Arizona General Permit For Minor WWTP Discharges

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has released a draft permit for minor wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (MWGP2011-001) for public comment. The comment period ends December 26, 2011. This permit is applicable only to secondary treated effluent discharges from domestic wastewater treatment facilities with a design flow of less than 1 million gallons per day (1 mgd). It is estimated that approximately 30 – 50 facilities in Arizona will fall into this category. The new permit will be issued for a 5 year term.

This general permit is applicable for discharges from facilities that meet the following conditions:
1) Domestic wastewater treatment plants with a design capacity of less than 1 million gallons per day ; and
2) Discharge treated wastewater to WUSs that have the designated uses of Partial-body contact (PBC) and Aquatic and wildlife effluent-dependent water (A&Wedw); or PBC and Aquatic and wildlife ephemeral (A&We) as per A.A.C. R18-11-104.D, Appendix B; the designated uses of Agricultural irrigation (AgI) and/or Agricultural livestock watering (AgL) may be included; and
3) The facility does not accept wastewater from significant industrial wastewater; and
4) The permit is applicable within the State of Arizona, except for Indian Country.

The permit includes technology-based limitations, requirements to comply with Numeric Water Quality Standards, Effluent Characterization (EC) Testing, and Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

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EPA Approves New Water Quality Standards For Chicago River System

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the State of Illinois' new and revised water quality standards for five segments of the Chicago and Calumet Rivers. The approved standards apply to the North and South Branches of the Chicago River, the North Shore Channel, the Cal-Sag Channel and the Little Calumet River. EPA continues to review the other new and revised water quality standards that the State of Illinois has proposed for the Chicago Area Waterway System and the Lower Des Plaines River.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

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Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards For Coalbed Methane

EPA is considering an amendment to the oil and gas effluent guidelines that will establish requirements for discharges from the extraction of coalbed methane, a type of natural gas. Extraction of coalbed methane involves pumping out groundwater from underground coal formations.

Regulatory development will include a review of current treatment technologies, costs, economic impacts, and an environmental assessment in establishing effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the coalbed methane industry. Effluent limitations based on such ELGs would be incorporated into National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and control mechanisms for discharges to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs).

EPA expects to publish draft effluent guidelines in June 2013.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

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Preliminary Review Of Florida Nutrient Criteria For Inland and Estuarine Waters

In a letter to Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) US EPA has provided a preliminary review of the FDEP draft rule on numeric nutrient criteria for inland and estuarine waters. Although EPA's final decision to approve or disapprove the nutrient criteria rule submitted by FDEP will follow the formal review of the rule and record under section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the early review led EPA to the preliminary conclusion that the agency would be able to approve the draft rule under the CWA.

The rulemaking package must undergo review and potential modification by the State's Environmental Review Commission (ERC) and Legislature. The preliminary conclusions from the review could change if modifications are made before and/or during the State ERC or legislative process, or if final review of the technical information and public comments identifies reasons why the final rule does not meet the requirements of the CWA.

If EPA formally approves FDEP's final nutrient criteria, EPA would initiate rulemaking to withdraw federal numeric nutrient criteria for any waters covered by the new and approved state water quality standards.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

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EPA Effluent Guidelines Program Priorities Published

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its final 2010 Effluent Guidelines Program Plan (Plan), published at 76 Fed. Reg. 66286 (October 26, 2011) and has requested public review and comments.

EPA plans to develop effluent guidelines and standards for the discharge of wastewater from the Coalbed Methane Extraction (CBM) industry. It will also develop pretreatment requirements for discharges of mercury from the Dental industry, and for the discharges of wastewater from the Shale Gas Extraction (SGE) industry.

In addition, the EPA will initiate a preliminary category review for the cellulosic products segment of the Plastics Molding and Forming industrial category. EPA has also concluded that estimated toxic-weighted pollutant discharges of lead from the Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard industrial category need further investigation.

Finally, EPA identified the need for additional data review as part of the 2011 annual review for three industrial categories: Mineral Mining and Processing; Landfills; and Waste Combustors.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website