Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-196. Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit for Noncontact Cooling Water Discharges of 50,000 Gallons Per Day or Less (amending 9VAC25-196-10, 9VAC25-196-15, 9VAC25-196-40 through 9VAC25-196-70; repealing 9VAC25-196-30).

Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; § 402 of the Clean Water Act; 40 CFR Parts 122, 123, and 124.

Public Hearing Information:

August 17, 2022 - 2 p.m. - Department of Environmental Quality, Piedmont Regional Office Training Room, 4949-A Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060

Public Comment Deadline: September 16, 2022.

Agency Contact: Joseph Bryan, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 659-2659, FAX (804) 698-4178, or email joseph.bryan@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

This proposed regulatory action amends and reissues the existing the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Noncontact Cooling Water Discharges of 50,000 Gallons Per Day or Less, which expires on March 1, 2023. The existing general permit regulation establishes limitations, monitoring requirements, and other special conditions for point source discharges of noncontact cooling water of 50,000 gallons per day or less to surface waters in order to maintain surface water quality. The proposed amendments include (i) adjusting effluent limits, including making chlorine non-detectable limit compatible with Environmental Protection Agency reporting requirements; (ii) clarifying definitions; (iii) adjusting water quality standards; and (iv) conforming to statutory changes.

9VAC25-196-10. Definitions.

The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings defined in § 62.1-44.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia (State Water Control Law) and 9VAC25-31 (VPDES Permit Regulation) unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, except that for the purposes of this chapter:

"Blowdown" means a discharge of recirculating water from any cooling equipment or cooling process in order to maintain a desired quality of the recirculating water. Boiler blowdown is excluded from this definition.

"Board" means the State Water Control Board. When used outside the context of the promulgation of regulations, including regulations to establish general permits, "board" means the "Department of Environmental Quality".

"Cooling water" means water used for cooling which that does not come into direct contact with any raw product, intermediate product (other than heat), or finished product. For the purposes of this general permit, cooling water can be generated from any cooling equipment blowdown or produced as a result of any noncontact cooling process.

"Department" or "DEQ" means the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

"Director" means the Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, or an authorized representative.

"Total maximum daily load" or "TMDL" means a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. A TMDL includes wasteload allocations (WLAs) for point source discharges, and load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources or natural background or both, and must include a margin of safety (MOS) and account for seasonal variations.

9VAC25-196-15. Applicability of incorporated references based on the dates that they became effective.

Except as noted, when a regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set forth in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is referenced or adopted in this chapter and incorporated by reference, that regulation shall be as it exists and has been published as of July 1, 2017 2021.

9VAC25-196-30. Delegation of authority. (Repealed.)

The director, or an authorized representative, may perform any act of the board provided under this chapter, except as limited by § 62.1-44.14 of the Code of Virginia.

9VAC25-196-40. Effective date of the permit.

This general permit will become effective on March 2, 2018 April 1, 2023. This general permit will expire on March 1, 2023 31, 2028. This general permit is effective as to any covered owner upon compliance with all the provisions of 9VAC25-196-50.

9VAC25-196-50. Authorization to discharge.

A. Any owner governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to discharge to surface waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia provided that the owner submits and receives acceptance by the board department of the registration statement of 9VAC25-196-60, submits the required permit fee, and complies with the effluent limitations and other requirements of 9VAC25-196-70, and provided that the board department has not notified the owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage in accordance with subsection B of this section.

B. The board department will notify an owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this general permit in the event of any of the following:

1. The owner is required to obtain an individual permit in accordance with 9VAC25-31-170 B 3 of the VPDES Permit Regulation;

2. The owner is proposing to discharge to Class V stockable trout waters, Class VI natural trout waters, or any state waters specifically named in other board regulations that prohibit such discharges;

3. The discharge violates or would violate the antidegradation policy in the Water Quality Standards at 9VAC25-260-30; or

4. The discharge is not consistent with the assumptions and requirements of an approved TMDL; or

5. The facility is subject to the substantive provisions of 40 CFR Part 125 Subpart I or J.

C. Chlorine or any other halogen compounds shall not be used for disinfection or other treatment purposes, including biocide applications, for any discharges to waters containing endangered or threatened species as identified in 9VAC25-260-110 C of the Water Quality Standards.

D. The owner shall not use tributyltin, any chemical additives containing tributyltin, or water treatment chemicals containing hexavalent chromium in the cooling water systems.

E. The owner shall not use groundwater remediation wells as the source of cooling water.

F. Compliance with this general permit constitutes compliance, for purposes of enforcement, with §§ 301, 302, 306, 307, 318, 404, and 405(a) through (b) of the federal Clean Water Act and the State Water Control Law with the exceptions stated in 9VAC25-31-60 of the VPDES Permit Regulation. Approval for coverage under this general permit does not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.

G. Continuation of permit coverage.

1. Permit coverage shall expire at the end of its term. However, expiring permit coverages are automatically continued if the owner has submitted a complete registration statement at least 30 60 days prior to the expiration date of the permit, or a later submittal established by the board department, which cannot extend beyond the expiration date of the original permit. The permittee is authorized to continue to discharge until such time as the board department either:

a. Issues coverage to the owner under this general permit; or

b. Notifies the owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this general permit.

2. When the owner that was covered under the expiring or expired general permit has violated or is violating the conditions of that permit, the board department may choose to do any or all of the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the general permit coverage that has been continued;

b. Issue a notice of intent to deny coverage under the reissued amended general permit. If the general permit coverage is denied, the owner would then be required to cease the discharges authorized by the continued general permit coverage or be subject to enforcement action for discharging without a permit;

c. Issue a VPDES individual permit with appropriate conditions; or

d. Take other actions authorized by the VPDES Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31).

9VAC25-196-60. Registration statement.

A. Deadlines for submitting registration statements. The owner seeking coverage under this general permit shall submit a complete VPDES general permit registration statement in accordance with this section chapter, which shall serve as a notice of intent for coverage under the VPDES general permit regulation for noncontact cooling water discharges of 50,000 gallons per day or less.

1. New facilities. Any owner proposing a new discharge shall submit a complete registration statement at least 30 60 days prior to the date planned for commencing operation of the new discharge.

2. Existing facilities.

a. Any owner covered by a VPDES individual permit who is proposing to be covered by this general permit shall submit a complete registration statement at least 210 240 days prior to the expiration date of the VPDES individual permit or a later submittal established by the department.

b. Any owner that was authorized to discharge under the expiring or expired VPDES general permit for noncontact cooling water discharges of 50,000 gallons per day or less and that intends to continue coverage under this general permit shall submit a complete registration statement to the board department at least 30 60 days prior to the expiration date of the existing permit or a later submittal established by the board department.

B. Late registration statements. Registration statements will be accepted after the expiration date of the general permit, but authorization to discharge will not be retroactive.

C. The required registration statement shall contain the following information:

1. Facility name and address, owner name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address (if available);

2. Operator name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address (if available) if different from owner;

3. State Corporation Commission entity identification number if the facility is required to obtain an entity identification number by law;

4. Current VPDES permit registration number (if applicable);

4. 5. List of point source discharges that are not composed entirely of cooling water;

5. 6. List of type and size (tons) of cooling equipment or noncontact cooling water processes;

6. 7. The following information if any chemical or nonchemical treatment is employed in each cooling water system:

a. Description of the treatment to be employed (both chemical and nonchemical) and its purpose; for chemical additives other than chlorine, provide the information prescribed in subdivisions 6 7 b, c, d, e, and f of this subsection;

b. Name and manufacturer of each additive used;

c. List of active ingredients and percent composition of each additive;

d. Proposed dosing schedule and quantity of chemical usage, and either an engineering analysis or a technical evaluation of the active ingredients to determine the discharge concentration of each contaminant;

e. Available aquatic toxicity information for each proposed additive used;

f. Any other information such as product or constituent degradation, fate, transport, synergies, bioavailability, etc., that will aid the board department with the toxicity evaluation of the discharge; and

g. Safety data sheet for each proposed additive;

7. 8. Description of any type of treatment or retention being provided to the wastewater before discharge (i.e., retention ponds, settling ponds, etc.);

8. 9. A schematic drawing of the cooling water equipment that shows the source of the cooling water, its flow through the facility, and each noncontact cooling water discharge point;

9. 10. A USGS 7.5 minute topographic map or equivalent computer generated map extending to at least one mile beyond the property boundary. The map must show the outline of the facility and the location of each of its existing and proposed intake and discharge points, and must include all springs, rivers, and other surface water bodies;

10. 11. The following discharge information:

a. A list of all cooling water discharges identified by a unique number, latitude, and longitude;

b. The source of cooling water for each discharge;

c. An estimate of the maximum daily flow in gallons per day for each discharge;

d. The name of the waterbody receiving direct discharge or discharge through the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4); and

e. The duration and frequency of the discharge for each separate discharge point;

11. 12. A determination of whether the facility will discharge to a MS4. If the facility discharges to a MS4, the facility owner must notify the owner of the MS4 of the existence of the discharge at the time of registration under this permit and include that notification with the registration statement. The notice shall include the following information: the name of the facility, a contact person and contact information (telephone number and email), the location of the discharge, the nature of the discharge, and the facility's VPDES general permit registration number if a reissuance; and

12. 13. The following cooling water intake structure information:

a. A determination of the cooling water intake source (e.g., groundwater, surface water, third-party supplier);

b. For surface water intakes or nonpotable surface water received from a third-party supplier, the following information:

(1) Source water physical data (water body description, hydrology, chemistry, and area of influence of intake structure);

(2) Cooling water intake structure data (screen size, through screen velocity, configuration of intake, flows, a water balance diagram, and typical operations);

(3) Source water baseline biological characterization data (any available studies);

(4) Cooling water system data (configuration of the cooling water system and water reuse); and

(5) Operational status (description of current and future production schedules); and

c. For hydroelectric facilities, a water-use efficiency calculation of megawatts produced in megawatt hours divided by the cooling water used in billion gallons per day; and

14. The following certification:

"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."

D. The registration statement shall be signed in accordance with 9VAC25-31-110.

E. The registration statement shall be delivered by either postal or electronic mail to the DEQ regional office serving the area where the facility is located. Following notification from the department of the start date for the required electronic submission of Notices of Intent to Discharge forms (i.e., registration statements), as provided for in 9VAC25-31-1020, such forms submitted after that date shall be electronically submitted to the department in compliance with this section and 9VAC25-31-1020. There shall be at least three months' notice provided between the notification from the department and the date after which such forms must be submitted electronically.

9VAC25-196-70. General permit.

Any owner whose registration statement is accepted by the board department will receive coverage under the following permit and shall comply with the requirements therein and be subject to all requirements of 9VAC25-31.

General Permit No: VAG25
Effective Date: March 2, 2018 April 1, 2023
Expiration Date: March 1, 2023 31, 2028

GENERAL PERMIT FOR NONCONTACT COOLING WATER DISCHARGES OF 50,000 GALLONS PER DAY OR LESS

AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE VIRGINIA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM AND THE VIRGINIA STATE WATER CONTROL LAW

In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act, as amended, and pursuant to the State Water Control Law and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, owners of noncontact cooling water discharges of 50,000 gallons per day or less are authorized to discharge to surface waters within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia, except Class V stockable trout waters, Class VI natural trout waters, and those specifically named in board regulations that prohibit such discharges. Chlorine or any other halogen compounds shall not be used for disinfection or other treatment purposes, including biocide applications, for any discharges to waters containing endangered or threatened species as identified in 9VAC25-260-110 C of the Water Quality Standards.

The authorized discharge shall be in accordance with the information submitted with the registration statement, this cover page, Part I - Effluent Limitations and, Monitoring Requirements, Special Conditions, and Part II - Conditions Applicable to all VPDES Permits, as set forth in this general permit.

Part I

Effluent Limitations, Monitoring Requirements, Special Conditions

A. Effluent limitations and monitoring requirements.

1. Effluent limitations and monitoring requirements for discharges to freshwater receiving waterbodies. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS	DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS		MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
	Maximum	Minimum	Frequency	Sample Type
Flow (MGD)	0.05	NA	1/3 Months	Estimate
Temperature (°C)	(1)	NA	1/3 Months	Immersion Stabilization
pH (SU)	9.0(2)	6.0(2)	1/3 Months	Grab
Ammonia-N(3) (mg/l)	NL	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Residual Chlorine(3), (4) (mg/l)	Nondetectable 0.011	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Recoverable Copper(4) (μg/l)	9.0	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Recoverable Zinc(4) (μg/l)	120	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Recoverable Silver(4), (5) (μg/l)	3.4	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Phosphorus(6) (mg/l)	NL	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
NL = No limitation, monitoring required NA = Not applicable 1/3 Months = the following three-month periods each year of permit coverage: January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December
(1)The effluent temperature shall not exceed a maximum 32°C for discharges to nontidal coastal and piedmont waters, or 31°C for mountain and upper piedmont waters. No maximum temperature limit, only monitoring, applies to discharges to estuarine waters. The effluent shall not cause an increase in temperature of the receiving stream of more than 3°C above the natural water temperature. The effluent shall not cause the temperature in the receiving stream to change more than 2°C per hour. Natural temperature is defined as that temperature of a body of water (measured as the arithmetic average over one hour) due solely to natural conditions without the influence of any point source discharge. (2)Where the Water Quality Standards (9VAC25-260) establish alternate standards for pH in the waters receiving the discharge, those standards shall be the maximum and minimum effluent limitations. (3)Chlorine limitation of nondetectable (<0.1 mg/l) and chlorine monitoring only apply to outfalls directly discharging to surface waters where either: (i) a treatment additive that contains chlorine or chlorine compounds is used or (ii) the source of cooling water is chlorinated. All data below the quantification level (QL) of 0.1 mg/L shall be reported as "<QL." Ammonia monitoring only applies where the source of cooling water is disinfected using chloramines. (4)A specific analytical method is not specified; however, a maximum quantification level (Max QL) value for each metal has been established. An appropriate method to meet the Max QL value shall be selected using any approved method presented in 40 CFR Part 136. If the test result is less than the method quantification level (QL), a "<[QL]" shall be reported where the actual analytical test QL is substituted for [QL]. Material Max QL (μg/l) Copper 1.0 μg/l Chlorine 0.1 mg/l Zinc 50.0 μg/l Silver 1.0 μg/l Quality control/assurance information shall be submitted to document that the required QL has been attained. (5)Silver monitoring is only required where a Cu/Ag anode is used. (6)Phosphorus monitoring is only required where an additive containing phosphorus is used.

2. Effluent limitations and monitoring requirements for discharges to saltwater receiving waterbodies. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS	DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS		MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
	Maximum	Minimum	Frequency	Sample Type
Flow (MGD)	0.05	NA	1/3 Months	Estimate
Temperature (°C)	(1)	NA	1/3 Months	Immersion Stabilization
pH (SU)	9.0(2)	6.0(2)	1/3 Months	Grab
Ammonia-N(3) (mg/l)	NL	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Residual Chlorine Chlorine Producing Oxidant(3), (4) (mg/l)	Nondetectable 0.0075	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Recoverable Copper(4) (μg/l)	6.0	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Recoverable Zinc(4) (μg/l)	81	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Recoverable Silver(4), (5) (μg/l)	1.9	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
Total Phosphorus(6) (mg/l)	NL	NA	1/3 Months	Grab
NL = No limitation, monitoring required NA = Not applicable 1/3 Months = the following three-month periods each year of permit coverage: January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December
(1)The effluent temperature shall not exceed a maximum 32°C for discharges to nontidal coastal and piedmont waters, or 31°C for mountain and upper piedmont waters. No maximum temperature limit, only monitoring, applies to discharges to estuarine waters. The effluent shall not cause an increase in temperature of the receiving stream of more than 3°C above the natural water temperature. The effluent shall not cause the temperature in the receiving stream to change more than 2°C per hour. Natural temperature is defined as that temperature of a body of water (measured as the arithmetic average over one hour) due solely to natural conditions without the influence of any point source discharge. (2)Where the Water Quality Standards (9VAC25-260) establish alternate standards for pH in the waters receiving the discharge, those standards shall be the maximum and minimum effluent limitations. (3)Chlorine limitation of nondetectable (<0.1 mg/l) and chlorine monitoring only apply to outfalls discharging to surface waters where either: (i) a treatment additive that contains chlorine or chlorine compounds is used or (ii) the source of cooling water is chlorinated. All data below the quantification level (QL) of 0.1 mg/L shall be reported as "<QL." Ammonia monitoring only applies where the source of cooling water is disinfected using chloramines. (4)A specific analytical method is not specified; however, a maximum quantification level (Max QL) value for each metal has been established. An appropriate method to meet the Max QL value shall be selected using any approved method presented in 40 CFR Part 136. If the test result is less than the method quantification level (QL), a "<[QL]" shall be reported where the actual analytical test QL is substituted for [QL]. Material Max QL (μg/l) Copper 1.0 μg/l Chlorine 0.1 mg/l Zinc 50.0 μg/l Silver 1.0 μg/l Quality control/assurance information shall be submitted to document that the required QL has been attained. (5)Silver monitoring is only required where a Cu/Ag anode is used. (6)Phosphorus monitoring is only required where an additive containing phosphorus is used.

B. Special conditions.

1. There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

2. No discharges other than cooling water, as defined, are permitted under this general permit.

3. The use of any chemical additives not identified in the registration statement, except chlorine, without prior approval is prohibited under this general permit. Prior approval shall be obtained from the DEQ before any changes are made to the chemical or nonchemical treatment technology employed in the cooling water system. Requests for approval of the change shall be made in writing and shall include the following information:

a. Describe the chemical or nonchemical treatment to be employed and its purpose; if chemical additives are used, provide the information prescribed in subdivisions 3 b, c, d, e, and f of this subsection;

b. Provide the name and manufacturer of each additive used;

c. Provide a list of active ingredients and percentage of composition;

d. Give the proposed schedule and quantity of chemical usage, and provide either an engineering analysis or a technical evaluation of the active ingredients to determine the concentration in the discharge;

e. Attach available aquatic toxicity information for each additive proposed for use;

f. Attach any other information such as product or constituent degradation, fate, transport, synergies, bioavailability, etc., that will aid the board department with the toxicity evaluation for the discharge; and

g. Attach a safety data sheet for each proposed additive.

4. A determination of whether the facility will discharge to a MS4. If the facility discharges to a MS4, the facility owner must notify the owner of the MS4 of the existence of the discharge at the time of registration under this permit and include that notification with the registration statement. The notice shall include the following information: the name of the facility, a contact person and contact information (telephone number and email), the location of the discharge, the nature of the discharge, and the facility's VPDES general permit registration number if a reissuance. Discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) required by this permit shall be submitted to both the department and the owner of the MS4.

5. Operation and maintenance manual requirement.

a. Within 90 days after the date of coverage under this general permit, the permittee shall develop an operation and maintenance (O&M) manual for the equipment or systems used to meet effluent limitations. The O&M manual shall be reviewed within 90 days of changes to the equipment or systems used to meet effluent limitations. The O&M manual shall be certified in accordance with Part II K of this permit. The O&M manual shall be made available for review by department personnel upon request.

b. This manual shall detail the practices and procedures that will be followed to ensure compliance with the requirements of this permit. Within 30 days of a request by the department, the current O&M manual shall be submitted to the board department for review and approval. The permittee shall operate the treatment works in accordance with the O&M manual. Noncompliance with the O&M manual shall be deemed a violation of the permit.

c. This manual shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following items:

(1) Techniques to be employed in the collection, preservation, and analysis of effluent samples;

(2) Discussion of best management practices;

(3) Design, operation, routine preventative maintenance of equipment or systems used to meet effluent limitations, critical spare parts inventory, and recordkeeping;

(4) A plan for the management or disposal of waste solids and residues, and a requirement that all solids shall be handled, stored, and disposed of so as to prevent a discharge to state waters; and

(5) Procedures for measuring and recording the duration and volume of treated wastewater discharged.

6. The permittee shall notify the department as soon as the permittee knows or has reason to believe:

a. That any activity has occurred or will occur which that would result in the discharge, on a routine or frequent basis, of any toxic pollutant which that is not limited in this permit if that discharge will exceed the highest of the following notification levels:

(1) One hundred micrograms per liter (100 μg/l);

(2) Two hundred micrograms per liter (200 μg/l) for acrolein and acrylonitrile; 500 micrograms per liter (500 μg/l) for 2,4-dinitrophenol and for 2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol; and one milligram per liter (1 mg/l) for antimony;

(3) Five times the maximum concentration value reported for that pollutant in the permit registration statement; or

(4) The level established by the board in accordance with 9VAC25-31-220 F.

b. That any activity has occurred or will occur which that would result in any discharge, on a nonroutine or infrequent basis, of a toxic pollutant which that is not limited in this permit if that discharge will exceed the highest of the following notification levels:

(1) Five hundred micrograms per liter (500 μg/l);

(2) One milligram per liter (1 mg/l) for antimony;

(3) Ten times the maximum concentration value reported for that pollutant in the permit application; or

(4) The level established by the board in accordance with 9VAC25-31-220 F.

7. Geothermal systems using groundwater and no chemical additives. Geothermal systems using groundwater and no chemical additives may be eligible for reduced monitoring requirements.

If a geothermal system was covered by the previous noncontact cooling water general permit, and the monitoring results from the previous permit term demonstrate full compliance with the effluent limitations, the permittee may request authorization from the department to reduce the monitoring to once in the first monitoring quarter of the first year of this permit term.

Owners of new geothermal systems, and previously unpermitted geothermal systems that receive coverage under this permit shall submit monitoring results to the department for the first four monitoring quarters after coverage begins. If the monitoring results demonstrate full compliance with the effluent limitations, the permittee may request authorization from the department to suspend monitoring for the remainder of the permit term.

Should the permittee be issued a warning letter or notice of violation related to violation of effluent limitations, or be the subject of an active enforcement action regarding effluent limit violations, upon issuance of the letter or notice, or initiation of the enforcement action, the monitoring frequency shall revert to 1/3 months and remain in effect until the permit's expiration date.

8. Monitoring results shall be reported using the same number of significant digits as listed in the permit. Regardless of the rounding convention used by the permittee (e.g., five always rounding up or to the nearest even number), the permittee shall use the convention consistently and shall ensure that consulting laboratories employed by the permittee use the same convention.

9. Discharges to waters with an approved TMDL. Owners of facilities that are a source of the specified pollutant of concern to waters where an approved TMDL has been established shall implement measures and controls that are consistent with the assumptions and requirements of the TMDL.

10. Notice of termination.

a. The owner may terminate coverage under this general permit by filing a complete notice of termination with the department. The notice of termination may be filed after one or more of the following conditions have been met:

(1) Operations have ceased at the facility and there are no longer cooling water discharges from the facility;

(2) A new owner has assumed responsibility for the facility (NOTE: A notice of termination does not have to be submitted if a VPDES Change of Ownership Agreement form has been submitted);

(3) All cooling water discharges associated with this facility have been covered by a VPDES individual permit or an alternative VPDES permit; or

(4) Termination of coverage is being requested for another reason, provided the board department agrees that coverage under this general permit is no longer needed.

b. The notice of termination shall contain the following information:

(1) Owner's name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address (if available);

(2) Facility name and location;

(3) VPDES noncontact cooling water discharges general permit number; and

(4) The basis for submitting the notice of termination, including:

(a) A statement indicating that a new owner has assumed responsibility for the facility;

(b) A statement indicating that operations have ceased at the facility and there are no longer noncontact cooling water discharges from the facility;

(c) A statement indicating that all noncontact cooling water discharges have been covered by a VPDES individual permit; or

(d) A statement indicating that termination of coverage is being requested for another reason (state the reason).

c. The following certification: "I certify under penalty of law that all noncontact cooling water discharges from the identified facility that are authorized by this VPDES general permit have been eliminated, or covered under a VPDES individual or alternative permit, or that I am no longer the owner of the facility, or permit coverage should be terminated for another reason listed above. I understand that by submitting this notice of termination that I am no longer authorized to discharge noncontact cooling water in accordance with the general permit, and that discharging pollutants in noncontact cooling water to surface waters is unlawful where the discharge is not authorized by a VPDES permit. I also understand that the submittal of this notice of termination does not release an owner from liability for any violations of this permit or the Clean Water Act."

d. The notice of termination shall be signed in accordance with Part II K.

e. The notice of termination shall be submitted to the DEQ regional office serving the area where the noncontact cooling water discharge is located.

11. The discharges authorized by this permit shall be controlled as necessary to meet applicable water quality standards.

12. Approval for coverage under this general permit does not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any other federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.

Part II
Conditions Applicable to All VPDES Permits

A. Monitoring.

1. Samples and measurements taken as required by this permit shall be representative of the monitored activity.

2. Monitoring shall be conducted according to procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 or alternative methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, unless other procedures have been specified in this permit.

3. The permittee shall periodically calibrate and perform maintenance procedures on all monitoring and analytical instrumentation at intervals that will ensure accuracy of measurements.

4. Samples taken as required by this permit shall be analyzed in accordance with 1VAC30-45, Certification for Noncommercial Environmental Laboratories, or 1VAC30-46, Accreditation for Commercial Environmental Laboratories.

B. Records.

1. Records of monitoring information shall include:

a. The date and exact place and time of sampling or measurements;

b. The individuals who performed the sampling or measurements;

c. The dates and times analyses were performed;

d. The individuals who performed the analyses;

e. The analytical techniques or methods used; and

f. The results of such analyses.

2. Except for records of monitoring information required by this permit related to the permittee's sewage sludge use and disposal activities, which shall be retained for a period of at least five years, the permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, copies of all reports required by this permit, and records of all data used to complete the registration statement for this permit, for a period of at least three years from the date of the sample, measurement, report, or request for coverage. This period of retention shall be extended automatically during the course of any unresolved litigation regarding the regulated activity or regarding control standards applicable to the permittee or as requested by the board department.

C. Reporting monitoring results.

1. The permittee shall submit the results of the monitoring required by this permit not later than the 10th day of the month after monitoring takes place, unless another reporting schedule is specified elsewhere in this permit. Monitoring results shall be submitted to the department's regional office.

2. Monitoring results shall be reported on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) or on forms provided, approved or specified by the department. Following notification from the department of the start date for the required electronic submission of monitoring reports, as provided for in 9VAC25-31-1020, such forms and reports submitted after that date shall be electronically submitted to the department in compliance with this section and 9VAC25-31-1020. There shall be at least three months' notice provided between the notification from the department and the date after which such forms and reports must be submitted electronically.

3. If the permittee monitors any pollutant specifically addressed by this permit more frequently than required by this permit using test procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 or using other test procedures approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or using procedures specified in this permit, the results of this monitoring shall be included in the calculation and reporting of the data submitted in the DMR or reporting form specified by the department.

4. Calculations for all limitations which that require averaging of measurements shall utilize an arithmetic mean unless otherwise specified in this permit.

D. Duty to provide information. The permittee shall furnish to the department, within a reasonable time, any information which the board department may request to determine whether cause exists for terminating coverage under this permit or to determine compliance with this permit. The board department may require the permittee to furnish, upon request, such plans, specifications, and other pertinent information as may be necessary to determine the effect of the wastes from the permittee's discharge on the quality of state waters, or such other information as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the State Water Control Law. The permittee shall also furnish to the department upon request copies of records required to be kept by this permit.

E. Compliance schedule reports. Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports on, interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule of this permit shall be submitted no later than 14 days following each schedule date.

F. Unauthorized discharges. Except in compliance with this permit or another permit issued by the board department, it shall be unlawful for any person to:

1. Discharge into state waters sewage, industrial wastes, other wastes, or any noxious or deleterious substances; or

2. Otherwise alter the physical, chemical, or biological properties of such state waters and make them detrimental to the public health, to animal or aquatic life, to the use of such waters for domestic or industrial consumption, for recreation, or for other uses.

G. Reports of unauthorized discharges. Any permittee who discharges or causes or allows a discharge of sewage, industrial waste, other wastes or any noxious or deleterious substance into or upon state waters in violation of Part II F, or who discharges or causes or allows a discharge that may reasonably be expected to enter state waters in violation of Part II F, shall notify the department (see Part II I 3) of the discharge immediately upon discovery of the discharge, but in no case later than 24 hours after said discovery. A written report of the unauthorized discharge shall be submitted to the department within five days of discovery of the discharge. The written report shall contain:

1. A description of the nature and location of the discharge;

2. The cause of the discharge;

3. The date on which the discharge occurred;

4. The length of time that the discharge continued;

5. The volume of the discharge;

6. If the discharge is continuing, how long it is expected to continue;

7. If the discharge is continuing, what the expected total volume of the discharge will be; and

8. Any steps planned or taken to reduce, eliminate, and prevent a recurrence of the present discharge or any future discharges not authorized by this permit.

Discharges reportable to the department under the immediate reporting requirements of other regulations are exempted from this requirement.

H. Reports of unusual or extraordinary discharges. If any unusual or extraordinary discharge including a bypass or upset should occur from a treatment works and the discharge enters or could be expected to enter state waters, the permittee shall promptly notify (see Part II I 3), in no case later than 24 hours, the department by telephone after the discovery of the discharge. This notification shall provide all available details of the incident, including any adverse effects on aquatic life and the known number of fish killed. The permittee shall reduce the report to writing and shall submit it to the department within five days of discovery of the discharge in accordance with Part II I 1 b. Unusual and extraordinary discharges include any discharge resulting from:

1. Unusual spillage of materials resulting directly or indirectly from processing operations;

2. Breakdown of processing or accessory equipment;

3. Failure or taking out of service some or all of the treatment works; and

4. Flooding or other acts of nature.

I. Reports of noncompliance.

1. The permittee shall report any noncompliance that may adversely affect state waters or may endanger public health.

a. An oral report shall be provided within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The following shall be included as information which that shall be reported within 24 hours under this subsection:

(1) Any unanticipated bypass; and

(2) Any upset which causes a discharge to surface waters.

b. A written report shall be submitted within five days and shall contain:

(1) A description of the noncompliance and its cause;

(2) The period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times, and if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and

(3) Steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance.

The board department may waive the written report on a case-by-case basis for reports of noncompliance under Part II I if the oral report has been received within 24 hours and no adverse impact on state waters has been reported.

2. The permittee shall report all instances of noncompliance not reported under Part II I 1, in writing, at the time the next monitoring reports are submitted. The reports shall contain the information listed in Part II I 1 b.

NOTE: 3. The immediate (within 24 hours) reports required in Parts II G, H, and I may shall be made to the department's regional office. Reports may be made by telephone, FAX, or online at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/PollutionResponsePreparedness/PollutionReportingForm.aspx https://www.deq.virginia.gov/get-involved/pollution-response (online reporting preferred). For reports outside normal working hours, leave a message and this shall fulfill the immediate reporting requirement the online portal shall be used. For emergencies, call the Virginia Department of Emergency Services maintains a 24-hour telephone service Management's Emergency Operations Center (24-hour) at 1-800-468-8892.

3. 4. Where the permittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts in a permit registration statement or submitted incorrect information in a permit registration statement or in any report to the department, it shall promptly submit such facts or information.

J. Notice of planned changes.

1. The permittee shall give notice to the department as soon as possible of any planned physical alterations or additions to the permitted facility. Notice is required only when:

a. The permittee plans alteration or addition to any building, structure, facility, or installation from which there is or may be a discharge of pollutants, the construction of which commenced:

(1) After promulgation of standards of performance under § 306 of Clean Water Act which that are applicable to such source; or

(2) After proposal of standards of performance in accordance with § 306 of Clean Water Act which that are applicable to such source, but only if the standards are promulgated in accordance with § 306 within 120 days of their proposal;

b. The alteration or addition could significantly change the nature or increase the quantity of pollutants discharged. This notification applies to pollutants which that are subject neither to effluent limitations nor to notification requirements under Part I B 6; or

c. The alteration or addition results in a significant change in the permittee's sludge use or disposal practices, and such alteration, addition, or change may justify the application of permit conditions that are different from or absent in the existing permit, including notification of additional use or disposal sites not reported during the permit registration process or not reported pursuant to an approved land application plan.

2. The permittee shall give advance notice to the department of any planned changes in the permitted facility or activity which that may result in noncompliance with permit requirements.

K. Signatory requirements.

1. Registration statements. All registration statements shall be signed as follows:

a. For a corporation: by a responsible corporate officer. For the purpose of this section, a responsible corporate officer means: (i) a president, secretary, treasurer, or vice-president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making or decision-making functions for the corporation, or (ii) the manager of one or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities, provided the manager is authorized to make management decisions that govern the operation of the regulated facility including having the explicit or implicit duty of making major capital investment recommendations, and initiating and directing other comprehensive measures to assure long-term environmental compliance with environmental laws and regulations; the manager can ensure that the necessary systems are established or actions taken to gather complete and accurate information for permit registration requirements; and where authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures;

b. For a partnership or sole proprietorship: by a general partner or the proprietor, respectively; or

c. For a municipality, state, federal, or other public agency: by either a principal executive officer or ranking elected official. For purposes of this section, a principal executive officer of a public agency includes: (i) the chief executive officer of the agency, or (ii) a senior executive officer having responsibility for the overall operations of a principal geographic unit of the agency.

2. Reports and other information. All reports required by permits, and other information requested by the board department shall be signed by a person described in Part II K 1, or by a duly authorized representative of that person. A person is a duly authorized representative only if:

a. The authorization is made in writing by a person described in Part II K 1;

b. The authorization specifies either an individual or a position having responsibility for the overall operation of the regulated facility or activity such as the position of plant manager, operator of a well or a well field, superintendent, position of equivalent responsibility, or an individual or position having overall responsibility for environmental matters for the company (a duly authorized representative may thus be either a named individual or any individual occupying a named position); and

c. The written authorization is submitted to the department.

3. Changes to authorization. If an authorization under Part II K 2 is no longer accurate because a different individual or position has responsibility for the overall operation of the facility, a new authorization satisfying the requirements of Part II K 2 shall be submitted to the department prior to or together with any reports or information to be signed by an authorized representative.

4. Certification. Any person signing a document under Part II K 1 or 2 shall make the following certification:

"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."

L. Duty to comply. The permittee shall comply with all conditions of this permit. Any permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of the State Water Control Law and the Clean Water Act, except that noncompliance with certain provisions of this permit may constitute a violation of the State Water Control Law but not the Clean Water Act. Permit noncompliance is grounds for enforcement action;, for permit coverage termination, or for denial of a permit coverage renewal.

The permittee shall comply with effluent standards or prohibitions established under § 307(a) of the Clean Water Act for toxic pollutants and with standards for sewage sludge use or disposal established under § 405(d) of the Clean Water Act within the time provided in the regulations that establish these standards or prohibitions or standards for sewage sludge use or disposal, even if this permit has not yet been modified to incorporate the requirement.

M. Duty to reapply. If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by this permit after the expiration date of this permit, the permittee shall apply for and obtain coverage under a new permit. All permittees with currently effective permit coverage shall submit a new registration statement at least 30 60 days before the expiration date of the existing permit, unless permission for a later date has been granted by the board department. The board department shall not grant permission for registration statements to be submitted later than the expiration date of the existing permit.

N. Effect of a permit. This permit does not convey any property rights in either real or personal property or any exclusive privileges, nor does it authorize any injury to private property or invasion of personal rights, or any infringement of federal, state, or local law or regulations.

O. State law. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action under, or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties established pursuant to any other state law or regulation or under authority preserved by § 510 of the Clean Water Act. Except as provided in permit conditions on bypass (Part II U) and upset (Part II V), nothing in this permit shall be construed to relieve the permittee from civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.

P. 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 §§ 62.1-44.34:14 through 62.1-44.34:23 of the State Water Control Law.

Q. Proper operation and maintenance. The permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which that are installed or used by the permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit. Proper operation and maintenance also includes effective plant performance, adequate funding, adequate staffing, and adequate laboratory and process controls, including appropriate quality assurance procedures. This provision requires the operation of back-up or auxiliary facilities or similar systems which that are installed by the permittee only when the operation is necessary to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit.

R. Disposal of solids or sludges. Solids, sludges, or other pollutants removed in the course of treatment or management of pollutants shall be disposed of in a manner so as to prevent any pollutant from such materials from entering state waters.

S. Duty to mitigate. The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge or sludge use or disposal in violation of this permit which that has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment.

T. Need to halt or reduce activity not a defense. It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this permit.

U. Bypass.

1. "Bypass" means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of a treatment facility. The permittee may allow any bypass to occur which that does not cause effluent limitations to be exceeded, but only if it also is for essential maintenance to ensure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to the provisions of Part II U 2 and U 3.

2. Notice.

a. Anticipated bypass. If the permittee knows in advance of the need for a bypass, prior notice shall be submitted, if possible at least 10 days before the date of the bypass.

b. Unanticipated bypass. The permittee shall submit notice of an unanticipated bypass as required in Part II I.

3. Prohibition of bypass.

a. Bypass is prohibited, and the board department may take enforcement action against a permittee for bypass, unless:

(1) Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;

(2) There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if adequate back-up equipment should have been installed in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent a bypass which occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; and

(3) The permittee submitted notices as required under Part II U 2.

b. The board department may approve an anticipated bypass, after considering its adverse effects, if the board department determines that it will meet the three conditions listed in Part II U 3 a.

V. Upset.

1. An upset constitutes an affirmative defense to an action brought for noncompliance with technology based permit effluent limitations if the requirements of Part II V 2 are met. A determination made during administrative review of claims that noncompliance was caused by upset, and before an action for noncompliance, is not a final administrative action subject to judicial review.

2. A permittee who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall demonstrate, through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence that:

a. An upset occurred and that the permittee can identify the causes of the upset;

b. The permitted facility was at the time being properly operated;

c. The permittee submitted notice of the upset as required in Part II I; and

d. The permittee complied with any remedial measures required under Part II S.

3. In any enforcement proceeding the permittee seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset has the burden of proof.

W. Inspection and entry. The permittee shall allow the director or an authorized representative, including an authorized contractor acting as a representative of the administrator, upon presentation of credentials and other documents as may be required by law, to:

1. Enter upon the permittee's premises where a regulated facility or activity is located or conducted, or where records must be kept under the conditions of this permit;

2. Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must be kept under the conditions of this permit;

3. Inspect at reasonable times any facilities, equipment (including monitoring and control equipment), practices, or operations regulated or required under this permit; and

4. Sample or monitor at reasonable times, for the purposes of assuring permit compliance or as otherwise authorized by the Clean Water Act and the State Water Control Law, any substances or parameters at any location.

For purposes of this subsection, the time for inspection shall be deemed reasonable during regular business hours, or whenever the facility is discharging. Nothing contained herein shall make an inspection unreasonable during an emergency.

X. Permit actions. Permits coverage may be terminated for cause. The filing of a request by the permittee for permit coverage termination or a notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance does not stay any permit condition.

Y. Transfer of permit coverage.

1. Permit coverage is not transferable to any person except after notice to the department.

2. Coverage under this permit may be automatically transferred to a new permittee if:

a. The current permittee notifies the department within 30 days of the transfer of the title to the facility or property;

b. The notice includes a written agreement between the existing and new permittees containing a specific date for transfer of permit responsibility, coverage, and liability between them; and

c. The board department does not notify the existing permittee and the proposed new permittee of its intent to deny permit coverage. If this notice is not received, the transfer is effective on the date specified in the agreement mentioned in Part II Y 2 b.

Z. Severability. The provisions of this permit are severable. If any provision of this permit or the application of any provision of this permit to any circumstance is held invalid, the application of such provision to other circumstances and the remainder of this permit shall not be affected thereby.