[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 144 (Thursday, July 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18333]


[Federal Register: July 28, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5016-6]


National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES); 
Preparation of Draft General Permit for the States of Maine, 
Massachusetts, and New Hampshire

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice; Preparation of Draft General NPDES Permits--MAG640000, 
MEG640000, and NHG640000.

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SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator of Region I is today providing 
Notice of a Draft General NPDES Permit for water treatment facilities 
in certain waters of the States of Maine, Massachusetts, and New 
Hampshire. This draft general NPDES Permit proposes effluent 
limitations, standards, prohibitions and management practices for these 
types of discharges (Appendix A contains the Draft General NPDES 
Permits and Appendix B is the Draft General Conditions applicable to 
all three general permits). The permit will become effective 30 days 
after the date of publication of the final general permit in the 
Federal Register. The permit will expire 5 years from the effective 
date. Owners and/or operators of facilities discharging effluent from 
water treatment facilities will be required to submit to EPA, Region I, 
a notice of intent (NOI) to be covered by the appropriate general 
permit and will receive a written notification from EPA of permit 
coverage and authorization to discharge under the general permit.
    The draft permit is based on an administrative record available for 
public review at: Environmental Protection Agency, Region I, John F. 
Kennedy Federal Building, WMM, Boston, Massachusetts 02203.
    The following ``Fact Sheet and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section 
sets forth principal facts and the significant factual, legal, and 
policy questions considered in the development of the draft permits.

DATES: For comment period: Interested persons may submit comments on 
the draft general permits as part of the administrative record to the 
Regional Administrator, Region I at the address given in the preceeding 
``SUMMARY'' section no later than August 29, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND COPIES OF DRAFT GENERAL NPDES PERMITS: 
Additional information concerning the draft permits may be obtained 
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday 
excluding holidays from: Suprokash Sarker, Wastewater Management 
Branch, Water Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, 
J.F. Kennedy Federal Building, WMN, Boston, Massachusetts 02203, 
Telephone (617) 565-3573.
FACT SHEET AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background Information

A. General Permits

    Section 301(a) of the Clean Water Act (the Act) provides that the 
discharge of pollutants is unlawful except in accordance with a 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. 
Although such permits to date have generally been issued to individual 
discharges, EPA's regulations authorize the issuance of ``general 
permits'' to categories of discharges. See 40 CFR 122.28 (48 FR 14146, 
April 1, l983). EPA may issue a single, general permit to a category of 
point sources located within the same geographic area whose permits 
warrant similar pollutant control measures.
    The Director of an NPDES permit program is authorized to issue a 
general permit if there are a number of point sources operating in a 
geographic area that:
    1. Involve the same or substantially similar types of operations;
    2. Discharge the same types of wastes;
    3. Require the same effluent limitations or operating conditions;
    4. Require the same or similar monitoring requirements; and
    5. In the opinion of the Regional Administrator, are more 
appropriately controlled under a general permit than under individual 
permits.
    Violations of a condition of a general permit constitutes a 
violation of the Clean Water Act and subjects the discharger to the 
penalties in Section 309 of the Act.
    Any owner or operator authorized by a general permit may be 
excluded from coverage of a general permit by applying for an 
individual permit. This request may be made by submitting a NPDES 
permit application together with reasons supporting the request no 
later than 90 days after publication by EPA of the final general permit 
in the Federal Register. The Regional Administrator may require any 
person authorized by a general permit to apply for and obtain an 
individual permit. Any interested person may petition the Regional 
Administrator to take this action. However, individual permits will not 
be issued for sources discharging effluent from water treatment 
facility covered by this general permit unless it can be clearly 
demonstrated that inclusion under the general permit is inappropriate. 
The Regional Administrator may consider the issuance of individual 
permits when:
    1. The discharge(s) is a significant contributor of pollution;
    2. The discharge(s) is not in compliance with the terms and 
conditions of the general permit;
    3. A change has occurred in the availability of demonstrated 
technology or practices for the control or abatement of pollutants 
applicable to the point source;
    4. Effluent limitations guidelines are subsequently promulgated for 
the point sources covered by the general permit;
    5. A Water Quality Management plan containing requirements 
applicable to such point sources is approved; or
    6. The requirements listed in the previous paragraphs are not met.

B. Coverage Under This General Permit

    Under this general permit, owners and operators of potable water 
treatment plants in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire may be 
granted authorization to discharge process generated wastewaters into 
waters of the respective States as follows:
    a. Treated presedimentation underflow;
    b. Treated underflow from the coagulation/settling processes using 
aluminum compounds or polymers as coagulants; and
    c. Treated filter backwash water from filters.
    This permit shall apply specifically to operators that have a 
discharge from a point source such as a sludge settling lagoon or other 
device whereby comparable control of suspended solids is possible.
    Authorization under the permit shall require prior submittal of 
certain facility information. Upon receipt of all required information, 
the permit issuing authority may allow or disallow coverage under the 
general permit.
    The following list shows the criteria which will be used in 
evaluating whether or not an individual permit may be required instead 
of a general permit.
    1. Evidence on non-compliance under previous permit for the 
operation;
    2. Preservation of high quality waters and fisheries;
    3. Facilities with an effluent discharge flow of over 1.00 MGD 
maximum daily for the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire and 
0.15 MGD maximum daily for the state of Maine.
    4. Production of effluent at the facility other than using aluminum 
compound or polymer as coagulant, and
    5. Use of land application as a means of discharge.
    6. For the state of Maine, a minimum dilution of effluent of 100:1 
in the receiving water at 7Q10 should be stipulated.
    The similarity of the discharges has prompted EPA to prepare this 
draft general permit for public review and comment. When issued, this 
permit will enable facilities to maintain compliance with the Act and 
will extend environmental and regulatory controls to a large number of 
discharges and reduce some permit backlog. The issuance of this general 
permit for the geographic areas described below is warranted by this 
similarity of (a) environmental conditions. (b) State regulatory 
requirements applicable to the discharges and receiving waters, and (c) 
technology employed.
Maine
    In the State of Maine, there are 271 industrial applicants or 
permittees. It is estimated that 13 of the industries that have direct 
discharges to the waters of the State are strictly water treatment 
facilities.
New Hampshire
    In the State of New Hampshire, there are 171 estimated industrial 
applications or permittees. It is estimated that 2 or more of the 
industries that have the direct discharges to the waters of the State 
are strictly water treatment facilities.
Massachusetts
    In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there are 651 industrial 
applicants or permittees. It is estimated that 33 of the industries 
that have direct discharges to the waters of the State are strictly 
water treatment facilities.

II. Conditions of the Draft General NPDES Permit

A. Geographic Areas

Maine (Permit No. MEG640000)
    All of the discharges to be authorized by the general NPDES permit 
for the State of Maine from dischargers are limited to Class B, C, SB 
and SC waters of the State, except lakes. The drainage areas must be 
more than 10 square miles.
Massachusetts (Permit No. MAG640000)
    All of the discharges to be authorized by the general NPDES permit 
for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts dischargers are into all waters 
in Water Quality Classifications B, C, SB and SC as designated in 
Massachusetts Water Quality Standards, 314 CMR 4.00 et seq.
New Hampshire (Permit No. NHG640000)
    All of the discharges to be authorized by the general NPDES permit 
for the State of New Hampshire dischargers are into all waters of the 
State of New Hampshire unless otherwise restricted by the State Water 
Quality Standards, New Hampshire RSA 485-A:8.

B. Notification by Permittees

    Operators of facilities whose discharge, or discharges, are 
described in Part IB and whose facilities are located in the geographic 
areas described in Part II. A. above may submit to the Regional 
Administrator, Region I, a notice of intent to be covered by the 
appropriate general permit. This written notification must include the 
owner's or operator's legal name and address, the number and type of 
facilities to be covered, the facility locations, the names of the 
receiving waters into which discharge will occur. The facilities 
authorized to discharge under a final general permit will receive 
written notification from EPA, Region I, within 30 days of permit 
coverage. Failure to submit to EPA, Region I, a notice of intent to be 
covered or failure to receive from EPA written notification of permit 
coverage means that the facility is not authorized to discharge.

C. Effluent Limitations

1. Statutory Requirements
    The Clean Water Act requires all dischargers to meet effluent 
limitations based on the technological capability of dischargers to 
control the discharge of the pollutants. Section 301(b)(1)(A) requires 
the application of ``Best Practicable Control Technology Currently 
Available'' (BPT). Section 301(b)(2) (A), (C), (D), and (F) requires 
the application of ``Best Available Technology Economically Available'' 
(BAT) by July 1, 1984, for all toxic pollutants referred to in Table 1 
of Committee Print Numbered 95-30 of the Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation of the House of Representatives and not later than three 
years after the date any limitations are established for toxic 
pollutants listed under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Section 307 
of the Act which are not referred to in subparagraph (C) of Section 
301(b)(2). Section 301(b)(2)(A) and (F) requires ``Best Available 
Treatment Technology Economically Achievable'' (BAT) for 
nonconventional pollution by July 1, 1984, and Section 301(b)(2)(E) 
requires the application of the Best Conventional Pollutant Control 
Technology (BCT) for conventional pollutants by July 1, 1984. The 
effluent limitations in the general permit are consistent with these 
statutory requirements.
2. Technology-based Effluent Limitations
    The Environmental Protection Agency has not developed effluent 
guidelines for water treatment facilities. In the absence of national 
standards, effluent limitations for the TSS limitations are based upon 
best professional judgement pursuant to Section 401(a)(1) of the CWA.
    The ``Maximum Daily'' TSS limitation and the limitations for 
settleable solids and pH are based upon state certification 
requirements under Section 401(a)(1) of the CWA, 40 CFR 124.53 and 
124.55, and water quality considerations.
3. Water Quality Standards
    The effluent from the water treatment facility may contain toxic 
pollutants due to use of chemicals and chlorine. However, they do not 
contain hazardous pollutants or oil and grease. Therefore, water 
quality criteria established for oil and grease and hazardous 
pollutants do not apply to these discharges. Water Quality Standards 
applicable to these discharges are limited to pH, seettleable solids, 
and TSS. In addition testing requirements are necessary for aluminum, 
chlorine and LC50, C-NOEC. The limits of total residual chlorine and 
aluminum for the state of Maine are based upon state certification 
requirements.
4. Antidegradation Provisions
    The conditions of the permit reflect the goal of the CWA and EPA to 
achieve and maintain water quality standards. The environmental 
regulations pertaining to the State Antidegradation Policies which 
protect the State's surface waters from falling below State standards 
for water quality are found in the following provisions: Maine Title 
38, Article 4-A, Section 464.4.F.; Massachusetts Water Quality 
Standards 314 CMR 4.04 Antidegradation Provisions; and New Hampshire 
policy RSA 485-A:8, VI Part Env-Ws 437.01 and Env-Ws 437.02.
    This general permit will not apply to any new or increased 
discharge unless it can be determined that such discharges will result 
in insignificant effects to the receiving waters. This determination 
shall be made in accordance with the appropriate State Antidegradation 
Policies.
5. Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
    Effluent limitations and monitoring requirements are included in 
the general permit describing requirements to be imposed on facilities 
to be covered.
    Facilities covered by the final general permits will be required to 
submit to EPA, Region I, and the appropriate State a Discharge 
Monitoring Report containing effluent data on a semi-annual basis.
    The monitoring requirements have been established to yield data 
representative of the discharge under authority of Section 308(a) of 
the Act and 40 CFR 122.41(j), 122.44(i) and 122.48, and as certified by 
the State.

III. Other Requirements

    The remaining conditions of the permit are based on the NPDES 
regulations 40 CFR parts 122 through 125 and consist primarily of 
management requirements common to all permits.

IV. State Certification

    Section 301(b)(1)(C) of the Act requires that NPDES permits contain 
conditions which ensure compliance with applicable State water quality 
standards or limitations. Section 401 requires that States certify that 
Federally issued permits are in compliance with State law.
    These permits are for operations within waters of the States. EPA 
is requesting the States to review and provide appropriate 
certification to these general permits pursuant to 40 CFR 124.53.

V. Administrative Aspects

A. Request To Be Covered

    Owners or operators of water treatment facility discharges are not 
covered by this general permit until they meet two requirements. First, 
they must send a letter of intent to EPA indicating that they meet the 
requirements of the permit and wish to be covered. Second, they must be 
notified by EPA that they are covered by a general permit. If the 
facility has an existing individual NPDES permit, it will be terminated 
as outlined in 40 CFR 122.28(b)(2)(iv).

B. Mechanisms

    All persons, including dischargers who believe any condition of the 
draft permit is inappropriate must raise all issues and submit all 
available arguments and supporting material for their arguments in full 
by the close of the public comment period, to the U. S. EPA, Wastewater 
Management Branch, WMN, JFK Federal Building, Boston, Massachusetts, 
02203. Any person, prior to such date, may submit a request in writing 
for a public hearing to consider the draft permit to EPA and the State 
Agency. Such requests shall state the nature of the issues proposed to 
be raised in the hearing. A public hearing may be held after at least a 
30-day public notice whenever the Regional Administrator finds that 
response to this notice indicates significant interest. In reaching a 
final decision on the draft permits, the Regional Administrator will 
respond to all significant comments and make these responses available 
to the public at EPA's Boston office.
    Following the close of the comment period, and after the public 
hearing, if such hearing is held, the Regional Administrator will issue 
a final permit in the Federal Register.

C. The Coastal Zone Management Act

    The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq., and 
its implementing regulations [15 CFR Part 930] require that any 
federally licensed activity affecting the coastal zone with an approved 
Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP) be determined to be consistent 
with the CZMA. EPA, Region I, has determined that these general NPDES 
permits are consistent with the CZMA. EPA has requested the 
Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire coastal zone agencies for a 
determination that these three permits are consistent with their 
respective State policies.

D. The Endangered Species Act

    EPA Region I has concluded that the discharges to be covered by the 
general NPDES permits will not affect or jeopardize the continued 
existence of any endangered or threatened species or adversely affect 
its critical habitat. EPA has requested consultations with the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to 
confirm this conclusion.

E. Environmental Impact Statement Requirements

    The general permits do not authorize the construction of any water 
resources project or the impoundment of any water body or have any 
effect on historical property, and are not major Federal activities 
needing preparation of any Environmental Impact Statement. Therefore, 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 16 U.S.C. 1273 et seq., the National 
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 16 U.S.C 470 et seq., the Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq., and the National 
Environmental Policy Act, 33 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., do not apply to the 
issuance of this general NPDES permit.

VI. Other Legal Requirements

A. Economic Impact (Executive Order 12866)

    EPA has reviewed the effect of Executive Order 12866 on this draft 
general permit and has determined that it is not a significant rule 
under that order. This regulation was submitted previously to the 
Office of Management and Budget for review as required by the former 
Executive Order 12291. The Office of Management and Budget exempted 
this action from the review requirements of Executive Order 12291 
pursuant to Section 8(b) of that Order, which was revoked and 
superseded by Executive Order 12866.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    EPA has reviewed the requirements imposed on regulated facilities 
by these draft general NPDES permits under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq. The information collection 
requirements of these draft permits have already been approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget under submissions made for the NPDES 
permit program under the provisions of the Clean Water Act. No comments 
from the Office of Management and Budget or the public were received on 
the information collection requirements in these permits.

C. The Regulatory Flexibility Act

    After review of the facts presented in the notice printed above, I 
hereby certify, pursuant to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that 
this permit does not have a significant impact on a substantial number 
of small entities. Moreover, the draft permit will reduce a significant 
administrative burden on regulated sources.

    Dated: July 6, 1994.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator.

Appendix A--Draft General Permit

Proposed Draft General Permit Under the National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

    Note: The Following draft general NPDES permit has been combined 
for purposes of this Federal Register notice in order to eliminate 
duplication of material common to all permits for the individual 
states.

    1. Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire Draft General Permit.
    In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Clean Water 
Act, as amended, (33 U.S.C. 1251 et.seq.) the ``CWA'' operators of 
facilities located in Part II A. which discharge effluent from water 
treatment facilities as defined in Part IB at a rate of one million 
gallons per day or less to waters as designated in Part II A in 
accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements and 
other conditions set forth herein.
    This permit shall become effective on the date of the signature 
below.
    This permit and the authorization to discharge expire at 
midnight, five years from date of signature.
    This permit consists of Part I below including effluent 
limitations, monitoring requirements etc. and Part II under Appendix 
B, General Requirements.
    Operators of facilities within the general permit area who fail 
to notify the Director of their intent to be covered by this general 
permit and receive no written notification of permit coverage or 
those who are denied by the Director are not authorized under this 
general permit to discharge from those facilities to the receiving 
waters.
    Signed this ________ day of ____________ David A. Fierra 
Director, Water Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region I, Boston, Massachusetts 02203.

Part I

A. Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements

    1. During the period beginning effective date and lasting 
through expiration, the permittee is authorized to discharge from 
each outfall effluent from water treatment facilities to receiving 
waters as designated in Part II A.
    a. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the 
permittee as specified below: 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Discharge limitations                        Monitoring requirements           
      Effluent       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   characteristic                                                  Measurement\2\                               
                          Avg. monthly          Max. daily\1\         frequency             Sample type         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flow (MGD)..........  See note A.1. i.....  See note A.1. i.....  1/week..........  Daily average.              
TSS(mg/l)...........  30..................  50..................  1/week..........  Grab.                       
Settleable Solids     .1..................  0.2.................  1/week..........  Grab.                       
 (ml/l)1, 5.                                                                                                    
pH..................  See note A.1 g......  See note A.1 g......  ................  ............................
Aluminum(mg/l)......  See note A.1 j......  See note A.1 j......  1/month.........  Grab.                       
LC50&C-NOEC\3\......  See note A.1 h......  See note A.1 h......  ................  Grab.                       
Chlorine Residual\4\  See note A.1 k......  See note A.1 k......  Daily...........  Grab.                       
 ug/l.                                                                                                          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\State certification requirement.                                                                             
\2\Samples shall be taken only when discharging.                                                                
\3\LC-50 is the concentration of effluent in a sample that causes mortality to 50% of the test population at a  
  specific time or observation. No Observed Chronic Effect Concentration (C-NOEC) is the highest concentration  
  of effluent to which organisms are exposed in a life-cycle or partial life-cycle test which causes no adverse 
  effect on growth, survival and reproduction.                                                                  
\4\Test only if chlorination is used in the process.                                                            
\5\Commonwealth of Massachusetts only.                                                                          

    b. The discharge shall not cause objectionable discoloration of 
the receiving waters.
    c. There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible 
foam. The discharge shall be adequately treated to insure that the 
surface water remains free from pollutants in concentratins or 
combinations that settle to form harmful deposits, float as foam, 
debris, scum or other visible pollutants. It shall be adequately 
treated to insure that the surface waters remain free from 
pollutants which produce odor, color, taste or turbidity in the 
receiving water which is not naturally occuring and would render it 
unsuitable for its designated use.
    d. The effluent limitations are based on the state water quality 
standard and are certified by the states.
    e. Samples taken in compliance with the monitoring requirements 
specified above shall be taken at the point of discharge.
    f. All discharges as designated in IB shall pass through a 
settling pond for 24 hours minimum detention time or other approved 
treatment system and meet the effluent limitations in Part I.1.a. 
prior to discharge to waters of the states.
    g. pH. Massachusetts.
    The pH of the effluent shall not be less than nor greater than 
the range given for the receiving water classifications, unless 
these values are exceeded due to natural causes.
    The following table specifies ranges for Massachussetts: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Classification                           Range  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
B............................................................    6.5-8.3
C............................................................    6.5-9.0
SB...........................................................    6.5-8.5
SC...........................................................   6.5-9.0 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maine

    The pH range in both freshwater and saltwater is 6.0 to 8.5 su. 
Unless establishes on a case-by-case basis (By State Policy).

New Hampshire

    The pH of the effluent shall not be less than 6.5 standard units 
(su) nor greater than 8.0 su at any time unless these values are 
exceeded due to natural causes.
    h. One chronic and modified acute toxicity screening test shall 
be performed by the permittee within 90 days after the issuance date 
of this general NPDES permit. One grab sample will be taken during 
normal facility operation. The Cerio-daphnia dubia for fresh water 
and sea-urchin for marine water shall be used as test organism in 
the test. A copy of the test procedure and detailed protocol will be 
provided upon request from EPA, Region I. The results of the chronic 
biological test (C-NOEC and LC50) will be forwarded to State and EPA 
within 30 days after the completion of all tests.
    i. The states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire will have a 
maximum daily limit of 1.0 mgd. The state of Maine will have a 
maximum daily limit of 0.15 mgd.
    j. For the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire report 
only. For the state of Maine the maximum daily limit of Aluminum 
will be 5.0 mg/l.
    k. For the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire report 
only. For the state of Maine the maximum daily limit of chlorine 
residual will be 1.0 mg/l.

B. Monitoring and Reporting

1. Reporting

Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire

    Monitoring results obtained during the previous 6 months shall 
be summarized for each quarter and reported on separate Discharge 
Monitoring Report Form(s) postmarked no later than the 15th day of 
the month following the completed reporting period. The reports are 
due on the 15th days of January and July. The first report may 
include less than 6 months information.
    Signed copies of these, and all other reports required herein, 
shall be submitted to the Director and the State at the following 
addresses as follows:
    a. EPA shall receive copy of all reports required herein: NPDES 
Program Operations Section, Water Compliance Branch Water Management 
Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Post Office Box 8127, 
Boston, MA 02114.
    b. Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control.
    (1) The Regional offices wherein the discharge occurs, shall 
receive a copy of all reports required herein:

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts 
Division of Water Pollution Control, Western Regional Office, 436 
Dwight St., Suite 402, Springfield, MA 01101
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts 
Division of Water Pollution Control, Southeastern Regional Office, 
20 Riverside Drive Lakeville, MA 02346
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Massachusetts 
Division of Water Pollution Control, Northeastern Regional Office, 
10 Commerce Way, Woburn, MA 01801
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts 
Division of Water Pollution Control, Central Regional Office, 75 
Grove Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
    (2) The Central Boston Office shall receive all notifications 
reports other than the DMRs required by this permit shall be 
submitted to the States at: Massachusetts Department of 
Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution 
Control 7th Floor, 1 Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108.
    c. Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Signed copies 
of all reports required by this permit shall be sent to the State of 
Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Operation and 
Maintenance Division, State House, Station 17. Augusta, ME 04333.
    d. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
    Signed copies of all reports required by this permit shall be 
sent to the State at: New Hampshire Department of Environmental 
Services, Water Supply and Pollution Control Division, Permits and 
Compliance Section; P.O. Box 95, Concord, New Hampshrie 03302-0095.

C. Additional General Permit Conditions

1. Notification Requirements

    a. Written notification of commencement of operations including 
the legal names and addresses of the owners and operator and the 
locations, number and type of facilities and/or operations covered 
shall be submitted.
    (1) For existing discharges as soon as possible after the 
effective date of this permit, by operators whose facilities and/or 
operations are discharging into the general permit area on the 
effective date of the permit; or
    (2) For new or substantially increased discharges 20 days prior 
to commencement of the discharge by operators whose facilities and/
or operations commence discharge subsequent to the effective date of 
this permit.
    b. Operators of facilities and/or operations within the general 
permits area who fail to notify the Director of their intent to be 
covered by this general permit and obtain written authorization of 
coverage are not authorized under this general permit to discharge 
from those facilities into the named receiving waters.

2. Termination of Operations

    Operators of facilities and/or operators authorized under this 
permit shall notify the Director upon the termination of discharges.

3. Renotification

    Upon reissuance of a new general permit, the permittee is 
required to notify the Director of his intent to be covered by the 
new general permit.

4. When the Director May Require Application for an Individual NPDES 
Permit

    Any interested person may petition the Director to take such 
action. Instances where an individual permit may be required include 
the following:
    (1) The discharge(s) is a significant contributor of pollution:
    (2) The discharger is not in compliance with the conditions of 
this permit;
    (3) A change has occurred in the availability of the 
demonstrated technology of practices for the control or abatement of 
pollutants applicable to the point source;
    (4) Effluent limitation guidelines are promulgated for point 
sources covered by this permit;
    (5) A Water Quality Management Plan containing requirements 
applicable to such point source is approved; or
    (6) The point source(s) covered by this permit no longer:
    (a) Involves the same volume or substantially similar types of 
operations
    (b) Discharges the same type of wastes;
    (c) Requires the same effluent limitations or operating 
conditions;
    (d) Requires the same or similar monitoring and
    (e) In the opinion of the Director is more appropriately 
controlled under a general permit than under an individual NPDES 
permit.
    5. The Director may require an individual permit only if the 
permittee authorized by the general permit has been notified in 
writing that an individual permit is required, and has been given a 
brief explanation of the reasons for this decision.
    6. When an Individual NPDES Permit is issued to an operator 
otherwise subject to this general permit, the applicability of this 
permit to that owner or operator is automatically terminated on the 
effective date of the individual permit.

Appendix B: Part II, General Requirements for all EPA, Region I, 
General NPDES Permits

Section A. General Requirements

    1. Duty to Comply see 40 CFR 122.41(a).
    2. Permit Actions see 40 CFR 122.41(f).
    3. Duty to Provide Information see 40 CFR 122.41(h).
    4. Reopener Clause.
    The Regional Administrator reserves the right to make 
appropriate revisions to this permit in order to establish any 
appropriate effluent limitations, schedules of compliance, or other 
provisions which may be authorized under the CWA in order to bring 
all discharges into compliance with the CWA.
    5. Oil and Hazardous Substance Liability.
    Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the 
institution of any legal action or relieve the permittee from any 
responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties to which the permittee 
is or may be subject under Section 311 of the CWA, or Section 106 of 
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability 
Act of 1980 (CERCLA).
    6. Property Rights see 40 CFR 122.41(g).
    7. Confidentiality of Information.
    a. In accordance with 40 CFR part 2, any information submitted 
to EPA pursuant to these regulations may be claimed as confidential 
by the submitter. Any such claim must be asserted at the time of 
submission in the manner prescribed on the application form or 
instructions or, in the case of other submissions, by stamping the 
words ``confidential business information'' on each page containing 
such information. If no claim is made at the time of submission, EPA 
may make the information available to the public without further 
notice. If a claim is asserted, the information will be treated in 
accordance with the procedures in 40 CFR Part 2 (Public 
Information).
    b. Claims of confidentiality for the following information will 
be denied:
    (1) The name and address of any permit applicant or permittee;
    (2) Permit applications, permits, and effluent data as defined 
in 40 CFR 2.302(a)(2).
    c. Information required by NPDES application forms provided by 
the Regional Administrator under Sec. 122.21 may not be claimed 
confidential. This includes information submitted on the forms 
themselves and any attachments used to supply information required 
by the forms.
    8. Duty to Reapply see 40 CFR 122.41(b).
    9. Right of Appeal.
    Within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice of a final permit 
decision, any interested person, including the permittee, may submit 
a request to the Regional Administrator for an Evidentiary Hearing 
under subpart E, or a Non-Adversary Panel Hearing under subpart F, 
of 40 CFR part 124, to reconsider or contest that decision. The 
request for a hearing must conform to the requirements of 40 CFR 
124.74.
    10. State Authorities.
    Nothing in part 122, 123, or 124 precludes more stringent State 
regulation of any activity covered by these regulations, whether or 
not under an approved State program.
    11. Other Laws.
    The issuance of a permit does not authorize any injury to 
persons or property or invasion of other private rights, nor does it 
relieve the permittee of its obligation to comply with any other 
applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.

Section B. Operation and Maintenance of Pollution Controls

    1. Proper Operation and Maintenance see 40 CFR 122.41 (e).
    2. Need to Halt or Reduce Not a Defense see 40 CFR 122.41 (c).
    3. Duty to Mitigate see 40 CFR 122.41 (d).
    4. Bypass see 40 CFR 122.41 (m).
    5. Upset see 40 CFR 122.41 (n).

Section C. Monitoring and Records

    1. Monitoring and Records see 40 CFR 122.41 (j).
    2. Inspection and Entry see 40 CFR 122.41 (i).

Section D. Reporting Requirements

    1. Reporting Requirements see 40 CFR 122.41 (l).
    2. Signatory Requirement see 40 CFR 122.41 (k).
    3. Availability of Reports.
    Except for data determined to be confidential under Paragraph 
A.7. above, all reports prepared in accordance with the terms of 
this permit shall be available for public inspection at the offices 
of the State water pollution control agency and the Regional 
Administrator. As required by the CWA, effluent data shall not be 
considered confidential. Knowingly making any false statement on any 
such report may result in the imposition of criminal penalties as 
provided for in Section 309 of the CWA.

Section E. Other Conditions

    1. Definitions for purposes of this permit are as follows:
    Administrator means the Administrator of the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency, or an authorized representative.
    Applicable standards and limitations means all State, 
interstate, and Federal standards and limitations to which a 
``discharge'' or a related activity is subject to, including water 
quality standards, standards of performance, toxic effluent 
standards or prohibitions, ``best management practices,'' and 
pretreatment standards under sections 301, 302, 303, 304, 306, 307, 
308, 403, and 405 of CWA.
    Application means the EPA standard national forms for applying 
for a permit, including any additions, revisions or modifications to 
the forms; or forms approved by EPA for use in ``approved States,'' 
including any approved modifications or revisions.
    Average. The arithmetic mean of values taken at the frequency 
required for each parameter over the specified period. For total 
and/or fecal coliforms, the average shall be the geometric mean.
    Average monthly discharge limitation means the highest allowable 
average of ``daily discharges'' over a calendar month, calculated as 
the sum of all daily discharges measured during a calendar month 
divided by the number of daily discharges measured during that 
month.
    Average weekly discharge limitation means the highest allowable 
average of ``daily discharges'' over a calendar week, calculated as 
the sum of all daily discharges measured during a calendar week 
divided by the number of daily discharges measured during that week.
    Best Management Practices (BMPs) means schedules of activities, 
prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other 
management practices to prevent or reduce the pollution of ``waters 
of the United States.'' BMPs also include treatment requirements, 
operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, 
spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw 
material storage.
    Best Professional Judgement (BPJ) means a case-by-case 
determination of Best Practicable Treatment (BPT), Best Available 
Treatment (BAT) or other appropriate standard based on an evaluation 
of the available technology to achieve a particular pollutant 
reduction.
    Composite Sample--A sample consisting of a minimum of eight grab 
samples collected at equal intervals during a 24-hour period (or 
lesser period as specified in the section on Monitoring and 
Reporting) and combined proportional to flow, or a sample 
continuously collected proportionally to flow over that same time 
period.
    Continuous Discharge means a ``discharge'' which occurs without 
interruption throughout the operating hours of the facility except 
for infrequent shutdowns for maintenance, process changes, or 
similar activities.
    CWA or ``The Act'' means the Clean Water Act (formerly referred 
to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972) Public Law 92-500, as 
amended by Public Law 95-217, Public Law 95-576, Public Law 96-483 
and Public Law 97-117; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
    Daily Discharge means the discharge of a pollutant measured 
during a calendar day or any 24-hour period that reasonably 
represents the calendar day for purposes of sampling. For pollutants 
with limitations expressed in units of mass, the daily discharge is 
calculated as the total mass of the pollutant discharged over the 
day. For pollutants with limitations expressed in other units of 
measurements, the daily discharge is calculated as the average 
measurement of the pollutant over the day.
    Director means the person authorized to sign NPDES permits by 
EPA and/or the State.
    Discharge Monitoring Report Form (DMR) means the EPA standard 
national form, including any subsequent additions, revisions, or 
modifications, for the reporting of self-monitoring results by 
permittees. DMRs must be used by ``approved States'' as well as by 
EPA. EPA will supply DMRs to any approved State upon request. The 
EPA national forms may be modified to substitute the State Agency 
name, address, logo, and other similar information, as appropriate, 
in place of EPA's.
    Discharge of a pollutant means:
    (a) Any addition of any ``pollutant'' or combination of 
pollutants to ``waters of the United States'' from any ``point 
source,'' or
    (b) Any addition of any pollutant or combination of pollutants 
to the waters of the ``contiguous zone'' or the ocean from any point 
source other than a vessel or other floating craft which is being 
used as a means of transportation.
    This definition includes additions of pollutants into waters of 
the United States from: surface runoff which is collected or 
channelled by man; discharges through pipes, sewers, or other 
conveyances owned by a State, municipality, or other person which do 
not lead to a treatment works; and discharges through pipes, sewers, 
or other conveyances leading into privately owned treatment works.
    This term does not include an addition of pollutants by any 
``indirect discharger.''
    Effluent limitation means any restriction imposed by the 
Director on quantities, discharge rates, and concentrations of 
``pollutants'' which are ``discharged'' from ``point sources'' into 
``waters of the United States,'' the waters of the ``contiguous 
zone,'' or the ocean.
    Effluent limitations guidelines means a regulation published by 
the Administrator under Section 304(b) of CWA to adopt or revise 
``effluent limitations.''
    EPA means the United States ``Environmental Protection Agency.''
    Grab Sample--An individual sample collected in a period of less 
than 15 minutes.
    Hazardous Substance means any substance designated under 40 CFR 
Part 116 pursuant to Section 311 of CWA.
    Maximum daily discharge limitation means the highest allowable 
``daily discharge.''
    Municipality means a city, town, borough, county, parish, 
district, association, or other public body created by of under 
State law and having jurisdiction over disposal or sewage, 
industrial wastes, or other wastes, or an Indian tribe or an 
authorized Indian tribe organization, or a designated and approved 
management agency under section 208 of CWA.
    National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System means the 
national program for issuing, modifying, revoking and reissuing, 
terminating, monitoring and enforcing permits, and imposing and 
enforcing pretreatment requirements, under sections 307, 402, 318, 
and 405 of CWA. The term includes an ``approved program.''
    New discharger means any building, structure, facility, or 
installation:
    (a) From which there is or may be a ``discharge of pollutants'';
    (b) That did not commence the ``discharge of pollutants'' at a 
particular ``site'' prior to August 13, 1979;
    (c) Which is not a ``new source''; and
    (d) Which has never received a finally effective NPDES permit 
for discharges at that ``site''.
    This definition includes an ``indirect discharger'' which 
commences discharging into ``waters of the United States'' after 
August 13, 1979. It also includes any existing mobile point source 
(other than an offshore or coastal oil and gas exploratory drilling 
rig or a coastal oil and gas developmental drilling rig) such as a 
seafood processing rig, seafood processing vessel, or aggregate 
plant, that begins discharging at a ``site'' for which it does not 
have a permit; and any offshore or coastal mobile oil and gas 
exploratory drilling rig or coastal mobile oil and gas developmental 
drilling rig that commences the discharge of pollutants after August 
13, 1979, at a ``site'' under EPA's permitting jurisdiction for 
which it is not covered by an individual or general permit and which 
is located in an area determined by the Regional Administrator in 
the issuance of a final permit to be an area of biological concern. 
In determining whether an area is an area of biological concern, the 
Regional Administrator shall consider the factors specified in 40 
CFR 125.122(a) (1) through (10).
    An offshore or coastal mobile exploratory drilling rig or 
coastal mobile developmental drilling rig will be considered a ``new 
discharger'' only for the duration of its discharge in an area of 
biological concern.
    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:
    (a) After promulgation of standards of performance under Section 
306 of CWA which are applicable to such.
    (b) After proposal of standards of performance in accordance 
with Section 306 of CWA which are applicable to such source, but 
only if the standards are promulgated in accordance with Section 306 
within 120 days of their proposal.
    NPDES means ``National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.''
    Non-Contact Cooling Water is water used to reduce temperature 
which does not come in direct contact with any raw material, 
intermediate product, a waste product or finished product.
    Owner or operator means the owner or operator of any ``facility 
or activity'' subject to regulation under the NPDES programs.
    Permit means an authorization, license, or equivalent control 
document issued by EPA or an ``approved State.''
    Person means an individual, association, partnership, 
corporation, municipality, State or Federal agency, or an agent or 
employee thereof.
    Point source means any discernible, confined, and discrete 
conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, 
tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, 
concentrated animal feeding operation, vessel, or other floating 
craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term 
does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture.
    Pollutant means dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, 
filter backwash, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical 
wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials (except those 
regulated under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
2011 et seq.)), heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, 
cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste 
discharged into water. It does not mean:
    (a) Sewage from vessels; or
    (b) Water, gas, or other material which is injected into a well 
to facilitate production of oil or gas, or water derived in 
association with oil and gas production and disposed of in a well, 
if the well used either to facilitate production or for disposal 
purposes is approved by authority of the State in which the well is 
located, and if the State determines that the injection or disposal 
will not result in the degradation of ground or surface water 
resources.
    Primary industry category means any industry category listed in 
the NRDC settlement agreement (Natural Resources Defense Council et 
al. v. Train, 8 E.R.C. 2120 (D.D.C. 1976), modified 12 E.R.C. 1833 
(D.D.C. 1979)); also listed in appendix A of 40 CFR part 122.
    Process wastewater means any water which, during manufacturing 
or processing, comes into direct contact with or results from the 
production or use of any raw material, intermediate product, 
finished product, byproduct, or waste product.
    Regional Administrator means the Regional Administrator, EPA, 
Region I, Boston, Massachusetts.
    State means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American 
Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
    Secondary Industry Category means any industry category which is 
not a ``primary industry category.''
    Toxic pollutant means any pollutant listed as toxic in appendix 
D of 40 CFR part 122, under Section 307(a)(1) of CWA.
    Uncontaminated storm water is precipitation to which no 
pollutants have been added and has not come into direct contact with 
any raw material, intermediate product, waste product or finished 
product.
    Waters of the United States means:
    (a) All waters which are currently used, were used in the past, 
or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, 
including all waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the 
tide;
    (b) All interstate waters, including interstate ``wetlands.''
    (c) All other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams 
(including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, ``wetlands,'' 
sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, or natural 
ponds the use, degradation, or destruction of which would affect or 
could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such 
waters:
    (1) Which are or could be used by interstate or foreign 
travelers for recreational or other purposes;
    (2) From which fish or shellfish are or could be taken and sold 
in interstate or foreign commerce; or
    (3) Which are used or could be used for industrial purposes by 
industries in interstate commerce;
    (d) All impoundments of waters otherwise defined as waters of 
the United States under this definition;
    (e) Tributaries of waters identified in paragraphs (a) (d) of 
this definition;
    (f) The territorial sea; and
    (g) ``Wetlands'' adjacent to waters (other than waters that are 
themselves wetlands) identified in paragraphs (a)-(f) of this 
definition.
    Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) means the aggregate toxic effect 
of an effluent measured directly by a toxicity test. (See 
abbreviations Section, following, for additional information).
    Wetlands means those areas that are inundated or saturated by 
surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to 
support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a 
prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated 
soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, 
and similar areas.
    2. Abbreviations when used in this permit are defined below:

    cu. M/day or M3/day--cubic meters per day
    mg/l--milligrams per liter
    ug/l--micrograms per liter
    lbs/day--pounds per day
    kg/day--kilograms per day
    Temp.  deg.C--temperature in degrees Centigrade
    Temp.  deg.F--temperature in degrees Fahrenheit
    Turb.--turbidity measured by the Nephelometric Method (NTU)
    pH--a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration
    CFS--cubic feet per second
    MGD--million gallons per day
    Oil & Grease--Freon extractable material
    ml/l--milliliter(s) per liter
    Cl2--total residual chlorine

[FR Doc. 94-18333 Filed 7-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P