N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-13.10

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:14A-13.10 - Surrogate effluent limitations

(a) Surrogate limitations may be included in a discharge permit in accordance with the following:

1. The permittee shall submit a written request to the Department which includes the specific parameter(s) to be used as a surrogate and specifically lists the base parameter(s) for which the surrogate parameter is requested;

2. The request shall include a detailed report demonstrating that the requested surrogate parameter is a reliable, precise and accurate surrogate. This report shall include, at a minimum, effluent data demonstrating the relationship, including the value(s) of the surrogate parameter(s) corresponding to the limitation(s) for the base parameter(s), between the proposed surrogate(s) and the parameters for which the surrogate is requested;

3. Where the Department approves the use of a surrogate, the fact sheet for the draft permit shall set forth the basis for the limit, including a finding that compliance with the effluent limit for the surrogate parameter shall result in controls on the pollutant of interest which are sufficient to attain the applicable effluent limitations. The permit shall identify which pollutants are intended to be controlled by the use of the surrogate limitation;

4. If the permit includes a limitation for the surrogate parameter(s) with a basis separate from the use of the parameter as a surrogate, the surrogate limitation(s) may be included in addition to any limitation for the surrogate parameter based on technology, water quality concerns, or effluent standards;

5. Where an effluent limitation is being imposed on a delegated local agency in accordance with N.J.S.A. 58:10A-7b(3) for categorical or other pollutants, the permittee may request the use of surrogate parameters in accordance with the following additional requirements:

i. Where a delegated local agency has requested that whole effluent toxicity be considered as the surrogate parameter for a limitation calculated for a toxic pollutant, the Department may presume that, subsequent to the effective date of the whole effluent toxicity limitation, compliance with the water quality based whole effluent toxicity limitation satisfies the report submittal requirements specified in (a)2 above;

ii. Upon its determination that the requested surrogate parameter is an appropriate and reliable surrogate, the Department shall include in the discharge permit effluent limitations for both the surrogate parameter(s) and the base parameter(s). Compliance with the base parameter(s) shall be determined based on compliance with the surrogate parameter; and

iii. The permit shall require that, if the surrogate parameter is exceeded, the effluent limitations covered by the surrogate shall become effective upon notification by the Department, unless the permittee demonstrates that the base parameters were not exceeded at the time that the surrogate parameter was exceeded. The permit may also include procedures for re-establishment of the use of a surrogate parameter;

6. The permit shall require the monitoring necessary to demonstrate that during the term of the permit the limit on the surrogate parameter continues to attain and maintain applicable effluent limitations. The permit shall require monitoring of the surrogate parameter and may also require monitoring of the base parameter(s) covered by the surrogate parameter;

7. The permit shall be reopened and modified to include limitations on the base parameter(s) if the Department determines that the surrogate parameter(s) no longer ensure attainment of the applicable effluent limitations for the base parameter(s); and

8. The Department, upon its own initiative, may include a limitation for a surrogate parameter irrespective of a request by the affected permittee provided the fact sheet sets forth the basis for the limit, including a finding that compliance with the effluent limit on the surrogate parameter will result in controls on the pollutant of concern that are sufficient to attain the applicable effluent limitations and the permit conditions in (a)5 and 6 above are satisfied.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-13.10