Section 240. Sector Q - Water transportation

A. Discharges covered under this section. The requirements listed under this section apply to stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity from water transportation facilities (generally identified by SIC Major Group 44), that have vehicle (vessel) maintenance shops or equipment cleaning operations. The water transportation industry includes facilities engaged in foreign or domestic transport of freight or passengers in deep sea or inland waters; marine cargo handling operations; ferry operations; towing and tugboat services; and marinas.

B. Special conditions. Prohibition of nonstormwater discharges. In addition to the general nonstormwater prohibition in Part I B 1, the following discharges are not covered by this permit: bilge and ballast water, sanitary wastes, pressure wash water, and cooling water originating from vessels.

C. Stormwater pollution prevention plan requirements. In addition to the requirements of Part III, the SWPPP shall include, at a minimum, the following items.

1. Site description.

a. Site map. The site map shall identify the locations where any of the following activities may be exposed to precipitation or surface runoff: fueling; engine maintenance or repair; vessel maintenance or repair; pressure washing; painting; sanding; blasting; welding; metal fabrication; loading and unloading areas; locations used for the treatment, storage or disposal of wastes; liquid storage tanks; liquid storage areas (e.g., paint, solvents, resins); and material storage areas (e.g., blasting media, aluminum, steel, scrap iron).

b. Summary of potential pollutant sources. The plan shall describe the following additional sources and activities that have potential pollutants associated with them: outdoor manufacturing or processing activities (i.e., welding, metal fabricating); and significant dust or particulate generating processes (e.g., abrasive blasting, sanding, painting).

2. Stormwater controls.

a. Good housekeeping.

(1) Pressure washing area. As defined by this permit, process wastewater related to hull work at water transportation facilities shall be any water used on a vessel's hull for any purpose, regardless of application pressure, including but not limited to the activities of removing marine salts, sediments, marine growth and paint, or other hull, weather deck, or superstructure cleaning activities using water, such as preparing those areas for inspection or work (cutting, welding, grinding, coating, etc.). The discharge water shall be permitted as a process wastewater by a separate VPDES permit.

(2) Blasting and painting areas. The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent spent abrasives, paint chips, and overspray from discharging into the receiving water or the storm sewer system. The permittee may consider containing all blasting or painting activities, or the use of other measures to prevent or minimize the discharge of contaminants (e.g., hanging plastic barriers or tarpaulins during blasting or painting operations to contain debris). Stormwater conveyances shall be regularly cleaned to remove deposits of abrasive blasting debris and paint chips. The plan shall include any standard operating practices with regard to blasting and painting activities, such as the prohibition of uncontained blasting or painting over open water, or the prohibition of blasting or painting during windy conditions which can render containment ineffective.

(3) Material storage areas. All containerized materials (e.g., fuels, paints, solvents, waste oil, antifreeze, batteries) shall be plainly labeled and stored in a protected, secure location away from drains. The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent or minimize the contamination of precipitation or surface runoff from the storage areas. The plan shall specify which materials are stored indoors and consider containment or enclosure for materials that are stored outdoors. The permittee shall consider implementing an inventory control plan to limit the presence of potentially hazardous materials on-site. Where abrasive blasting is performed, the plan shall specifically include a discussion on the storage and disposal of spent abrasive materials generated at the facility.

(4) Engine maintenance and repair areas. The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent or minimize contamination of precipitation or surface runoff from all areas used for engine maintenance and repair. The permittee shall consider the following measures (or their equivalent): performing all maintenance activities indoors; maintaining an organized inventory of materials used in the shop; draining all parts of fluids prior to disposal; prohibiting the practice of hosing down the shop floor using dry cleanup methods; and treating or recycling stormwater runoff collected from the maintenance area.

(5) Material handling areas. The permittee shall describe and implement measures to prevent or minimize contamination of precipitation or surface runoff from material handling operations and areas (e.g., fueling, paint and solvent mixing, disposal of process wastewater streams from vessels). The permittee shall consider the following measures (or their equivalents): covering fueling areas; using spill and overflow protection; mixing paints and solvents in a designated area (preferably indoors or under a shed); and minimizing runon of stormwater to material handling areas.

(6) Drydock activities. The plan shall address the routine maintenance and cleaning of the drydock to minimize the potential for pollutants in the stormwater runoff. The plan shall describe the procedures for cleaning the accessible areas of the drydock prior to flooding and final cleanup after the vessel is removed and the dock is raised. Cleanup procedures for oil, grease, or fuel spills occurring on the drydock shall also be included within the plan. The permittee shall consider the following measures (or their equivalents): sweeping rather than hosing off debris and spent blasting material from the accessible areas of the drydock prior to flooding; and having absorbent materials and oil containment booms readily available to contain or cleanup any spills.

(7) General yard area. The plan shall include a schedule for routine yard maintenance and cleanup. Scrap metal, wood, plastic, miscellaneous trash, paper, glass, industrial scrap, insulation, welding rods, packaging, etc., shall be routinely removed from the general yard area.

b. Preventative Maintenance. As part of the facility's preventive maintenance program, stormwater management devices shall be inspected and maintained in a timely manner (e.g., oil/water separators and sediment traps cleaned to ensure that spent abrasives, paint chips and solids are intercepted and retained prior to entering the storm drainage system). Facility equipment and systems shall also be inspected and tested to uncover conditions that could cause breakdowns or failures resulting in discharges of pollutants to surface waters.

c. Routine facility inspections. The following areas shall be included in all quarterly inspections: pressure washing area; blasting, sanding, and painting areas; material storage areas; engine maintenance and repair areas; material handling areas; drydock area; and general yard area. The requirement for routine facility inspections is waived for facilities that have maintained an active VEEP E3/E4 status.

d. Employee training. Training shall address, at a minimum, the following activities (as applicable): used oil management; spent solvent management; disposal of spent abrasives; disposal of vessel wastewaters; spill prevention and control; fueling procedures; general good housekeeping practices; painting and blasting procedures; and used battery management.

D. Benchmark monitoring and reporting requirements. Water transportation facilities are required to monitor their stormwater discharges for the pollutants of concern listed in Table 240.

Table 240 Sector Q – Benchmark Monitoring Requirements
Pollutants of Concern	Benchmark Concentration
Water Transportation Facilities (SIC 4412-4499)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)	100 mg/L
Total Recoverable Copper	18 μg/L
Total Recoverable Zinc	120 μg/L

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 15, Issue 09, eff. June 30, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 16, eff. July 1, 2004; Volume 25, Issue 19, eff. June 24, 2009; Volume 30, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; § 402 of the federal Clean Water Act; 40 CFR Parts 122, 123, and 124.