Okla. Admin. Code § 252:730-5-25

Current through Vol. 41, No. 19, June 17, 2024

Section 252:730-5-25 - Implementation policies for the antidegradation policy statement

(a) The following provisions set forth exceptions to the limitations stated in OAC 252:730-5-25(c) for additional protection of certain waters of the state:

(1) The limitations contained in OAC 252:730-5-25(c)(1) for additional protection of Outstanding Resource Waters shall apply to all discharges from point sources except such limitations do not apply to discharges of stormwater from temporary construction activities. Discharges of stormwater from point sources existing as of June 25, 1992, whether or not such stormwater discharges were permitted as point sources prior to June 25, 1992, are also excepted from the OAC 252:730-5-25(c)(1) rule prohibiting any new point source discharges, but such stormwater discharges are prohibited from increased load of any pollutant.

(2) The limitations for additional protection of Appendix B Waters (OAC 252:730-5-25(c)(2)), High Quality Waters (OAC 252:730-5-25(c)(3)), Sensitive Public and Private Water Supplies (OAC 252:730-5-25(c)(4)), and SWS-R waterbodies (OAC 252:730-5-25(c)(8)) shall apply to discharges from all point sources except point source discharges of stormwater.

(b) For purposes of OAC 252:730-5-25, the term "specified pollutants" means:

(1) Oxygen demanding substances, measured as Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD) and/or Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD);

(2) Ammonia Nitrogen and/or Total Organic Nitrogen;

(3) Phosphorus;

(4) Total Suspended Solids (TSS);

(5) Such other substances as may be determined by DEQ.

(c) The following limitations for additional protection apply to various waters of the state:

(1)Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW).

(A) Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) are those waters of the state which constitute outstanding resources or are of exceptional recreational and/or ecological significance as described in OAC 252:730-3-2(a).

(B) The following waterbodies are prohibited from having any new point source discharge(s) of any pollutant or increased load of any pollutant from existing point source discharge(s):

(i) Waterbodies designated "ORW" and/or "Scenic River" in Appendix A of this Chapter;

(ii) Waterbodies located within the watersheds of waterbodies designated "Scenic River" in Appendix A of this Chapter; and

(iii) Waterbodies located within the boundaries of Appendix B areas which are specifically designated "ORW" in Appendix A of this Chapter.

(2)Appendix B Waters.

(A) Appendix B waters are those waters of the state which are located within the boundaries of areas listed in Appendix B of this Chapter, including but not limited to the National and State parks, forests, wilderness areas, wildlife management areas, and wildlife refuges. Appendix B also may include those areas which are inhabited by federally listed, threatened or endangered species, and other appropriate areas.

(B) Only those Appendix B waters specifically designated "ORW" in Appendix A of this Chapter shall be afforded the limitations for additional protection described in OAC 252:730-5-25(c)(1)(B).

(C) New discharges or increased loading from existing discharges to Appendix B waters may be allowed under such conditions that ensure that the recreational and ecological significance of these waters will be maintained.

(D) Discharges or other activities associated with those waters listed in Appendix B, Table 2 containing federally listed threatened or endangered species may be restricted through agreements between appropriate regulatory agencies and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(3)High Quality Waters (HQW).

(A) High Quality Waters (HQW) are those waters of the state whose historic water quality and physical habitat provide conditions suitable for the support of sensitive and intolerant climax communities of aquatic organisms whether or not that waterbody currently contains such a community, support high levels of recreational opportunity, and are designated "HQW" waters in Appendix A of this Chapter. These waters will generally have higher quality habitat, a more diverse and more intolerant biotic community and, as a result, may provide more ecological refuges and recreational opportunities than other waters in the same ecoregion with similar chemistry and physical conditions.

(B) All waterbodies designated with the limitation indicated by the letters "HQW" in Appendix A are prohibited from having any new point source discharge(s) of any pollutant or increased load or concentration of specified pollutants from existing point source discharge(s), provided however that new point source discharge(s) or increased load of specified pollutants described in OAC 252:730-5-25(b) may be approved by the permitting authority in those circumstances where the discharger demonstrates to the satisfaction of the permitting authority that a new point source discharge or increased load from an existing point source discharge will result in maintaining or improving the level of water quality which exceeds that necessary to support recreation and propagation of fishes, shellfishes, and wildlife of the direct receiving water and downstream waterbodies designated HQW. As specified in OAC 252:730-3-2(b) and (d), no discharge of any pollutant to a water designated HQW may lower existing water quality.

(C) Waters designated HQW after July 1, 2007 will demonstrate (1) 95% of water quality measurements for multiple parameters from metals, organics and general physicochemical water quality descriptors better than the promulgated criteria in Appendix G of this chapter at multiple stations on the segment, (2) an unimpaired biological community as determined by the application of Appendix C of Title 252 Chapter 740, and (3) significant local support for promulgation of the HQW designation.

(4)Sensitive Public and Private Water Supplies (SWS).

(A) Waters designated "SWS" are those waters of the state which constitute sensitive public and private water supplies as a result of their unique physical conditions and are listed in Appendix A of this Chapter as "SWS" waters. These are waters (a) currently used as water supply reservoirs, (b) that generally possess a watershed of less than approximately 100 square miles or (c) as otherwise designated by DEQ.

(B) New point source discharges of any pollutant after June 11, 1989, and increased load of any specified pollutant from any point source discharge existing as of June 11, 1989, shall be prohibited in any waterbody or watershed designated in Appendix A of this Chapter with the limitation "SWS". Any discharge of any pollutant to a waterbody designated "SWS" which would, if it occurred, lower existing water quality shall be prohibited, provided however that new point source discharge(s) or increased load of specified pollutants described in OAC 252:730-5-25(b) may be approved by the permitting authority in those circumstances where the discharger demonstrates to the satisfaction of the permitting authority that a new point source discharge or increased load from an existing point source discharge will result in maintaining or improving the water quality of both the direct receiving water and any downstream waterbodies designated SWS.

(5)Prioritization of limitations. In situations where more than one beneficial use limitation exists for a waterbody, the more stringent limitation shall apply.

(6)Non-Point source discharges or runoff. Best management practices for control of non-point source discharges or runoff should be implemented in watersheds of waterbodies designated "ORW", "HQW", "SWS" or "SWS-R" in Appendix A of this Chapter and/or located within areas listed in Appendix B provided however that development of conservation plans shall be required in sub-watersheds where discharges or runoff from non-point sources are identified as causing, or significantly contributing to, degradation in a waterbody designated "ORW".

(7)Culturally Significant Waters (CSW).

(A) Waters designated as CSW in Appendix A of this Chapter are those identified by recognized tribal authorities as critical to maintaining the waters' utility for cultural, historic, recreational or ceremonial uses and which may require more stringent protection measures to protect human health or aquatic life or both.

(B) All activities associated with a CSW may require consultation with the duly authorized Tribal authority to assure that the proposed activity is consistent with applicable tribal environmental laws.

(8)Sensitive Public and Private Water Supplies with Reuse (SWS-R).

(A) Waters designated "SWS-R" are those waters of the state which constitute sensitive public and private water supplies that may be augmented with reclaimed municipal water for the purpose of indirect potable reuse (IPR). SWS-R waterbodies are identified in Appendix A of this Chapter. These are waters currently used as water supply reservoirs, that generally possess a watershed of less than approximately 100 square miles, or as otherwise designated by DEQ.

(C) New point source municipal wastewater discharges or increased loading from existing point source municipal wastewater discharges to a SWS-R waterbody or watershed shall achieve a minimum level of effluent quality that is attainable using demonstrated treatment technologies or other alternatives. Approaches for required technology-based limitations and or other alternatives are outlined in OAC 252:740-13-4(e). A discharge to a SWS-R waterbody may be permitted provided:

(i) A determination of the waterbody's assimilative capacity for all applicable narrative and numeric criteria shall be the responsibility of the discharger;

(ii) If assimilative capacity exists for any applicable narrative or numeric criteria, the discharger shall document what portion, if any, of the assimilative capacity is reasonable to maintain. If it is proposed that it is not reasonable to maintain any, or a portion, of the assimilative capacity, a report consistent with all 40 C.F.R. 131.12(a)(2) requirements describing the available assimilative capacity and providing justification for consuming all or a portion of the assimilative capacity shall be submitted by the discharger to DEQ for review;

(iii) DEQ may approve both the determination of assimilative capacity and the proposed consumption of any, or all, of the assimilative capacity if it is found to be necessary based on the aforementioned report and consistent with the requirements described in 40 C.F.R. 131.12(a)(2);

(iv) All existing and designated beneficial uses of the receiving waterbody and downstream waterbodies shall be maintained; and, The discharge shall not impair human health even during drought of record conditions.

(D) SWS-R waterbodies, with permitted discharge, shall be technically evaluated by permitted parties at least once every five years to determine the attainment or nonattainment of beneficial uses. Technical evaluation reports, including all data and information necessary to allow independent analysis, shall be submitted to the permitting authority for review. If the report documents nonattainment of a beneficial use(s) resulting from the discharge, the permitting authority shall consider actions including, but not limited to, additional permit requirements, cessation of the discharge, and or a recommendation to DEQ to revoke the SWS-R waterbody classification.

Okla. Admin. Code § 252:730-5-25

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 6, December 1, 2022, eff. 10/25/2022 (emergency)

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 24, September 1, 2023, eff. 9/15/2023