N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-13.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 7:14A-13.3 - Applicability of effluent limitations

(a) DSW permits shall include water quality based effluent limitations or requirements where the Department determines that effluent limitations, guidelines or standards established pursuant to (b) through (e) below are not sufficient to achieve surface water quality standards established pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9B, or to attain and maintain a specified water quality through water quality related effluent limitations established pursuant to Section 302 of the Federal Act. In addition:

1. Where the Department determines that a discharge may adversely impact a waterbody with a higher use classification or antidegradation designation downstream of the discharge location, water quality based effluent limitations shall be developed and included in the discharge permit to ensure that the water quality standards applicable to the higher classification or antidegradation designation of the downstream waterbody shall be attained and maintained; and

2. Where the Department determines that a discharge may cause, contribute, or have the reasonable potential to cause an excursion above the surface water quality standards of another state, water quality based effluent limitations shall be developed and included in the discharge permit to ensure that the water quality standards for the affected waters of the other state shall be attained and maintained.

(b) DSW permits issued for direct discharges of industrial wastewater shall include technology based effluent limitations and standards promulgated under Section 301 of the Federal Act (33 U.S.C. § 1311) , new source performance standards promulgated under Section 306 of the Federal Act (33 U.S.C. § 1316) , or case-by-case effluent limitations determined under Section 402(a)(1) of the Federal Act (33 U.S.C. § 1342(a)(1)) , or N.J.A.C. 7:14A-13.4 or a combination, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14A-13.4

1. Technology based treatment requirements under section 301(b) of the Federal Act represent the minimum level of control that shall be imposed in a permit. Where such technology based limitations are more stringent than other applicable limitations listed at N.J.A.C. 7:14A-13.2, the technology based limitations shall be included in the permit.

2. Technology based treatment requirements may be imposed through one of the following methods:

i. Application of USEPA promulgated effluent limitations developed under section 304 of the Federal Act (33 U.S.C. § 1314) to dischargers by category or subcategory. A permittee may seek fundamentally different factors variances from these effluent limitations under N.J.A.C. 7:14A-11.7(b)1.

ii. On a case-by-case basis under section 402(a)(1) of the Federal Act, to the extent that USEPA promulgated effluent limitations are inapplicable. The Department shall apply the appropriate factors listed in N.J.A.C. 7:14A-13.4 and shall consider:

(1) The appropriate technology for the category or class of point sources of which the applicant is a member, based on available information; and

(2) Any unique factors relating to the applicant.

iii. Through a combination of the methods in (b)2i and ii above. Where promulgated effluent limitations or guidelines apply only to certain aspects of the discharger's operation, or to certain pollutants, other aspects or activities are subject to regulation on a case-by-case basis in order to carry out the provisions of the Federal or State Act.

iv. Limitations developed under (b)2ii above may be expressed, where appropriate, in terms of toxicity (that is, LC50 or IC25), provided the fact sheet demonstrates that the limits reflect the appropriate requirements.

3. Technology based limitations for new sources may be imposed through one of the following methods:

i. Application of USEPA promulgated new source standards developed under section 304 of the Federal Act to dischargers by category or subcategory.

ii. On a case-by-case basis to the extent that USEPA promulgated effluent limitations are inapplicable or are not available, the Department shall apply the appropriate factors listed in N.J.A.C. 7:14A-13.4 and shall consider:

(1) The appropriate technology for the category or class of point sources of which the applicant is a member, based on available information; and

(2) Any unique factors relating to the applicant.

(c) DSW permits shall include State effluent standards at N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12as follows:

1. Secondary treatment standards at N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12.2 are the minimum treatment standards applicable to DTWs for BOD5, total suspended solids, and pH;

2. State effluent standards at N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12.5 for disinfection, N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12.6 for foam, N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12.8 for oil and grease, and N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12.7 for phosphorus are the minimum treatment standards;

3. State BOD5 effluent standards at N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12.4 shall be incorporated into DSW permits for discharges into the named waterbodies where the Department has not adopted a TMDL for the waterbody;

4. The Department shall include effluent limitations for site remediation activities equal to the remediation effluent standards listed in N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix B for any pollutant or pollutant parameter which either results from any remedial action or is present on-site at a concentration greater than the applicable Surface Water Quality Standards, unless it has been demonstrated to the Department's satisfaction that the pollutant, upon discharge, will not cause, have the reasonable potential to cause, or contribute to an excursion above any applicable Surface Water Quality Standards. The Department may include limitations for additional pollutants or pollutant parameters provided the statement of basis or the permit fact sheet includes a specific rationale for the requirement.

5. State effluent standards for the toxic effluent standards at N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C will be included in a discharge permit for a new source, a new discharge, or an expanded direct discharge in accordance with (c)5i through v below only if the permittee requests such limitations in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14A-4.4. A request shall specifically list each pollutant or pollutant parameter for which a limitation based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C is requested. The applicant shall not be required to submit a water quality study for any pollutant or pollutant parameter for which the Department determines that limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C, when imposed on the discharge, are anticipated to ensure that the surface water quality standards, including antidegradation requirements, will be attained.

i. Limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C shall not be used to relax a more stringent existing effluent limitation or standard, including limitations to be applied to the expansion of an existing discharge.

ii. Limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C shall be used on a site-specific basis and consideration of the factors listed at (c)5ii(1) through (3) below only for discharges to waterbodies with the following classifications and antidegradation designations as defined in the Surface Water Quality Standards: FW2-NT (Category 2); FW2-TM (Category 2); SE1 (Category 2); SE2 (Category 2); SE3 (Category 2); or SC (Category 2). In no case shall N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C limitations be included in a discharge permit for a discharge to waters classified as FW1; FW2-TP; PL; any Category 1 water; any water with existing active shellfish harvesting activities, any intermittent stream, or immediately upstream or directly into any impoundment.

(1) Limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C shall be used for discharges to FW2-TM (Category 2) waters only when the Department determines that all Surface Water Quality Standards, including antidegradation requirements, will be attained;

(2) Limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C shall be used for new sources or expanded direct discharges discharging to a waterbody only after consideration by the Department of the basis for any effluent limitations in place for existing discharges to the waterbody; and

(3) Limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C shall be used for new sources or expanded direct discharges discharging to a waterbody only after consideration by the Department of the potential effects of the discharge on downstream high quality waters or rare or endangered species habitat, the effective dilution at the point of discharge, or any other appropriate site specific factors.

iii. Limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C shall not be used where the Department determines that insufficient assimilative capacity is available in the receiving waterbody to allow the proposed discharge and to ensure that the Surface Water Quality Standards will be attained.

iv. When limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C are requested by an applicant, the Department shall evaluate existing data to determine, if possible, whether the receiving waterbody is currently attaining the Surface Water Quality Standards. Where the waterbody is not currently attaining the SWQS, for the pollutants for which the N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C effluent limitations are requested, such, effluent limitations shall not be used.

v. Effluent limitations developed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14A-13.4 or 13.6 which are more stringent than the limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C shall be imposed when such limitations are developed. Limitations based on N.J.A.C. 7:14A-12Appendix C which have been imposed on each discharge shall be evaluated as a part of the TMDL process for each pollutant or pollutant parameter.

(d) DSW permits shall include effluent limitations based on a WQM Plan adopted in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:15 unless limitations based on (a), (b), (c)1, or (c)2 above are more stringent.

(e) DSW permits shall include effluent limitations based on existing effluent quality when the Department determines that an effluent limitation is appropriate for the pollutant or pollutant parameter of interest and a limitation has not been established in accordance with (a) through (d) above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-13.3

Amended by R.2004 d.47, effective 2/2/2004.
See: 35 N.J.R. 169(a), 35 N.J.R. 1331(a), 36 N.J.R. 813(a).
In (b), added U.S.C. references.
Administrative change.
See: 38 N.J.R. 1445(a).
Amended by R.2009 d.7, effective 1/5/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 1478(a), 41 N.J.R. 142(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (c), deleted "and N.J.A.C. 7:14A-5.3" preceding "as"; in (c)1, substituted the second occurrence of "standards" for "standard"; and in (c)2, updated the fourth N.J.A.C. reference, deleted "for whole effluent toxicity" preceding "phosphorus" and substituted "standards" for "standard" following "treatment".
Notice of readoption with technical changes.
See: 47 N.J.R. 3027(a).