workshop c - npdes permitting - mec seminars · pdf filecommunity and ohio epa/dsw ......

Workshop C NPDES Permitting … Practical &

Cost-Effective Tips for NPDES Permitting & Compliance and the Surface Water Tracking, Reporting

& Electronic Application Management System (STREAMS)

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Biographical Information

William H. Haak, Founder, Haak Law LLC, 12595 Bentbrook Dr., Cleveland, OH 44026 216.772.3532 whh@haaklawllc.com

William H. Haak is the Founder of Haak Law LLC (www.haaklawllc.com) – an environmental, health & safety legal and consulting firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. He has more than 15 years of experience in occupational safety law and worker safety, and over 20 years of experience in environmental law (including extensive experience in air pollution control law and multi-media environmental compliance). Mr. Haak practices nationally in the United States and consults globally on all matters related to the EHS field (plus security and crisis management).

Mr. Haak graduated from The University of Akron (Business Finance) and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D. with an emphasis on litigation and trial practice). Following law school, he worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the State of Ohio Attorney General’s Environmental Enforcement Section. As counsel to Ohio EPA, Mr. Haak’s practice was focused primarily on civil and administrative air pollution control cases. During his time with the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Haak resolved civil environmental enforcement actions resulting in civil penalties totaling approximately $4 million.

Prior to forming Haak Law LLC, Mr. Haak was Senior EH&S Counsel for General Electric. He supported GE’s Appliances and Lighting Businesses, and was engaged in complex air permitting issues for other GE businesses nationwide. Mr. Haak has also been Associate General Counsel – EH&S for Hexion Specialty Chemicals in Columbus, Ohio, and Senior Regulatory Law Counsel for Owens Corning in Toledo, Ohio. He served overseas in the former Soviet Union (Ukraine) as an Environmental Enforcement Specialist with the American Bar Association’s Central & East European Law Initiative ("ABA/CEELI").

Haak is a frequent lecturer to attorneys, engineers, and environmental professionals on topics concerning federal and state air pollution law. In addition, he has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Central Florida in Orlando and Columbus State in Columbus, Ohio. Since 2005, Haak has taught classes focusing on Air Pollution Law and Occupational Safety and Health Law at The University of Toledo College of Law as an Adjunct Professor.

Whitney Works, eDMR/STREAMS Administrator, Division of Surface Water Ohio EPA, PO Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049

614-644-2135 Whitney.Works@epa.ohio.gov

Whitney joined the Information Management Section of the Division of Surface Water in Autumn of 2016. Whitney serves as a liaison between program staff, software developers and the regulated community to streamline Agency online services. Whitney provides technical assistance for the electronic discharge monitoring report (eDMR) online data submittal system and STREAMS (Surface Water Tracking, Reporting, and Electronic Application Management System). Whitney’s nonprofit background brings experience in refining business processes, customer relations, and database management.

Cole Miller, NPDES Environmental Specialist, Ohio EPA, PO Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049

614-728-3846 cole.miller@epa.ohio.gov

Cole graduated from the Ohio State University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He started working for Ohio EPA in 2007 in the Division of Hazardous Waste Management. He became an inspector for the Division of Surface Water Central District Office in August 2010 and transferred to Central Office to focus on NPDES permit writing in March 2017. As an inspector, his primary duties included inspecting facilities with NPDES permits and investigating complaints received from the public

WhitneyWorkseDMR/STREAMSAdministrator

OhioEPA,DivisionofSurfaceWater

July19,2017

STREAMSSurfaceWaterTracking,Reporting,Electronic

ApplicationManagementSystem

Anoverview

GoalsforPresentation

• FamiliaritywitheBusinessCenter• HowtosetupaneBiz account• RetrieveaPIN• NOIoverview,delegationandsubmittal• ePay• Nottomemorize,butknowme‐ “guidetoresources”

• hotcards,businesscard,helpfullinks

• STREAMS fullydeployedSummer2016• NPDESapps&renewalforms,NOI,NOT,transfers,mods• eReports(ex.annualsludgereport,noncompliance,etc.)• Pre‐populatedfacilityinfofromdatabase• Datavalidationpriortosubmittaltoensureaccuracyandcompletion• ElectronicsignaturesubmittalwithPIN

• ePaymentService• Payallfeesimmediately(orlater)w/creditcardorelectroniccheck

All accessible with one eBusiness Center account

DSWElectronicBusinessServices(eBiz/EBS)

GeneralNPDESApplications• BulkPetroleumFuelStorageFacilities• CoalSurfaceMiningActivities• ConstructionSiteStormWater‐ Big

DarbyCreekWatershed• ConstructionSiteStormWater‐

OlentangyWatershed• ConstructionSiteStormWater• GeothermalSystemDischarges• HydrostaticTestWater• IndustrialStormWater• MarinaStormWater• Non‐contactCoolingWater• PesticideApplicationDischarges• PetroleumRelatedCorrectiveAction• SmallMS4• SmallSanitaryDischarges(NoBADCT)• SmallSanitaryDischarges• TemporaryWastewaterDischarges• WaterTreatmentPlants

• Co‐permitteePermitApplications• ConstructionandSmallMS4Co‐permit

• OtherApplications• General,NoticeofTermination• TransferofOwnership

• NoExposureApplications• NoExposureCertificationforStorm

WaterPermitting

STREAMSSurfaceWaterTracking,Reporting,ElectronicApplication

ManagementSystem

Substantial time saved for both the regulated community and Ohio EPA/DSW 

IndividualNPDESApplications• Form1– GeneralInformation(EPA3510‐1)• Form2A– PubliclyOwnedTreatmentWorks(EPA3510‐2B)• Form2B– ConcentratedAnimalFeedingOperations(EPA3510‐2B)• Form2C‐ Manufacturing,Commercial,Mining&Silvicultural

Operations(EPA3510‐2C)• Form2D– DischargeProcessWater(EPA3510‐2D)• Form2E– DoNotDischargeProcessWater(EPA3510‐2E)• Form2F– StormWaterIndustrialActivity(EPA3510‐2F)• Form2S– SewageSludge(Biosolids)Treatment(EPA4497)• ApplicationforModification(EPA4233)• ApplicationforTransfer(EPA4234)• Antidegradation Addendum

PretreatmentApplications• IndirectDischargeApplication(EPA4223)• IndirectPermitTransferApplication(EPA4116)

IndividualPermitApplicationsnew&renewal

• NPDESNon‐complianceReport• NPDESSanitarySewerOverflowAnnualReport• NPDESComplianceScheduleUpdateReport• NPDESMunicipalSeparateStormSewerSystemAnnualReport(MS4

Report)• NPDESPretreatmentAnnualReport• NPDESPretreatmentIndustrialUsersPeriodicComplianceMonitoring

Report• NPDESPretreatmentGenericBaselineMonitoringReportFor

CategoricalStandards• NPDESBiomonitoringReportFormAcute&ChronicToxicityTest• NPDESPriorityPollutantReport• AnnualSewageSludgeReport

NPDESeREPORTS

https://ebiz.epa.ohio.gov

NeweBusinessCenterPINpartnershipwithLexisNexis

• ReducesPINretrievaltominutesfrom7‐10days.• Onlineidentityverification

• Safe&secureauthentication

• Allows3attemptstousetheonlineverification• HardcopyPINprocessinitiatedbysystemifidentityverificationfails

• Ifidentityisverified,PINappearsonscreen• Viewablewhileloggedin• Canbeusedimmediatelyacrossallservices• PINcanbedeactivatedbyaccountholder• NewPINcanbeobtainedifcompromised

ToobtainaPIN:Login,ClickMYACCOUNT,GetNewPIN

• Identityhasbeenverified• PINnowavailable• ClickMYAccount,ViewPIN.

Login,clickMyAccount,ActivatePIN

CreatingaNewNOI

ClickCreateNewPermitApplication

40‐characterlimit

DelegatinganApplication

guidanceavailableforsubmittingadelegatedapplication

ClickRenewPermit

RenewingaPermit

Guidance

http://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/ebs

• eBizallowsonlinepermitapplicationpaymentsassoonastheapplicationissubmitted….orlaterbyloggingintoyouraccountandclickingthe“PayOhioEPAfees”service.

• Quick,easy,andsecure

• Payinstantlyviacreditcardorelectroniccheck

• DecreasesAgencyreviewtimebyeliminatingthefiscalworkflowofreconcilinghardcopyforms&checks.

ePayment Service

ePaymentServiceOptions

• CTRL+F5(clearsbrowsercache)

• Planaheadandstartearly

• Workfromyourpermitlist

• UsetheGuidancedocuments

• Saveapplication/report,Exit,Verifythatisindashboard,takenoteofdocumentID#

• Pleasecontactwithtechnicalteamwithcourtesy

HelpfulHints

eDMR/STREAMS/EBSTechnicalSupport

WhitneyWorkseDMR/STREAMSAdministratorDivisionofSurfaceWater50WTownSt,Ste700

Whitney.Works@epa.ohio.gov(614)644‐2135

BUSINESSHOURS:Monday‐ Friday:7:00am– 5:00pm

eBusinessCenter(PINS&Passwords):(877)372‐2499

JamieRobertsDataSystemsAnalystDivisionofSurfaceWater50WTownSt,Ste700

James.Roberts@epa.ohio.gov(614)644‐2054

NPDES Permitting

Cole MillerNPDES Permit Writer

Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water

July 19, 2017

Outline

• Programs• NPDES Program Updates• Inspections

– What to Expect– Notice of Violations / Resolutions

• NPDES permit development 

What Does Surface Water Oversee?• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)– Point sources

• Sewage Plants• Industrial Facilities (Non‐Contact Cooling Water)• Other discharge of pollutants reaching state waters

– Storm water• Industrial based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Sectors such as scrap yards.

• Construction sites which disturb more than 1 acre

Surface Water Regulation 101 (cont.)

• Permits‐to‐Install (PTI)– Mainline sewer lines– Pump stations– Treatment plants or modifications to treatment plants

• Indirect Discharges (industrial wastewater which is directed to centralized sewers)– Some POTWs have approved pretreatment programs that Ohio EPA regulates.

– Other indirect dischargers are regulated directly by Ohio EPA.

Surface Water Regulation 101 (cont.)

• Wetland and stream modifications– 401 Program– Army Core of Engineer regulates filling of wetlands/streams 

(404 Program)

• Complaint investigations related to surface waters• Others:

– Biosolids– 208 – Regional planning– 319 – Nonpoint Source– CAFOs– Water Quality monitoring

Program Updates

• OAC Chapter 3745‐33 Ohio NPDES Permits Proposed rule– Treatment additive approval

• Federal dental amalgam pretreatment rule– Dental offices submit dental amalgam status– Install treatment technology in 3 years

• Multi‐Sector General Permit Renewed– Removes Comprehensive Site Inspections– Adds incentives for Encouraging Environmental Excellence awarded facilities

Permit Application Submittals

• Ohio EPA goal is to renew permits by expiration date.• Timely application submittal – 180 days prior to expiration date. Needs:– Complete application– Submitted by responsible official– Flow and 2C data complete?– Correct SIC codes FEGs identified?– Calculations and diagrams complete?– Antidegradation?

CWA § 316(b) – Intake Structures

• Impingement• Entrainment• Facilities affected

– Existing Facilities• Withdraw > 2 MGD• At least 25% is used for cooling purposes• Permits expiring after July 14, 2018, need to submit full application requirements.

– New facilities

Impingement and Entrainment

Flow Direction

Impinged = Stuck on screen

Entrained = through screen 

and onto cooling process

Inspection Process

How Are Inspections Selected?• USEPA grant commitments

• Minimum of once every 2 years for large permitted facilities• Minimum of once every 5 years for small facilities• Non-compliance will lead to more frequent inspections

• Complaint investigations

• Special inspection initiatives (dry cleaners, salvage yards, storm water controls at construction sites)

Inspections can be scheduled in advance or unannounced per division policy. Most complaint-driven inspections are unannounced.

Before the inspection, have a plan

• Who will talk to the inspector.

• Have a camera that works.  The inspector may take pictures – you can request copies, too.

• Know how you will describe your operations, wastes, discharges, etc. to the inspector.

• Know where environmental compliance records are kept.

When the inspector arrives

• Know why the inspection is being done.

• Get inspector’s business card.

• Tell the inspector about safety requirements of your plant.

• Answer the inspector’s questions.  Don’t be confrontational.  Don’t guess or make things up.  If you don’t have an answer, say so.

Surface Water Inspections• What do we look for?

– Assess compliance with terms and conditions of NPDES permit, indirect discharge permit, PTI, and Ohio law

– Changes or proposed changes in waste streams• More volume?• Change in chemistry?

– Treatment system modifications

• Sampling?– Rarely.

• Problems?– Please Communicate!

Facility Walk Through

• Expect a process‐based survey – Material use, water use, and wastewater 

generation.– Conveyance systems – Treatment system– Ancillary operations such as sludge 

management.

• Permit records• Sampling procedures• Stormwater management

Exit Meeting

• Compliance or violations found.• Measures to correct violations.• Areas requiring further information.• Compliance assistance information and pollution prevention opportunities.

After the InspectionThe company will receive a:

Compliance Letter

• Means the company is meeting the requirements reviewed during the inspection.                     

• This does not mean compliance with all Ohio EPA regulations, just the inspector’s division.

After the InspectionOr the company will receive:

Notice of Violation (NOV) Letter – A separate inspection letter may be issued as well

• Description of violations.

• What company needs to do to correct violations.

• A timeframe to respond to the violations. Typically 30 days

Common NPDES Violations• Failure to obtain permit• Failure to submit DMR or provide periodic sample 

results • Exceeding Permit Limits• Failure to provide notification for exceeding permit 

limits • Failure to ensure proper sampling (preservation, type, 

method, records) • Failure to operate/maintain/calibrate wastewater 

treatment equipment • Missing compliance milestones

NOV ResponseDO contact the inspector if: 

• You have questions about the NOV.  

• The facts in the NOV are wrong.

• You don’t understand what you need to do to correct violations.

• You have questions on the enforcement process or need more time to respond.

NEW Notice of Resolution Process

• An adequate response to the violations is received by the District.  – Work diligently toward resolving each violation

• GOOD Communication is key. Expect continued follow up by District Staff until the NOV has been RESOLVED.

• Once all of the violations cited in the NOV have been resolved, you will receive a Resolution of Violation (ROV) Letter!

Enforcement Escalation

• No response to 1st NOV = 2nd NOV• The 2nd NOV will escalate up to Supervisor and/or Manager to contact the facility.

• If there is no response to a 2nd NOV, the facility will be contacted by the District’s Upper Management. 

• We prefer to work towards compliance instead of referring for enforcement.  

Things You Can Do…

• Good communication is key. Contact us with any questions or concerns.

• If an NOV is issued, respond within the required time frame

• Start resolving violations immediately• Be Proactive not Reactive. • Communicate….Communicate….Communicate 

Compliance Assistance Resources

• Customer Support Center: http://ohioepa.custhelp.com/app/home

• Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention (OCAPP) at (800) 329‐7518 or http://www.epa.ohio.gov/ocapp

• Local district office: http://www.epa.ohio.gov/districts.aspx

Permit Development

NPDES  Individual Permit Development

1. Receive Application2. Completeness Review3. Develop TBELs4. Develop WQBELs5. Develop Monitoring 

and Reporting Requirements

6. Develop Special Conditions

7.  Incorporate Standard Conditions8.  Prepare Fact Sheet9.  14‐day Preview Period10.  Public Notice11.  Respond to Public and EPA Comments12.  Issue Final Permit

Application Form 2C

• Part V‐A: All applicants at all outfalls.

• Part V‐B: All applicants at all outfalls.

• Part V‐C: Primary industries at any outfall with process wastewater.

• Part V‐D: If present in discharge. 

Develop TBELs• Technology based effluent limits• EPA has developed effluent guidelines for 58 industrial sectors.

• Current list of sectors with effluent guidelines can be found at:

• http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/industry.cfm 

• 40 CFR 401‐499.• FEGs must be met without the benefit of dilution, and are often included at internal stations.

Which FEG category applies?

Which category would you expect canmaking to fall under?A.  Aluminum formingB.  Coil coatingC.  Metal finishingD.  Nonferrous metals manufacturing

Answer: B.  Coil Coating

40 CFR 465: Coil CoatingSubpart A: Steel BasisSubpart B: Galvanized BasisSubpart C: Aluminum BasisSubpart D: Canmaking

Which level of control applies?• BPT = Best Practicable Control Technology Currently Available.

• BCT = Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology.

• BAT = Best Available Technology Economically Achievable.

• NSPS = New Source Performance Standards.• PSNS and  PSES are for Indirect Dischargers.

Develop WQBELs

• Determine WQS• Characterize effluent and receiving water• Calculate parameters with mass balance• Apply Reasonable Potential

Develop WQBELs ‐ WQS

WQS: Designated Uses• Aquatic Life• Water Supply• Recreation• Numeric and Narrative Criteria

• Antidegradation

Effluent and Receiving Water Characterization

• Mass balance– Flow rates– Background water quality– Projected Effluent Quality (PEQs)

• Downstream hardness for some metal WQS

PEQ Example ‐ Barium

• Projected effluent quality (PEQ) – Estimated level of a pollutant in an effluent

• Two methods of calculation but the target is:– Method A

• PEQ_max = Max_Result * f• PEQ_Ave = (Max_Result * f) * 0.73

– Method B• 95th percentile of the dataset • 95th percentile of the monthly averages

PEQ Multipliers

PEQ Example ‐ BariumCase 1 Case 2

# of samples 2 12

Max Result (ug/L) 158 175

F Factor 3.8 1.6

PEQ Max (ug/L) 600 280

PEQ Ave (ug/L) 438 204

WQS_Ave (ug/L) 420 420

% of WQS 104% 49%

Permit Result Limits No limits, monitoring likely

Develop Monitoring and Reporting Requirements

• Monitoring Conditions‐ Location, frequency, sample collection

• http://epa.ohio.gov/portals/35/guidance/permit2.pdf

Develop Special Conditions

• Special Studies– Mixing zone, toxicity reduction evaluation (TRE), metal translators

• Best management practices• Compliance schedules

Standard Conditions

• Part III– Definitions– Non‐compliance notification

• Part II Examples– Outfall signage– Operator requirements– Notification to public water supply operators

Fact Sheet

• U.S. EPA requirement for issuance of majors• Must include:

– General Facility Information– Administrative Requirement– Summary of Permit Rationale– Detail of Permit Rationale

• 15 to >100 pages

14 Day Preview Period

• Historically, all parties reviewed a draft permit during the public notice period.

• Now, a 14‐day permittee review period of the draft permit is being offered prior to public notice as a “preview”.

• All communications during this review are included in the public record.

• Responses are prepared for any comments received.

Public Notice and Beyond• 30 Day Public Notice Period• Plus 15 days to publish • Notice Given to:

– Applicant– US EPA– Interested Parties– Newspaper of Largest Circulation– Weekly Review– Ohio EPA Web

Administrative Actions after Issuance

• Permit Appeals• Modification• Permit Transfer

NPDES Permitting & ComplianceThe View From Outside Counsel...

Session CJuly 19, 2017

William H. HaakHaak Law LLC

HAAK LAW LLCEnvironmental, Health & SafetyLegal and Consulting Services

William H. HaakTel: 216.772.3532

whh@haaklawllc.com

Introduction• What causes NPDES compliance risk?

• Tips on identifying and mitigating risk

• A few final thoughts on inspections and NOVs...

• Your questions

HAAK LAW LLCEnvironmental, Health & SafetyLegal and Consulting Services

William H. HaakTel: 216.772.3532

whh@haaklawllc.com

The Causes of NPDES Compliance Risk• Corporate climate

• Facility-level culture- Facility leadership- Non-EHS operations personnel- EHS leadership

• Management of Change (MOC) gaps

• Communications issues

• The “cats and dogs” you can’t control...Or, can you?

HAAK LAW LLCEnvironmental, Health & SafetyLegal and Consulting Services

William H. HaakTel: 216.772.3532

whh@haaklawllc.com

Mitigating NPDES Compliance Risk• Identifying training gaps and lack of understanding

- EHS personnel- Non-EHS personnel (both salaried and hourly)

• Focus on communication- Creates gap awareness- Bolsters MOC process- Communicate cross-functionally

• External communications with regulators (OEPA)

• Managing citizen and NGO-related risks

HAAK LAW LLCEnvironmental, Health & SafetyLegal and Consulting Services

William H. HaakTel: 216.772.3532

whh@haaklawllc.com

A Few Final Thoughts...

HAAK LAW LLCEnvironmental, Health & SafetyLegal and Consulting Services

William H. HaakTel: 216.772.3532

whh@haaklawllc.com

Questions?

HAAK LAW LLCEnvironmental, Health & SafetyLegal and Consulting Services

William H. HaakTel: 216.772.3532

whh@haaklawllc.com