National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit
Application Requirements for Publicly Owned Treatment Works and Other
Treatment Works Treating Domestic Sewage
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today amends permit
application requirements and application forms for publicly owned
treatment works (POTWs) and other treatment works treating domestic
sewage (TWTDS). TWTDS include facilities that generate sewage sludge,
provide commercial treatment of sewage sludge, manufacture a product
derived from sewage sludge, or provide disposal of sewage sludge.
Today's rule consolidates POTW application requirements, including
information regarding toxics monitoring, whole effluent toxicity (WET)
testing, industrial user and hazardous waste contributions, and sewer
collection system overflows. The most significant revisions require
toxic monitoring by major POTWs (and other pretreatment POTWs) and
limited pollutant monitoring by minor POTWs. EPA believes that
permitting authorities need this information in order to issue permits
that adequately protect the Nation's water resources.
Form 2A replaces existing Standard Form A and Short Form A to
account for changes in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) program since the forms were issued in 1973.
The regulations also clarify the requirements for TWTDS and allow
the permitting authorities to obtain the information needed to issue
permits that meet the requirements of the 40 CFR Part 503 sewage sludge
use or disposal regulations. Form 2S replaces the existing Interim
Sewage Sludge Form. Form 2S is similar to the Interim Sewage Sludge
Form but requires less information.
EPA is revising these regulations to ensure that permitting
authorities obtain the information necessary to issue permits which
protect the environment in the most efficient manner. The forms make it
easier for permit applicants to provide the necessary information with
their applications and minimize the need for additional follow-up
requests from permitting authorities. EPA expects the rule to reduce
current annual reporting and record keeping burdens by 21 percent, by
standardizing the forms to match information requests with information
needs.
This rule also lifts the stay of 40 CFR 501.15(d)(1)(i)(B) in a
final rule streamlining state sewage sludge regulations published on
August 24, 1998 (63 FR 45113).
DATES: This rule and 40 CFR 501.15(d)(1)(i)(B) expires on December 2,
1999. In accordance with 40 CFR 23.2, this rule shall be considered
final for the purposes of judicial review at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern
Standard Time) on August 18, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The record for this rulemaking, including all public
comments on the proposal, will be available for inspection and copying
at the Office of Water Docket. The docket is located at EPA, East Tower
Basement, 401 M. St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. The docket is open
Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, please contact the docket at (202)
260-3027 to schedule an appointment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on Form 2A and
municipal wastewater permitting issues in this document, contact Robin
Danesi, (202) 260-2991, Permits Division (4203), United States
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, D.C.,
20460.
For information on Form 2S and sewage sludge permitting issues in
this document, contact Wendy Bell, (202) 260-9534, Permits Division
(4203), United States Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street
S.W., Washington, D.C., 20460.
Copies of this document with the forms are available from the EPA
home page at www.epa.gov under the Laws and Regulations section.
Electronic copies of the forms will be available on the Office of
Wastewater Management home page at www.epa.gov/owm. EPA plans to
provide a word wizard of the form which should be available shortly
after the final rule is promulgated.
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Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council