La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § IX-6135

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section IX-6135 - Modification of POTW Pretreatment Programs

A. General. Either the approval authority or a POTW with an approved POTW pretreatment program may initiate program modification at any time to reflect changing conditions at the POTW. Program modification is necessary whenever there is a significant change in the operation of a POTW pretreatment program that differs from the information in the POTW's submission, as approved under LAC 33:IX.6121.

B. Substantial Modifications Defined

1. The following are substantial modifications for purposes of this Section:

a. modifications that relax POTW legal authorities (as described in LAC 33:IX.6115.F.1), except for modifications that directly reflect revision to the general pretreatment regulations, LAC 33:IX.Chapters 61 or 49, and reported in accordance with Subsection D of this Section;

b. modifications that relax local limits, except for the modifications to local limits for pH and reallocations of the Maximum Allowable Industrial Loading of a pollutant that do not increase the total industrial loadings for the pollutant, which are reported in accordance with Subsection D of this Section. Maximum Allowable Industrial Loadings mean the total mass of a pollutant that all industrial users of a POTW (or a subgroup of industrial users identified by the POTW) may discharge in accordance with limits developed under LAC 33:IX.6109.C;

c. changes to the POTW's control mechanism, as described in LAC 33:IX.6115.F.1.c;

d. a decrease in the frequency of self-monitoring or reporting required of industrial users;

e. a decrease in the frequency of industrial user inspections or sampling by the POTW;

f. changes to the POTW's confidentiality procedures; and

g. other modifications designated as substantial modifications by the approval authority on the basis that the modification could have significant impact on the operation of the POTW's pretreatment program, could result in an increase in pollutant loadings at the POTW, or could result in less stringent requirements being imposed on industrial users of the POTW.

C. Approval Procedures for Substantial Modifications

1. The POTW shall submit to the Office of Environmental Services a statement of the basis for the desired program modification, a modified program description (see LAC 33:IX.6117.B), or such other documents the approval authority determines to be necessary under the circumstances.

2. The approval authority shall approve or disapprove the modification based on the requirements of LAC 33:IX.6115.F, following the procedures in LAC 33:IX.6121.B-F, except as provided in Paragraphs C.3-4 of this Section. The modification shall become effective upon approval by the approval authority.

3. The approval authority need not publish a notice of decision under LAC 33:IX.6121.E, provided the notice of request for approval under LAC 33:IX.6121.B.1 states that the request will be approved if no comments are received by a date specified in the notice, no substantial comments are received, and the request is approved without change.

4. Notices required by LAC 33:IX.6121 may be performed by the POTW, provided that the approval authority finds that the POTW notice otherwise satisfies the requirements of LAC 33:IX.6121.

D. Approval Procedures for Nonsubstantial Modifications

1. The POTW shall notify the Office of Environmental Services of any other (i.e., nonsubstantial) modifications to its pretreatment program at least 45 days prior to when they are to be implemented by the POTW, in a statement similar to that provided for in Paragraph C.1 of this Section.

2. Within 45 days after the submission of the POTW's statement, the approval authority shall notify the POTW of its decision to approve or disapprove the nonsubstantial modification.

3. If the approval authority does not notify the POTW within 45 days of its decision to approve or deny the modification or to treat the modification as substantial under Subparagraph B.1.g of this Section, the POTW may implement the modification.

E. Incorporation in the Permit. All modifications shall be incorporated into the POTW's LPDES permit upon approval. The permit will be modified to incorporate the approved modification in accordance with LAC 33:IX.2905.A.7.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § IX-6135

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Water Resources, LR 21:945 (September 1995), amended LR 24:2122 (November 1998), LR 25:1093 (June 1999), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, Environmental Planning Division, LR 26:2556 (November 2000), repromulgated LR 30:232 (February 2004), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, LR 31:2515 (October 2005), LR 33:2171 (October 2007).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2001 et seq., and in particular Section 2074(B)(3) and (B)(4)