Section 50. Authorization to discharge

A. Any owner governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to discharge to surface waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia provided that the owner submits and receives acceptance by the board of the registration statement of 9VAC25-196-60, submits the required permit fee, and complies with the effluent limitations and other requirements of 9VAC25-196-70, and provided that the board has not notified the owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage in accordance with subsection B of this section.

B. The board will notify an owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this general permit in the event of any of the following:

1. The owner is required to obtain an individual permit in accordance with 9VAC25-31-170 B 3 of the VPDES Permit Regulation;

2. The owner is proposing to discharge to Class V stockable trout waters, Class VI natural trout waters, or any state waters specifically named in other board regulations that prohibit such discharges;

3. The discharge violates or would violate the antidegradation policy in the Water Quality Standards at 9VAC25-260-30;

4. The discharge is not consistent with the assumptions and requirements of an approved TMDL.

C. Chlorine or any other halogen compounds shall not be used for disinfection or other treatment purposes, including biocide applications, for any discharges to waters containing endangered or threatened species as identified in 9VAC25-260-110 C of the Water Quality Standards.

D. The owner shall not use tributyltin, any chemical additives containing tributyltin, or any hexavalent chromium-based water treatment chemicals in the cooling water systems.

E. The owner shall not use groundwater remediation wells as the source of cooling water.

F. Compliance with this general permit constitutes compliance with the federal Clean Water Act, the State Water Control Law, and applicable regulations under either with the exceptions stated in 9VAC25-31-60 of the VPDES Permit Regulation. Approval for coverage under this general permit does not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.

G. Continuation of permit coverage.

1. Any owner that was authorized to discharge under the cooling water discharges general permit issued in 2008 and that submits a complete registration statement on or before March 2, 2013, is authorized to continue to discharge under the terms of the 2008 general permit until such time as the board either:

a. Issues coverage to the owner under this general permit; or

b. Notifies the owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this general permit.

2. When the owner that was covered under the expiring or expired general permit has violated or is violating the conditions of that permit, the board may choose to do any or all of the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the general permit that has been continued;

b. Issue a notice of intent to deny coverage under the amended general permit. If the general permit coverage is denied, the owner would then be required to cease the discharges authorized by the continued general permit or be subject to enforcement action for discharging without a permit;

c. Issue an individual permit with appropriate conditions; or

d. Take other actions authorized by the VPDES Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31).

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 14, Issue 09, eff. March 1, 1998; Errata, 14:12 VA.R. 1937 March 2, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 10, eff. March 2, 2003; Volume 29, Issue 04, eff. March 2, 2013.

Statutory Authority

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