition in a permit, effluent limitations shall be included for the
interim period as well as for the period following the final compliance
date.
d. Schedules of
Compliance in Issued Permits.
In addition to the application of the effluent standards and
limitations, water quality standards, and other legally applicable
requirements, pursuant to section 13.4(b) the Secretary shall follow the
following procedures in setting schedules in permit conditions to achieve
compliance with applicable effluent standards and limitations, water quality
standards, and other legally applicable requirements.
(1) With respect to any discharge which is
not in compliance with applicable effluent standards and limitations,
applicable water quality standards, or other legally applicable requirements
listed in sections 13.4(b)(1) the permittee shall be required to take specific
steps to achieve compliance with the following:
(a) In accordance with any legally applicable
schedule of compliance contained in:
(i)
Applicable effluent standards and limitations;
(ii) If more stringent, water quality
standards; or,
(iii) If more
stringent, legally applicable requirements listed in sections
13.4(b)(1).
(b) In the
absence of any legally applicable schedule of compliance, in the shortest,
reasonable period of time, such period to be consistent with the guidelines and
requirements of the Act and the Federal Act.
(2) In any case where the period of time for
compliance specified in paragraph (1) of this section exceeds 9 months, a
schedule of compliance shall be specified in the permit which will set forth
interim requirements and the dates for their achievement; in no event shall
more than 9 months elapse between interim dates. If the time necessary for
completion of the interim requirement (such as the construction of a treatment
facility) is more than 9 months and is not readily divided into stages for
completion, interim dates shall be specified for the submission of reports of
progress towards completion of the interim requirements. For each permit
schedule of compliance, interim dates and final date for compliance shall, to
the extent practicable, fall on the last day of the months of March, June,
September, and December.
(3) Either
before or up to fourteen (14) days following each interim date and the final
date of the compliance the permittee shall provide the Secretary with written
notice of the permittee's compliance or noncompliance with the interim or final
requirement.
(4) On the last day of
the months of February, May, August, and November the Secretary shall transmit
to the Regional Administrator a list of all instances, as of 30 days prior to
the date of such report, of failure or refusal of a permittee to comply with an
interim or final requirement (as required pursuant to paragraph (2) of this
section.) Such list shall be available to the public for inspection and copying
and shall contain at least the following information with respect to each
instance of noncompliance:
(a) Name and
address of each noncomplying permittee;
(b) A short description of each instance of
noncomplaince (e.g., failure to submit preliminary plans, 2 week delay in
commencement of construction of treatment facility; failure to notify the
Secretary of compliance with interim requirement to complete construction by
June 30th, etc.);
(c) A short
description of any actions or proposed actions by the permittee or the
Secretary to comply or enforce compliance with the interim or final
requirement; and
(d) Any details
which tend to explain or mitigate an instance of noncompliance with an interim
or final requirement (e.g., construction delayed due to materials shortage,
plan approval delayed by objections from a Vermont agency).
(5) If a permittee fails or
refuses to comply with an interim or final requirement in a permit such
noncompliance shall constitute a violation of the permit for which the
Secretary may modify. suspend or revoke the permit or take direct enforcement
action.
e. Other Terms
and Conditions of Issued Permits.
In addition to the other requirements of these regulations
the Secretary shall insure that the terms and conditions of each issued permit
provide for and insure the following:
(1) That all discharges authorized by the
permit shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of the permit; that
facility expansions, production increases, or process modifications which
result in new or increased discharges of pollutants must be reported by
submission of a new application or, if such discharge does not violate effluent
limitations specified in the permit, by submission to the Secretary of notice
of such new or increased discharges of pollutants; that the discharge of any
pollutant more frequently than or at a level in excess of that identified and
authorized by the permit shall constitute a violation of the terms and
conditions of the permit.
(2) That
the permit may be modified, suspended, or revoked in whole or in part during
its term for cause including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Violation of any terms or conditions of
the permit;
(b) Obtaining a permit
by misrepresentation or failure to disclose fully all relevant facts;
and,
(c) A change in any condition
that requires either a temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of the
permitted discharge.
(3)
That the permittee shall permit the Secretary or his authorized representative
or the Regional Administrator or his authorized representative upon the
presentation of his credentials:
(a) To enter
upon permittee's premises in which an effluent source is located or in which
any records are required to be kept under terms and conditions of the
permit;
(b) To have access to and
copy any records required to be kept under terms and conditions of the
permit;
(c) To inspect any
monitoring equipment or method required in the permit; or
(d) To sample any discharge of
pollutants.
(4) That, if
the permit is for a discharge from a publicly owned treatment works, the
permittee shall provide notice to the Secretary of the following:
(a) Any new introduction of pollutants into
such treatment works from a source which would be a new source as defined in
section 306 of the Federal Act if such source were discharging
pollutants;
(b) Except as to such
categories and classes of point sources or discharges specified by the
Secretary, any new introducing of pollutants into such treatment works from a
source which would be subject to section 301 of the Federal Act if such source
were discharging pollutants; and,
(c) Any substantial change in volume or
character of pollutants being introduced into such treatment works by a source
introducing pollutants into such works at the time of issuance of the permit.
Such notice shall include information on (i) the quality and quantity of
effluent to be introduced into such treatment works and (ii) any anticipated
impact of such change in the quantity or quality of effluent to be discharged
from such publicly owned treatment works.
(5) That, if the permit is for a discharge
from a publicly owned treatment works, the permittee shall require any
industrial user of such treatment works to comply with the requirements of
sections 204(b), 307 and 308 of the Federal Act., As a means of insuring such
compliance, the permittee shall require of each industrial user subject to the
requirements of section 307 of the Federal Act, and shall forward a copy to the
Secretary, periodic notice (over intervals not to exceed 9 months) of progress
towards full compliance with section 307 requirements.
(6) That the permittee at all times shall
maintain in good working order and operate as efficiently as possible any
facilities or systems of control installed by the permittee to achieve
compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit.
(7) That if a toxic effluent standard or
prohibition (including any schedule of compliance specified in such effluent
standard or prohibition) is established under section 307(a) of the Federal Act
for a toxic pollutant which is present in the permittee's discharge and such
standard or prohibition is more stringent than any limitation upon such
pollutant in the permit, the Secretary shall revise or modify the permit in
accordance with the toxic effluent standard or prohibition and so notify the
premittee.
f. Transmittal
of Proposed and Final Permits to Regional Administrator.
The Secretary shall transmit proposed and final permits to
the Regional Administrator according to such procedures as the Secretary and
the Regional Administrator shall agree upon in writing. Any such agreement may
provide for the manner in which the Regional Administrator may exercise his
rights to object to proposed permits pursuant to section
402(d)(2)
of the Federal Act.
g. The
Secretary shall transmit to the Regional Administrator a copy of every issued
permit, immediately following issuance, along with any and all term,
conditions, requirements, or documents which are a part of such permit or which
affect the authorization by the permit of the discharge of
pollutants.
Section 13.5
Duration and Review of Permits
a. Duration of
Issued Permits.
Any issued permit shall have a fixed term not to exceed five
years.
b. Reissuance of
Permits.
(1) Any permittee who wishes to
continue to discharge after the expiration date of his permit must file an
application for reissuance of his permit at least 180 days prior to its
expiration.
(2) The scope and
manner of any review of an application for reissuance of a permit shall insure
at least the following:
(a) That the permittee
is in compliance with or has substantially complied with all the terms,
conditions, requirements, and schedules of compliance of the expired
permit;
(b) That the Secretary has
up-to-date information on the permittee's production levels, permittee's waste
treatment practices, nature, contents and frequency of permittee's discharge
either pursuant to the submission of new forms and applications or pursuant to
monitoring records and reports submitted to the Secretary by the permittee;
and,
(c) That the discharge is
consistent with applicable effluent standards and limitations, water quality
standards, and other legally applicable requirements listed in section 13.4(b)
including any additions to, or revisions or modifications of such effluent
standards and limitations, water quality standards, or other legally applicable
requirements during the term of the permit.
(3) The Secretary shall follow the notice and
public participation procedures specified in section 13.3 in connection with
each request for reissuance of a permit.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision in
these regulations, any point source the construction of which is commenced
after October 18, 1972 which is so constructed as to meet all applicable
standards of performance pursuant to section 306 of the Federal Act shall not
be subject to any more stringent standard of performance during a 10-year
period beginning on the date of completion of such construction or during the
period of depreciation or amortization of such facility for the purposes of
section 167 or 169 (or both) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 whichever
period ends first.
Section
13.6 Monitoring, Recording, and Reporting
a. Monitoring.
(1) Any discharge authorized by a permit may
be subject to such monitoring requirements as may be reasonably required by the
Secretary, including the installation, use, and maintenance of monitoring
equipment or methods (including, where appropriate, biological monitoring,
methods).
(2) Any discharge
authorized by a permit which (1) is not a minor discharge, (2) the Regional
Administrator requests, in writing, be monitored, or (3) contains toxic
pollutants for which an effluent standard has been established by the
Administrator pursuant to section 307(a) of the Federal Act, shall be monitored
by the permittee for at least the following:
(i) Flow (in gallons per day); and,
(ii) All of the following pollutants:
(a) Pollutants (either directly or indirectly
through the use of accepted correlation coefficients or equivalent
measurements) which are subject to reduction or elimination under the terms and
conditions of the permit;
(b)
Pollutants which the Secretary finds, on the basis of information available to
him, could have a significant impact on the quality of navigable
waters;
(c) Pollutants specified by
the Administrator, in regulations issued pursuant to the Federal Act, as
subject to monitoring; and,
(d) Any
pollutants in addition to the above which the Regional Administrator requests,
in writing, be monitored.
(3) Each effluent flow or pollutant required
to be monitored pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section shall be monitored at
intervals sufficiently frequent to yied [yield] data which reasonably
characterizes the nature of the discharge of the monitored effluent flow or
pollutant. Variable effluent flows and pollutant levels may be monitored at
more frequent intervals than relatively constant effluent flows and pollutant
levels which may be monitored at less frequent intervals.
b. Recording of Monitoring Activities and
Results.
(1) The permittee shall maintain
records of all information resulting from any monitoring activities required of
him in his permit;
(2) Any records
of monitoring activities and results shall include for all samples;
(a) the date, exact place, and time of
sampling;
(b) the dates analyses
were performed;
(c) who performed
the analyses;
(d) the analytical
techniques/methods used; and
(e)
the results of such analyses; and,
(3) The permittee shall be required to retain
for a minimum of 3 years any records of monitoring activities and results
including all original strip chart recording for continuous monitoring
instrumentation and calibration and maintenance records. This period of
retention shall be extended during the course of any unresolved litigation
regarding the discharge of pollutants by the permittee or when requested by the
Secretary or Regional Administrator.
c. Reporting of Monitoring Results.
The Secretary shall require periodic reporting (at a
frequency of not less than once per year) on the proper reporting form of
monitoring results obtained by a permittee pursuant to monitoring requirements
in a permit. In addition to the reporting form, the Secretary in his discretion
may require submission of such other information regarding monitoring results
as he determines to be necessary.
d. Monitoring, Recording, and Reporting
Requirements.
The Secretary shall adopt procedures consistent with any
national monitoring, recording, and reporting requirements specified by the
Administrator in regulations issued pursuant to the Federal Act.
Section 13.7 Emergency
Pollution Permits
a. Requirements for
Application. In the event that a person to whom a discharge permit has been
issued finds that pollution abatement facilities require repairs, replacement
or other corrective action in order for them to meet standards specified in
such discharge permit, such person may make application in the manner specified
by the Secretary for an emergency modification of such discharge
permit.
b. Secretary's Authority to
Revise or Modify Discharge Permits; Imposition of Additional Requirements.
The Secretary may temporarily revise or modify any
requirement of such permit that the pollution abatement facilities be
operational in order to provide a sufficient period of time for the permittee
to effect the repairs, replacements or other corrective action described in (a)
above. The Secretary shall impose such additional requirements, terms and
conditions in a discharge permit in connection with such modification or
revision as are necessary to minimize the discharge of wastes to the waters of
the state or to otherwise protect the waters of the state.
c. Emergency Pollution Permits. Action by the
Secretary under this section shall be deemed to be equivalent to the issuance
of an emergency pollution permit under section 1265(f) of the Act.
d. Public Notice; Notice to Regional
Administrator. If the nature of the emergency cited as grounds for a revision
or modification will not provide sufficient time to give public notice of an
intent to revise or modify a permit and to provide opportunity for a public
hearing on such proposed action, the Secretary may revise or modify the permit
without such public notice and opportunity for public hearing, provided that
such public notice is distributed as soon as possible after the effective date
of the revision or modification (but in no event later than 5 days thereafter)
and opportunity for a public hearing is provided in the manner set forth in
sections 13.4(g) and (h). Any such revision or modification shall be subject to
cancellation if the Regional Administrator objects to such revision or
modification within 30 days following receipt of such public notice. All
revisions or modifications pursuant to this section during the period ending 30
days prior to the transmission of such list shall be included in the list
prepared by the Secretary pursuant to section 13.4(d)(4).
e. Other Conditions to Modifications or
Revisions of Discharge Permits.
No revision or modification under this section shall be made
unless the permittee certifies that the Secretary finds that:
(1) There is no present, reasonable
alternative means of disposing of the waste other than by discharging it into
the waters of the state during the limited period of time of the
emergency;
(2) The denial of an
emergency pollution permit would work an extreme hardship upon the
applicant;
(3) The granting of an
emergency pollution permit will result in some public benefit;
(4) The discharge will not be unreasonably
destructive to the quality of the receiving waters; and
(5) The cause or reason for the emergency is
not due to willful or intended acts or omissions of the applicant or any event
or condition over which the permittee has control.
Section 13.8 Modification,
Revocation and Suspension of Permits
After notice and opportunity for a public hearing, any permit
issued hereunder can be modified, suspended, or revoked in whole or in part
during its term for cause including, but not limited to, the causes listed in
section 13.4(e)(2) or for failure or refusal of the permittee to carry out
requirements of Section 13.4(c)(3).
Section 13.9 Control of Disposal of
Pollutants into Wells
(a) If an applicant for
a permit proposes to dispose of pollutants into wells as part of a program to
meet the proposed terms and conditions of a permit, the Secretary shall specify
additional terms and conditions in the final permit which shall (1) prohibit
the proposed disposal, or (2) control the proposed disposal in order to prevent
pollution of ground and surface water resources and to protect the public
health and welfare.
(b) Any permit
issued for the disposal of pollutants into wells shall be issued in accordance
with the procedures and requirements specified in, these regulations.
(c) The Secretary shall utilize in his
preparation of any permits proposed to be issued by him for the disposal of
pollutants into wells, any policies, technical information, or requirements
specified by the Administrator in regulations issued pursuant to the Federal
Act or in directives issued to EPA regional offices.
Section 13.10 Municipal Responsibility for
Private Discharges of Domestic Wastes
In addition to its other responsibilities under the Act, the
Federal Act and the regulations, a municipality shall be responsible for the
compliance with all requirements established under Vermont and Federal law by
all new or increased discharges of domestic waste originating within its
jurisdiction from community type waste treatment and disposal facilities after
the date of adoption of these regulations. Prior to issuing a permit for any
such discharge of such waste originating within a particular municipality, the
Secretary may require the discharger to have made appropriate arrangements, by
contract or otherwise, for the proper operation and maintenance of any
facilities to treat such discharge, which may include arrangements for the
municipality to operate and maintain such facilities. In such cases, the
Secretary may issue each permit to the municipality or to both the municipality
and the owner of such facilities.
RULE
13.11 CERTIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES REQUIRING FEDERAL LICENSE OR
PERMIT
(a) Certifying Agent:
The certifying agent shall be the commissioner of the
department of water resources.
(b) Application for Certification
Application for certification pursuant to section 401 of PL
92-500 or any amendments thereto shall be made to the commissioner of the
department of water resources, agency of environmental conservation. The
application shall contain information sufficient to determine that any
discharge will comply with the applicable provisions of section 301, 302, 306,
and 307 of PL 92-500, and, as minimum requirements, shall include a description
of the location, manner, volume, nature, frequency and duration of the
discharge and such additional information deemed necessary by the
commissioner.
(c) Public
Notice:
The commissioner shall give notice of an application for
certification in the manner as provided in Rule 13. 3c.
(d) Public Hearings:
Public hearings with respect to applications for
certification shall be governed by Rule 13. 3g.
(e) Notice of Public Hearings:
Public notice of any hearing to be held with respect to any
application for certification shall be governed by the provisions of Rule 13.
3h.
(f) Procedure for
Public Hearings:
Procedure for public hearings with respect to an application
for certification shall be conducted according to the provisions of Rule 13.3i
(2) and (3).
(g) Content of
Certification:
(1) Name and address of
applicant.
(2) A statement that the
certifying agency has either (i) examined the application made by the applicant
to the licensing or permitting agency (specifically identifying the number or
code affixed to each application) and bases of its certification upon an
evaluation of the information contained in such application which is relevant
to water quality considerations, or (ii) examined other information furnished
by the applicant sufficient to permit the certifying agency to make the
statement described in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph;
(3) A statement that there is a reasonable
assurance that the activity will be conducted in a manner which will not
violate applicable water quality standards;
(4) A statement of any conditions which the
certifying agency deems necessary or desirable with respect to the discharge or
the activity; and,
(5) Such other
information as the certifying agency may determine to be appropriate.
(6) The certifying agency may modify the
certification in such manner as may be agreed upon by the certifying agency and
the regional administration (EPA).
RULE 13.12 GENERAL PERMIT RULES
ADOPTED RULE
AMENDMENT TO THE VERMONT WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS,
CHAPTER 13
The following section is added to read:
A. Definitions
As used in these regulations the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated below unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context.
1. The term "Department"
means the Department of Environmental Conservation 10 V.S.A. §
905(a).
2. The term "general
permit" means a permit issued under
10 V.S.A., §
1263 authorizing a class of discharges within
a common geographic area, including state-wide, that share the same or
substantially similar qualities such that the discharges can be regulated by
the same or similar permit conditions.
3. The term "individual permit" means a
discharge permit issued under
10 V.S.A., §
1263 that authorizes a specific discharge and
contains terms and conditions that are specific to the discharge.
4. The term "non-contact cooling water" means
water used to reduce temperature that does not come into direct contact with
any raw material, intermediate product, waste product (other than heat) or
finished product. Ground water that contains toxic or hazardous pollutants
shall be excluded from use under this definition. Steam electric generating
plants, as a category, are excluded from use under this definition.
5. The term "non-polluting wastes" means
those wastes that prior to treatment do not have the potential to result in an
undue adverse effect on any existing use, beneficial value or use, or the
quality of the receiving water.
6.
The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources or
his authorized representative,
10 V.S.A. §
1251(11).
7. The term "stormwater runoff" means natural
precipitation that does not infiltrate into the soil, including any material
dissolved or suspended in such water. Stormwater runoff does not include wastes
from combined sewer overflows.
B. Applicability of General Permits
The Secretary may issue a general permit in accordance with
the following:
1. Area - The general
permit shall be written to cover a category of discharges described in 13.12
B(2) of these rules within any existing geographic area, including the entire
state, for the purpose of carrying out these rules and to achieve the goals and
purpose of Title 10 V.S.A.
2.
Sources - General permits may be written to regulate within an existing
geographic area the following discharges:
(a)
stormwater runoff or
(b) any
category of discharges other than stormwater runoff, including non contact
cooling water, non polluting wastes, or any category of discharges which are
adequately regulated by another permit, license or certificate issued under the
authority of state or federal statute or regulation, provided the discharges
all:
i. involve the same or substantially
similar types of operation;
ii.
discharge the same types of wastes;
iii. require the same effluent limitations or
operating conditions;
iv. require
the same or similar monitoring, and;
v. in the opinion of the Secretary are more
appropriately controlled under a general permit than under individual
permits.
C. Administration
1. Draft General Permits - The Secretary
shall prepare a draft general permit in accordance with the provisions of 13.12
B. F. and G. of these rules. The Secretary shall provide notice of the draft
general permit and the opportunity for a public hearing in accord with section
13.3c.-
i. of these rules.
2. Requirements for Filing - Any
person wishing to discharge wastes subject to a general permit shall file a
notice on forms provided by the Secretary. Upon the request of the Secretary
any person who files a notice shall submit such additional information that may
be necessary to enable the Secretary to authorize the discharge under the terms
of a general permit. Each notice shall be accompanied by a fee as specified by
the Secretary and established by law.
3. Authorization to Discharge - Upon issuance
of the general permit, any person wishing to discharge wastes subject to the
general permit shall be authorized to do so upon a determination by the
Secretary that:
(a) the filings as required
in section 13.C.2. of these rules are complete, and;
(b) the discharge is eligible for coverage
under the terms and conditions of the general permit.
4. Transfer of Authorization to Discharge -
Any permittee may transfer the authorization to discharge by submitting a
notice of transfer to the Secretary. The notice shall be submitted 30 days
prior to the proposed date of transfer and shall include the following:
(a) the name and address of the present
permittee
(b) the name and address
of the prospective permittee
(c)
the proposed date of transfer
(d) a
statement signed by the prospective permittee, stating that:
i The conditions of the facility operation that contribute
to, or affect, the discharge will not be materially different under the new
ownership;
ii he/she has read and is familiar with the terms of the
permit and agrees to comply with all the terms and conditions of the permit,
and;
iii he/she has adequate funding or other means to effect
compliance with all the terms of the permit.
5. Changes to a Permitted Facility - The
permittee shall notify the Secretary of any planned facility expansions or
changes that result in new or increased discharges of pollutants. The Secretary
may require the permittee to submit additional information on the proposed
changes. The Secretary shall determine the appropriateness of continued
inclusion under the general permit by the modified facility.
6. Revocation of Authorization to Discharge -
The Secretary may, after notice and opportunity for public hearing under
3 V.S.A. §
814
revoke or suspend, in whole or in part, authorization to discharge under a
general permit for cause, including but not limited to:
(a) Violation of any terms or conditions of
the general permit;
(b) Obtaining a
general permit by misrepresentation or failure to disclose fully all relevant
facts;
(c) A change in any
condition that requires either a temporary or permanent reduction or
elimination of the permitted discharge; and,
(d) Correction of violations of Vermont Water
Quality Standards.
7.
Modification of General Permits - After notice and opportunity for a public
hearing pursuant to Section 13.3(c)-(i) of these rules the Secretary may modify
a general permit for cause including but not limited to the following:
(a) The statutes or rules on which the
general permit are based have been changed or,
(b) There is a change in any condition that
requires redrafting or alteration of the boundaries of a designated geographic
area or,
(c) The Secretary has
received new information, not available at the time of the permit issuance,
which indicates that the cumulative effects violate the Vermont Water Quality
Standards or,
(d) When required by
the "reopener" conditions in a general permit or,
(e) To correct technical mistakes, such as
errors in calculations or mistaken interpretations of law made in determining
permit conditions.
D. Requiring an Individual Permit
1. The Secretary may require any permittee
authorized by a general permit to apply for an individual discharge permit. Any
interested person may petition the Secretary to take action under this
paragraph. Cases where an individual permit may be required include the
following:
(a) The discharge(s) is a
significant contributor of pollution as determined by the following factors:
i. the location of the discharge with respect
to waters of the State of Vermont;
ii. the size of the discharge;
iii. the quantity and nature of the
pollutants reaching waters of the State of Vermont and the impacts of the
pollutants on the receiving water and;
iv. other relevant factors.
(b) The discharger is not in
compliance with the terms and conditions of the general permit or does not
qualify for a general permit.
(c) A
change has occurred in the availability of demonstrated technology or practices
for the control or abatement of wastes applicable to the discharge.
(d) Federal effluent limitation guidelines
are promulgated for discharges covered by the general permit.
(e) If necessary to implement a waste
management strategy contained in any applicable basin plan.
2. If the Secretary finds that a
permittee authorized by a general permit is required to apply for an individual
permit the Secretary shall so notify the permittee. This notice shall include a
brief statement of the reasons for this decision, an application form, a
statement setting a time for the permittee to file the application, and a
statement that on the effective date of the individual permit the general
permit as it applied to the individual permittee shall automatically terminate.
The Secretary may grant additional time upon request of the
applicant.
3. When an individual
permit is issued to a person otherwise subject to a general permit, the
applicability of the general permit to the individual permittee is
automatically terminated on the effective date of the individual
permit.
4. Any permittee authorized
by a general permit may request to be excluded from the coverage of a general
permit provided the permittee submits information supporting the request. If
the Secretary finds that the terms and conditions of the general permit do not
apply to the discharge, or that the discharge is more appropriately covered by
an individual permit the Secretary shall grant the request and shall so notify
the permittee in writing of his/her decision. Upon receipt of such
notification, the permittee shall submit to the Secretary an application for an
individual permit. The application shall be processed under 13.1 - 13.10 of
these regulations. The applicability of the general permit is not terminated
until the effective date of the individual permit.
E. Requiring a General Permit
1. The Secretary may require any person
applying for reissuance of an individual permit to be subject to a general
permit provided the Secretary finds the discharge complies with all conditions
of the general permit and the discharge is more appropriately covered under the
general permit.
2. Any permittee
subject to an individual permit and wishing to discharge wastes subject to a
general permit may file a notice on forms provided by the Secretary. Upon the
request of the Secretary, any person who files a notice shall submit such
additional information that may be necessary to enable the Secretary to
authorize the discharge under the terms of a general permit. Each notice shall
be accompanied by a fee as specified by the Secretary and established by
law.
3. Any permittee subject to an
individual permit shall be authorized to discharge under the terms of a general
permit upon:
(a) issuance of a notice by the
Secretary authorizing the discharge under the terms of a general permit
and;
(b) expiration of the
individual permit under which the permittee was previously authorized to
discharge.
F.
General Conditions Applicable to All General Permits
1. The following terms, conditions,
requirements, limitations and restrictions set forth in this part are binding
upon the permittee. All conditions for general permits are enforceable under
Title 10 V.S.A. Chapter 47.
2. The
Secretary shall issue a general permit containing terms and conditions
necessary to carry out the purposes of the Vermont Water Pollution Control Act.
10 V.S.A., Chapter 47, and the Clean Water Act as amended, including these set
forth in Sections 13.4, 13.5a and 13.6 of these rules. Those terms and
conditions may include but shall not be limited to providing for specific
effluent limitations and levels of treatment technology, monitoring, recording,
reporting standards and may contain additional conditions and requirements as
the Secretary deems necessary to preserve and protect the quality of the
receiving waters.
3. Violation - A
general permit is valid only for the time and specific activity indicated. Any
deviation from the specified activity and conditions for undertaking that
activity or submission of false, incomplete or inaccurate information shall
constitute a violation of the permit. A violation of the permit may result in
modification, suspension or revocation of the permittee's authorization to
discharge under the general permit and may result in the institution of legal
proceedings pursuant to Title 10 V.S.A. Chapter 47 § 1274, § 1275 and
Title 10 V.S.A. Chapter 201 and 21.
4. Rights and Privileges - The general permit
conveys no vested rights or exclusive privileges. The general permit conveys no
title to land nor authorizes any injury to public or private property. The
general permit does not authorize infringement of any applicable federal, state
or local laws or regulations nor obviate the necessity of obtaining such
additional permits as may be required.
5. Right of Entry - The permittee shall allow
an authorized representative of the Department access to the permitted facility
at reasonable times for the purpose of inspection and testing to determine
compliance with the general permit pursuant to Title 10 V.S.A. Chapter 37
§ 911.
6. Duty to Operate and
Maintain - The permittee shall properly operate and maintain any permitted
facility in good condition. The condition of the permitted facility shall at no
time contribute to a violation of the terms, conditions, requirements,
limitations and restrictions specified by the general permit.
G. Conditions Applicable to
General Permits for Stormwater Discharges Notwithstanding Section 13.5a. of
these rules, in the case of general permits for discharges of stormwater that
are not regulated under the Federal Clean Water Act, as amended, the Secretary
may specify the period of time for which the general permit is valid other than
five years where such time is consistent with the goals and purposes of Title
10 V.S.A. §
1264.