N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-13.14

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 7:14A-13.14 - Expression of effluent limitations

(a) Effluent limitations shall be expressed as described below:

1. Water quality based effluent limitations shall be expressed as both concentration and mass loading, except as listed in (a)1i through iv below:

i. For parameters such as pH, temperature, radiation, or other pollutants, which cannot be appropriately expressed in terms of concentration and mass, the effluent limitations shall be expressed in units appropriate to the parameter;

ii. Water quality based limitations for whole effluent toxicity shall be expressed as the LC[50] or No Observed Adverse Effect Concentration, as appropriate, and equivalent acute toxic units for acute whole effluent toxicity limitations and as the IC[25] and equivalent chronic toxic units for chronic whole effluent toxicity limitations;

iii. If the ratio of the receiving stream flow within the mixing zone to the total effluent flow is greater than 100:1, the effluent limitations shall be expressed only as mass loading without an effluent limitation for concentration, provided that no specific regulatory requirement is applicable which would require limitations on effluent concentration;

iv. Water quality based limitations determined from a TMDL/WLA may be expressed as either concentration or mass loading if:

(1) The TMDL has been adopted in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:15-7; and

(2) The TMDL specifically states that the associated water quality based effluent limitations shall be expressed only as either concentration or mass loading.

2. Limitations which are based on 7:14A-13.2(a)1 or (a)5 shall be expressed as concentration and mass loading for DTWs and as mass loading for all other dischargers, except as provided below:

i. For parameters such as pH, temperature, radiation, or other pollutants, which cannot be appropriately expressed in terms of concentration and mass, in which case the effluent limitations shall be expressed in units appropriate to the parameter;

ii. When applicable standards and limitations are expressed in terms of other units of measurement. For example, limitations for whole effluent toxicity shall be expressed as the LC[50] or No Observed Adverse Effect Concentration, as appropriate, and equivalent acute toxic units for acute whole effluent toxicity limitations and as the IC[25] and equivalent chronic toxic units for chronic whole effluent toxicity limitations;

iii. When limitations are developed on a case-by-case basis and expression of the limitation as mass is infeasible because the mass of the pollutant discharged cannot be related to a measure of operation;

(Reserved)

4. Limitations based on the effluent standards for site remediation projects at N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12 Appendix B shall be expressed as concentration;

5. Limitations based on the effluent standards for new source and expanded discharges at N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12 Appendix C shall be expressed as mass and concentration, unless the discharge meets the qualifications at (a)1iii above; and

6. Limitations may be expressed as concentration or mass, or as concentration and mass, when such expression is required by authority or rules adopted by another regulatory agency. Other regulatory agencies include the Pinelands Commission, the Delaware River Basin Commission, or the Interstate Environmental Commission.

(b) All permit effluent limitations, effluent standards, or prohibitions for a metal shall be expressed in terms of total recoverable metal unless:

1. An applicable effluent standard or limitation has been promulgated under the Federal Act and specifies the limitation for the metal in the dissolved, valent or total form;

2. In establishing permit limitations on a case-by-case basis under 7:14A-13.4, it is necessary to express the limitation on the metal in the dissolved, valent, or total form to carry out the provisions of the Federal Act; or

3. Approved analytical methods for the metal inherently measure only its dissolved form (for example, hexavalent chromium).

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-13.14

Administrative change.
See: 34 New Jersey Register 1902(a).