N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-2.12

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

Section 7:14A-2.12 - Studies

(a) Ambient water quality studies may be required to develop TMDLs in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:15-7. Where such studies are necessary, the ambient water quality sampling and data analysis and interpretation may be performed by the Department, affected cities or municipalities, permittees, or other interested parties.

(b) Ambient studies consist of water quality and/or biological studies and shall be used to supplement the Department's ongoing sampling programs. Where the data necessary to make a determination of effluent limitations have already been collected and analyzed by the Department, or are anticipated to be collected and analyzed prior to the determination of effluent limitations, duplicative studies shall not be required. Where the data do not exist and/or are incomplete, the Department may require the permittee or the applicant to undertake any and all studies that it determines necessary to determine permit limits and conditions. Such studies may include, but are not limited to, dilution analysis/mixing zone studies (including stream design flows), dissolved oxygen studies, effluent characterizations, studies to demonstrate compliance with the ocean discharge criteria, antidegradation analysis, in-stream water quality studies to develop water quality based effluent limitations, and biological, nutrient, and toxics impact analysis.

(c) All studies conducted for the purposes of implementing the requirements of this chapter shall be performed in accordance with a Department approved Work/Quality Assurance Project Plan. At a minimum, the Work/Quality Assurance Project Plan shall define the data quality objectives and specify the field sampling protocols, field survey, and laboratory analytical methods and procedures to be implemented in the project. The Work/Quality Assurance Project Plan shall be consistent with guidance from the following documents:

1. The Department's Field Sampling Procedures Manual, dated August 2005, as supplemented or amended (available at http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/), incorporated by reference; and

2. USEPA Region II "Guidance for the Development of Quality Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Monitoring Projects," dated April 2004, as supplemented or amended (available at http://www.epa.gov/region02) incorporated by reference, or the USEPA "Guidance for Preparation of Combined Work/Quality Assurance Project Plans For Environmental Monitoring" (OWRS QA-1), Office of Water Regulations and Standards, Washington D.C., dated May 1984, as supplemented or amended and incorporated by reference.

(d) Reuse feasibility studies performed under 7:14A-2.15 are exempt from the requirements of (c) above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-2.12

Amended by R.2009 d.7, effective 1/5/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 1478(a), 41 N.J.R. 142(a).
Section was "Ambient water quality studies". In (b), inserted commas following "include" and "limited to" and deleted ", along with related quality assurance/quality control project plan requirements in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 30.503" from the end; and added (c) and (d).