Section 460. Establishing limitations, standards, and other state permit conditions

In addition to the conditions established under 9VAC25-870-450 A, each state permit shall include conditions meeting the following requirements when applicable.

A. 1. Technology-based effluent limitations and standards based on effluent limitations and standards promulgated under § 301 of the CWA, on new source performance standards promulgated under § 306 of CWA, on case-by-case effluent limitations determined under § 402(a)(1) of CWA, or a combination of the three. For new sources or new dischargers, these technology-based limitations and standards are subject to the provisions of 9VAC25-870-420 B (protection period).

2. The board may authorize a discharger subject to technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards in a state permit to forego sampling of a pollutant found at 40 CFR Subchapter N if the discharger has demonstrated through sampling and other technical factors that the pollutant is not present in the discharge or is present only at background levels from intake water and without any increase in the pollutant due to activities of the discharger. This waiver is good only for the term of the state permit and is not available during the term of the first state permit issued to a discharger. Any request for this waiver must be submitted when applying for a reissued state permit or modification of a reissued state permit. The request must demonstrate through sampling or other technical information, including information generated during an earlier state permit term, that the pollutant is not present in the discharge or is present only at background levels from intake water and without any increase in the pollutant due to activities of the discharger. Any grant of the monitoring waiver must be included in the state permit as an express state permit condition and the reasons supporting the grant must be documented in the state permit's fact sheet or statement of basis. This provision does not supersede certification processes and requirements already established in existing effluent limitations guidelines and standards.

B. Other effluent limitations and standards under §§ 301, 302, 303, 307, 318 and 405 of the CWA. If any applicable toxic effluent standard or prohibition (including any schedule of compliance specified in such effluent standard or prohibition) is promulgated under § 307(a) of the CWA for a toxic pollutant and that standard or prohibition is more stringent than any limitation on the pollutant in the state permit, the board shall institute proceedings under this chapter to modify or revoke and reissue the state permit to conform to the toxic effluent standard or prohibition.

C. Water quality standards and state requirements. Any requirements in addition to or more stringent than promulgated effluent limitations guidelines or standards under §§ 301, 304, 306, 307, 318 and 405 of the CWA necessary to:

1. Achieve water quality standards established under the State Water Control Law and § 303 of the CWA, including state narrative criteria for water quality.

a. Limitations must control all pollutants or pollutant parameters (either conventional, nonconventional, or toxic pollutants) which the board determines are or may be discharged at a level that will cause, have the reasonable potential to cause, or contribute to an excursion above any Virginia water quality standard, including Virginia narrative criteria for water quality.

b. When determining whether a discharge causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an in-stream excursion above a narrative or numeric criteria within a Virginia water quality standard, the board shall use procedures that account for existing controls on point and nonpoint sources of pollution, the variability of the pollutant or pollutant parameter in the effluent, the sensitivity of the species to toxicity testing (when evaluating whole effluent toxicity), and where appropriate, the dilution of the effluent in the receiving water.

c. When the board determines, using the procedures in subdivision 1 b of this subsection, that a discharge causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an in-stream excursion above the allowable ambient concentration of a Virginia numeric criteria within a Virginia water quality standard for an individual pollutant, the state permit must contain effluent limits for that pollutant.

d. Except as provided in this subdivision, when the board determines, using the procedures in subdivision 1 b of this subsection, toxicity testing data, or other information, that a discharge causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an in-stream excursion above a narrative criterion within an applicable Virginia water quality standard, the state permit must contain effluent limits for whole effluent toxicity. Limits on whole effluent toxicity are not necessary where the board demonstrates in the fact sheet or statement of basis of the state permit, using the procedures in subdivision 1 b of this subsection, that chemical-specific limits for the effluent are sufficient to attain and maintain applicable numeric and narrative Virginia water quality standards.

e. Where Virginia has not established a water quality criterion for a specific chemical pollutant that is present in an effluent at a concentration that causes, has the reasonable potential to cause, or contributes to an excursion above a narrative criterion within an applicable Virginia water quality standard, the board must establish effluent limits using one or more of the following options:

(1) Establish effluent limits using a calculated numeric water quality criterion for the pollutant which the board demonstrates will attain and maintain applicable narrative water quality criteria and will fully protect the designated use. Such a criterion may be derived using a proposed Virginia criterion, or an explicit policy or regulation interpreting Virginia's narrative water quality criterion, supplemented with other relevant information which may include: EPA's Water Quality Standards Handbook, August 1994, risk assessment data, exposure data, information about the pollutant from the Food and Drug Administration, and current EPA criteria documents; or

(2) Establish effluent limits on a case-by-case basis, using EPA's water quality criteria, published under § 307(a) of the CWA, supplemented where necessary by other relevant information; or

(3) Establish effluent limitations on an indicator parameter for the pollutant of concern, provided:

(a) The state permit identifies which pollutants are intended to be controlled by the use of the effluent limitation;

(b) The fact sheet required by 9VAC25-870-520 sets forth the basis for the limit, including a finding that compliance with the effluent limit on the indicator parameter will result in controls on the pollutant of concern which are sufficient to attain and maintain applicable water quality standards;

(c) The state permit requires all effluent and ambient monitoring necessary to show that during the term of the state permit the limit on the indicator parameter continues to attain and maintain applicable water quality standards; and

(d) The state permit contains a reopener clause allowing the board to modify or revoke and reissue the state permit if the limits on the indicator parameter no longer attain and maintain applicable water quality standards.

f. When developing water quality-based effluent limits under this subdivision the board shall ensure that:

(1) The level of water quality to be achieved by limits on point sources established under this subsection is derived from, and complies with all applicable water quality standards; and

(2) Effluent limits developed to protect a narrative water quality criterion, a numeric water quality criterion, or both, are consistent with the assumptions and requirements of any available wasteload allocation for the discharge prepared by Virginia and approved by EPA pursuant to 40 CFR 130.7;

2. Attain or maintain a specified water quality through water quality related effluent limits established under the State Water Control Law and § 302 of the CWA;

3. Conform to the conditions of a Virginia Water Protection Permit (VWPP) issued under the State Water Control Law and § 401 of the CWA;

4. Conform to applicable water quality requirements under § 401(a)(2) of the CWA when the discharge affects a state other than Virginia;

5. Incorporate any more stringent limitations, treatment standards, or schedule of compliance requirements established under the Act or regulations in accordance with § 301(b)(1)(C) of the CWA;

6. Ensure consistency with the requirements of a Water Quality Management plan established by the State Water Control Board pursuant to 9VAC25-720 and approved by EPA under § 208(b) of the CWA;

7. Incorporate § 403(c) criteria under 40 CFR Part 125, Subpart M, for ocean discharges; or

8. Incorporate alternative effluent limitations or standards where warranted by fundamentally different factors, under 40 CFR Part 125, Subpart D.

D. Technology-based controls for toxic pollutants. Limitations established under subsections A, B, or C of this section, to control pollutants meeting the criteria listed in subdivision 1 of this subsection. Limitations will be established in accordance with subdivision 2 of this subsection. An explanation of the development of these limitations shall be included in the fact sheet.

1. Limitations must control all toxic pollutants that the board determines (based on information reported in a permit application or in a notification required by the state permit or on other information) are or may be discharged at a level greater than the level that can be achieved by the technology-based treatment requirements appropriate to the state permittee; or

2. The requirement that the limitations control the pollutants meeting the criteria of subdivision 1 of this subsection will be satisfied by:

a. Limitations on those pollutants; or

b. Limitations on other pollutants that, in the judgment of the board, will provide treatment of the pollutants under subdivision 1 of this subsection to the levels required by the Stormwater Management Act, the State Water Control Law, and 40 CFR Part 125, Subpart A.

E. A notification level that exceeds the notification level of 9VAC25-870-440 A 1 a, b, or c, upon a petition from the state permittee or on the board's initiative. This new notification level may not exceed the level which can be achieved by the technology-based treatment requirements appropriate to the state permittee.

F. Twenty-four-hour reporting. Pollutants for which the state permittee must report violations of maximum daily discharge limitations under 9VAC25-870-430 L 7 b (3) (24-hour reporting) shall be listed in the state permit. This list shall include any toxic pollutant or hazardous substance, or any pollutant specifically identified as the method to control a toxic pollutant or hazardous substance.

G. Durations for state permits, as set forth in 9VAC25-870-480.

H. Monitoring requirements.

1. Requirements concerning the proper use, maintenance, and installation, when appropriate, of monitoring equipment or methods (including biological monitoring methods when appropriate);

2. Required monitoring including type, intervals, and frequency sufficient to yield data that are representative of the monitored activity including, when appropriate, continuous monitoring;

3. Applicable reporting requirements based upon the impact of the regulated activity and as specified in 9VAC25-870-430 and in subdivisions 5 through 8 of this subsection. Reporting shall be no less frequent than specified in the above regulation;

4. To assure compliance with state permit limitations, requirements to monitor:

a. The mass (or other measurement specified in the state permit) for each pollutant limited in the state permit;

b. The volume of effluent discharged from each outfall;

c. Other measurements as appropriate including pollutants; frequency, rate of discharge, etc., for noncontinuous discharges; pollutants subject to notification requirements; or as determined to be necessary on a case-by-case basis pursuant to the Stormwater Management Act, the State Water Control Law, and § 405(d)(4) of the CWA;

d. According to test procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 for the analyses of pollutants having approved methods under that part, or alternative EPA approved methods, and according to a test procedure specified in the state permit for pollutants with no approved methods; and

e. With analyses performed according to test procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 being performed by an environmental laboratory certified under regulations adopted by the Department of General Services (1VAC30-45 or 1VAC30-46).

5. Except as provided in subdivisions 7 and 8 of this subsection, requirements to report monitoring results shall be established on a case-by-case basis with a frequency dependent on the nature and effect of the discharge, but in no case less that once a year;

6. Requirements to report monitoring results for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity that are subject to an effluent limitation guideline shall be established on a case-by-case basis with a frequency dependent on the nature and effect of the discharge, but in no case less than once a year;

7. Requirements to report monitoring results for stormwater discharges (other than those addressed in subdivision 6 of this subsection) shall be established on a case-by-case basis with a frequency dependent on the nature and effect of the discharge. At a minimum, a state permit for such a discharge must require:

a. The discharger to conduct an annual inspection of the facility site to identify areas contributing to a stormwater discharge and evaluate whether measures to reduce pollutant loading identified in a stormwater pollution prevention plan are adequate and properly implemented in accordance with the terms of the state permit or whether additional control measures are needed;

b. The discharger to maintain for a period of three years a record summarizing the results of the inspection and a certification that the facility is in compliance with the plan and the state permit, and identifying any incidents of noncompliance;

c. Such report and certification be signed in accordance with 9VAC25-870-370; and

8. State permits which do not require the submittal of monitoring result reports at least annually shall require that the state permittee report all instances of noncompliance not reported under 9VAC25-870-430 L 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 at least annually.

I. Best management practices to control or abate the discharge of pollutants when:

1. Authorized under § 402(p) of the CWA for the control of stormwater discharges;

2. Numeric effluent limitations are infeasible; or

3. The practices are reasonably necessary to achieve effluent limitations and standards or to carry out the purposes and intent of the Stormwater Management Act, the State Water Control Law, and the CWA.

J. Reissued state permits.

1. In the case of effluent limitations established on the basis of § 402(a)(1)(B) of the CWA, a state permit may not be renewed, reissued, or modified on the basis of effluent guidelines promulgated under § 304(b) of the CWA subsequent to the original issuance of such state permit, to contain effluent limitations that are less stringent than the comparable effluent limitations in the previous state permit. In the case of effluent limitations established on the basis of § 301(b)(1)(C) or § 303(d) or (e) of the CWA, a state permit may not be renewed, reissued, or modified to contain effluent limitations that are less stringent than the comparable effluent limitations in the previous state permit except in compliance with § 303(d)(4) of the CWA.

2. Exceptions. A state permit with respect to which subdivision 1 of this subsection applies may be renewed, reissued, or modified to contain a less stringent effluent limitation applicable to a pollutant, if:

a. Material and substantial alterations or additions to the permitted facility occurred after permit issuance that justify the application of a less stringent effluent limitation;

b. (1) Information is available that was not available at the time of state permit issuance (other than revised regulations, guidance, or test methods) and that would have justified the application of a less stringent effluent limitation at the time of state permit issuance; or

(2) The board determines that technical mistakes or mistaken interpretations of the Act were made in issuing the state permit under § 402(a)(1)(B) of the CWA;

c. A less stringent effluent limitation is necessary because of events over which the state permittee has no control and for which there is no reasonably available remedy;

d. The state permittee has received a state permit modification under the Stormwater Management Act, the State Water Control Law, and § 301(c), 301(g), 301(h), 301(i), 301(k), 301(n), or 316(a) of the CWA; or

e. The state permittee has installed the treatment facilities required to meet the effluent limitations in the previous state permit and has properly operated and maintained the facilities but has nevertheless been unable to achieve the previous effluent limitations, in which case the limitations in the reviewed, reissued, or modified state permit may reflect the level of pollutant control actually achieved (but shall not be less stringent than required by effluent guidelines in effect at the time of state permit renewal, reissuance, or modification).

Subdivision 2 b of this subsection shall not apply to any revised waste load allocations or any alternative grounds for translating water quality standards into effluent limitations, except where the cumulative effect of such revised allocations results in a decrease in the amount of pollutants discharged into the concerned waters, and such revised allocations are not the result of a discharger eliminating or substantially reducing its discharge of pollutants due to complying with the requirements of the Act or the CWA or for reasons otherwise unrelated to water quality.

3. In no event may a state permit with respect to which subdivision 2 of this subsection applies be renewed, reissued, or modified to contain an effluent limitation that is less stringent than required by effluent guidelines in effect at the time the state permit is renewed, reissued, or modified. In no event may such a state permit to discharge into waters be renewed, issued, or modified to contain a less stringent effluent limitation if the implementation of such limitation would result in a violation of a Virginia water quality standard applicable to such waters.

K. Navigation. Any conditions that the Secretary of the Army considers necessary to ensure that navigation and anchorage will not be substantially impaired in accordance with 9VAC25-870-570.

L. Qualifying state, tribal, or local programs.

1. For stormwater discharges associated with small construction activity identified in 9VAC25-870-10, the board may include state permit conditions that incorporate qualifying state, tribal, or local erosion and sediment control program requirements by reference. Where a qualifying state, tribal, or local program does not include one or more of the elements in this subdivision, then the board must include those elements as conditions in the state permit. A qualifying state, tribal, or local erosion and sediment control program is one that includes:

a. Requirements for construction site operators to implement appropriate erosion and sediment control best management practices;

b. Requirements for construction site operators to control waste such as discarded building materials, concrete truck washout, chemicals, litter, and sanitary waste at the construction site that may cause adverse impacts to water quality;

c. Requirements for construction site operators to develop and implement a stormwater pollution prevention plan. A stormwater pollution prevention plan includes site descriptions; descriptions of appropriate control measures; copies of approved state, tribal or local requirements; maintenance procedures; inspection procedures; and identification of nonstormwater discharges; and

d. Requirements to submit a site plan for review that incorporates consideration of potential water quality impacts.

2. For stormwater discharges from construction activity that does not meet the definition of a small construction activity, the board may include state permit conditions that incorporate qualifying state, tribal, or local erosion and sediment control program requirements by reference. A qualifying state, tribal or local erosion and sediment control program is one that includes the elements listed in subdivision 1 of this subsection and any additional requirements necessary to achieve the applicable technology-based standards of "best available technology" and "best conventional technology" based on the best professional judgment of the state permit writer.

Historical Notes

Former 4VAC50-60-460 derived from Volume 21, Issue 03, eff. January 29, 2005; amended, Volume 29, Issue 04, eff. November 21, 2012; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 02, eff. October 23, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§§ 62.1-44.15:25 and 62.1-44.15:28 of the Code of Virginia.