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2015-01-01 NPDES Authorization to Discharge 2015AA NPDES /NPP Permits Unit PO Box 98922, Lincoln, NE68509 -8922 James Realph, Mayor Blair VWVTF 218 S 16 St Blair, NE 68008 RE: Blair WWTF NDEQ ID: 46927 PROGRAM ID: NE0021482 Enclosed is the facility's: ® NPDES Permit ❑ NPP Permit EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2015 ❑ NPDES /NPP Permit A copy of the permit shall be routed to the facility contact person who is responsible for retaining the NPDES facility records. Questions regarding the permit or monitoring reports should be directed to the facility's NDEQ compliance specialist as indicated below: ® Brett Anderson ❑ Terry Johnson ❑ John Flint ❑ Jeff Stittle ❑ Mark Pomajzi ❑ Bob Zimmerman 402 -595 -1766 402 - 370 -4425 308 - 632 -0544 308- 535 -8143 402 -471 -2936 402 - 471 -4205 NDEQ Omaha Field Office NDEQ Norfolk Office NDEQ Scottsbluff Field Office NDEQ North Platte Field Office NDEQ Lincoln Office NDEQ Lincoln Office Thank you. 4 cc \without enclosures Allen R. Schoemaker Dave Heineman DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Governor Patrick W. Rice Acting Director Suite 400, The Atrium 1200 `N' Street P.O. Box 98922 Lincoln, Nebraska 68509 -8922 Phone (402) 471 -2186 FAX (402) 471 -2909 website: http: / /deq.ne.gov Authorization to Discharge Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) This NPDES permit is issued in compliance with the provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Secs. 1251 et. seq. as amended to date), the Nebraska Environmental Protection Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. Secs. 81 -1501 et. seq. as amended to date), and the Rules and Regulations promulgated pursuant to these Acts. The facility and outfall(s) identified in this permit are authorized to discharge wastewater and are subject to the limitations, requirements, prohibitions and conditions set forth herein. This permit regulates and controls the release of pollutants in the discharge(s) authorized herein. This permit does not relieve permittees of other duties and responsibilities under the Nebraska Environmental Protection Act, as amended, or established by regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. NPDES Permit No.: NE0021482 HS File No.: 46927 Permittee: City of Blair Facility Name: Blair WWTF Facility Location: 850 East Fairview Drive, Blair, NE 68008 Facility Mailing Address: 218 South 16 Street, Blair, NE 68008 Latitude/Longitude.: 41.551945 N, 96.101300 W Legal Description: NW %, NW %, Sec 6, Town 18 N, Range 12 E, Washington County, NE Receiving Water: Missouri River, BB1- 20000, Missouri Tributaries River Basin Effective Date: January 1, 2015 Expiration Date: December 31, 2019 Pursuant to the Delegation Memorandum dated December 21, 2013 and signed by the Director, the undersigned hereby executes this document on the behalf of the Director. Page 1 of 9 PSB An Equal Opportunity Employer C,9 Printed with soy ink on recycled paper Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 Table of Contents Page 2 of 9 January 1, 2015 PART I. DISCHARGE LIMITS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FOR OUTFALL 001 ...... ............................... 3 PART H. INFLUENT REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................... ............................... 6 PART III. OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS ............................................................ ............................... 8 A. Requirements for removal of BOD .............................................................................. ............................... 8 B. Narrative Limits, Discharges authorized under this permit: ........................................................................ 8 C. Additional Monitoring .................................................................................................. ............................... 8 D. Method Detection Limit Reporting Requirements ....................................................... ............................... 8 E. Whole Effluent Toxicity Corrective Action ................................................................. ............................... 8 F. Certified Operator Requirements ................................................................................. ............................... 8 G. Permit Attachments ...................................................................................................... ............................... 8 Attachment 1— Additional Pollutant Monitoring for Selected POTWs Blair WWTF Page 3 of 9 NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 January 1, 2015 Part I. Discharge Limits and Monitoring Requirements for Outfall 001 The discharge of treated sanitary wastewater from Outfall 001, final effluent to the Missouri River, is authorized and shall be monitored and limited as specified in the table below. Monitoring shall be conducted by sampling after all treatment processes and prior to discharge to the receiving stream, unless an alternative or more specific monitoring point is specified by the NDEQ. A. Requirements for Flow, Temperature, Nutrients, BOD, TSS, and pH 7'ab a schaxge Linuts and Mon�tor�ng �equ�irearnents for Ot��fa�� U0� Discharge Limits Parameters Storet # Units Monitoring Frequency Sample Type Monthly Daily Average Maximum Flow 50050 MGD Report Report Daily Measured or Calculated Temperature 00011 O F Report Report Weekly Grab Total Nitrogen 00600 mg /l Report Report Monthly 24 -Hour Composite Total Phosphorous 00665 mg/l Report Report Monthly 24 -Hour Composite Whole Effluent Toxicity — 61425 TUa Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Ceriodaphnia sp Composite Whole Effluent Toxicity — 61427 TUa Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Pimephales promelas Composite Discharge Limits Parameters Storet # Units Monitoring Frequency Sample Type Monthly 7 Day Average Average Carbonaceous Biochemical 80082 mg /l 25.0 40.0 Weekly 24 -Hour kg/day 189.2 302.8 Oxygen Demand (5 -Day) Composite mg /1 30.0 45.0 24 -Hour Total Suspended Solids 00530 Weekly Composite kg/day 227.1 340.6 Discharge Limits Parameters Storet # Units Monitoring Frequency Sample Type Daily Daily Minimum - Maximum pH 00400 SU 6.5 9.0 Weekly Grab (a) pH analysis shall occur within 15 minutes of sample collection. Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 B. Seasonal Requirements for Ammonia Pa 4 of 9 Januar 1, 2015 Parameters Spring Ammonia (March 1— May 31) Summer Ammonia (June 1— Oct. 31) Winter Ammonia (Nov. I — Feb. 28 [29]) Spring TRC (March 1— May 31) Summer TRC (June 1— Oct. 31) Winter TRC (Nov. 1 — Feb. 28 [29]) irge Limits Monitoring Sample Daily Frequency Type Report -Storet # 00610 units mg/l Disel. Monthl, Averag Report kg/day Report Report 00610 m Report kg/day Report Weekly 00610 mg/l Report kg/day Report 10.89 50060 mg /1 1.18 kg/day 5.16 50060 mg/l 2.02 kg/day 8.21 50060 mg/1 1.20 kg/day 4.81 irge Limits Monitoring Sample Daily Frequency Type Report Weekly 24-Hour Composite Report Report Weekly 24-Hour Composite Report Report Weekly 24-Hour Composite Report 2.37 Weekly Grab 10.7 2.68 Weekly Grab 10.89 2.40 Weekly Grab 9.62 C. Seasonal E. coli Limits Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 D. Metals Monitoring Requirements Page 5 of 9 January 1, 2015 E. Annual Monitoring Requirements Discharge Limits A►ar�.nu.al Mom. or Parameters Storet # Units Monitoring Frequency Sample Type Monthly Daily ..'_ Monitoring Sample Average Maximum Units Daily Maximum Cadmium, Dissolved 01025 mg /l Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Composite Chromium, Dissolved 01030 mg /l Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Composite Copper, Dissolved 01040 mg /l Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Composite Lead, Dissolved 01049 mg /l Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Composite Mercury, Total 71901 mg/1 Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Composite Nickel, Dissolved 01065 mg /l Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Composite Zinc, Dissolved 01090 mg/l Report Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Composite E. Annual Monitoring Requirements A►ar�.nu.al Mom. or x� f u enae is Discharge Limits Monitoring Sample Parameters Storet # Units Daily Maximum Frequency Type Dissolved Oxygen 00300 mg /l Report Annual Grab Nitrate/Nitrite 00630 mg /l Report Annual 24 -Hour Composite Total Kieldahl Nitrogen 00625 mg /l Report Annual 24 -Hour Composite Oil and Grease 00552 mg /l Report Annual Grab Total Dissolved Solids 70295 mg /l Report Annual 24 -Hour Composite Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 Part II. Influent Requirements Page 6 of 9 January 1, 2015 To comply with these monitoring requirements, samples shall be taken at the head -works of the wastewater treatment facility prior to the treatment system. Influent wastewater shall be monitored as specified below. Table 6. Monitoring Requirements (a) for Influent Wastewater Discharge Limits Monitoring Sample Parameters . Storet # Units Value Frequency Type Flow 50050 mg /l Report Quarterly Measured or Calculated Carbonaceous Biochemical 80082 mg /l Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Oxygen Demand (5 -Day) Composite Total Suspended Solids 00530 mg /l Report Quarterly 24 -Hour Composite PH 00400 SU Report Quarterly Grab Abbreviations: mg /1— milligrams per liter, SU— Standard Units (a) Influent flow must be monitored on the same day as sample collection for BOD, TSS and pH. Part II. Biosolids Monitoring Requirements The sludge disposal requirements of this permit are set forth below. The disposal of domestic sewage sludge is subject to the requirements of 40 CFR Part 503. While the NDEQ Title 119 adopts 40 CFR 503 and allows the NDEQ to administer sludge requirements under State law, the Federal sludge program is not delegated to the State. The Federal regulatory program is administered by EPA Region VII. The permittee should contact EPA Region VII to ensure they are in compliance with this Federal regulatory program. The current contact at EPA can be obtained upon request from NDEQ. A. Approval Submission of the Sludge Application Form, Attachment 1, constitutes notice that the Wastewater Treatment Facility intends to land apply sludge and requests approval by the NDEQ. The applicant is eligible to receive automatic approval provided the applicant indicates compliance with and understanding of the regulations and conditions contained in 40 CFR Part 503, and when all of the conditions set forth below are met, unless the Department acts to provide a conditional or circumstantial approval. 1. Sludge application is in compliance with the Federal 503 regulations, including all requirements related to vector and pathogen control. 2. Sludge is not applied within 200 feet of any actively used groundwater well, except for those used exclusively for irrigation. 3. Sludge is not being applied within 1000 feet of any public drinking water supply well. 4. Application sites are not subject to public access. 5. Retain a listing for review by the NDEQ of land application sites used during the year and their legal descriptions plus total tonnage of sludge that was land - applied or disposed of during the year. 6. Submit an annual sludge report to NDEQ by February 19 of each year. Retain copies on site of all reports pursuant to the Federal 503 regulations. The Permittee preparing and /or applying sewage sludge shall develop all of the information required in 40 CFR § 503.17 and include this information in its "Annual Sludge Report". a. Since, the NDEQ is not delegated the Federal sludge program, EPA has requested that NDEQ include the following statement to make you aware of this Federal requirement. An "Annual Sludge Report" shall be submitted to EPA by February 19"' of each year as implemented by the Federal EPA through 503 Sludge regulations. The annual report shall be submitted to the following address: Blair WWTF Page 7 of 9 NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 January 1, 2015 EPA Region 7 Biosolids Coordinator WWPD / WENF 11201 Renner Boulevard Lenexa, KS 66219 B. Non - compliance Reporting Requirements The permittee shall report to the NDEQ any instance(s) of noncompliance with 40 CFR Part 503. This Non- compliance Report shall be submitted to the NDEQ no later than 7 days after the permittee becomes aware of the non - compliance. The Non - compliance Report shall contain the basic information required and specified in Appendix A of this NPDES permit. C. Withdrawal of Site Approval(s) The Department may withdraw site approval(s) for any of the following: 1. Failure to comply with the regulations contained in 40 CFR Part 503. 2. Potential risks or known impacts to surface or ground water quality. 3. Potential risks to the environment. 4. Potential risks to public health and / or welfare. 5. Other site specific or facility specific considerations. D. Sludge Monitoring Requirements Sludge shall be monitored as specified below. A representative sample shall be collected and analyzed prior to application. A representative sample is defined as a sample that is a composite of several sludge samples within the same batch. Parameters Storey# Units Sludge Reporting Measurement Frequency Sample Type pH 00400 SU Report Annually Composite Ammonia (N) 82294 mg /kg Report Annually Composite Total Solids 78477 mg/kg Report Annually Composite Nitrate (N) 61539 mg /kg Report Annually Composite Total Nitrogen 78470 mg /kg Report Annually Composite Cadmium, Total 78476 mg/kg Report Annually Composite Chromium, Total 78473 mg/kg Report Annually Composite Copper, Total 78475 mg /kg Report Annually Composite Lead, Total 78468 mg/kg Report Annually Composite Nickel, Total 78469 mg/kg Report Annually Composite Zinc, Total 78467 mg /kg Report Annually Composite Arsenic, Total 61521 mg/kg Report Annually Composite Mercury, Total 78471 mg /kg Report Annually Composite Molybdenum, Total 78465 mg /kg Report Annually Composite Selenium, Total 61518 mg/kg Report Annually Composite Abbreviations: SU — standard units, mg/kg — milligrams per ldlograms Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 Part III. Other Requirements and Conditions Page 8 of 9 January 1, 2015 A. Requirements for removal of BOD and TSS The 30 -day average percent removal of BOD and TSS by the WWTF shall not be less than 85 %. B. Narrative Limits, Discharges authorized under this permit: 1. Shall not be toxic to aquatic life in surface waters of the State outside the mixing zones allowed in NDEQ Title 117, Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards, 2. Shall not contain pollutants at concentrations or levels that produce objectionable films, colors, turbidity, deposits, or noxious odors in the receiving stream or waterway, and 3. Shall not contain pollutants at concentrations or levels that cause the occurrence of undesirable or nuisance aquatic life in the receiving stream. C. Additional Monitoring The Department may require increases in the monitoring frequencies set forth in this permit to address new information concerning a discharge, evidence of potential non - compliance, suspect water quality in a discharge, evidence of water quality impacts in the receiving stream or waterway, or other similar concerns. D. Method Detection Limit Reporting Requirements The minimum detection limit (MDL) is defined as the level at which the analytical system gives acceptable calibration points. If the analytical results are below MDL then the reported value on the DMR shall be a numerical value less than the MDL (e.g. <0.005). E. Whole Effluent Toxicity Corrective Action If the whole effluent toxicity tests results exceed the toxicity limitations in this permit, this is a permit violation and the permittee must initiate corrective actions according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Document EPA 833 -B -99 -002, Toxicity Reduction Evaluation Guidance for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants. F. Certified Operator Requirements This facility is to be operated and maintained by operators certified in accordance with NDEQ Title 197, Rules and Regulations for the Certification of Wastewater Treatment Facility Operators in Nebraska. G. Permit Attachments The attachments to this permit (e.g., forms and guidance) may be modified without a formal modification of the permit. E. Permit Modification and Reopening This permit may be reopened and modified after public notice and opportunity for a public hearing for reasons specified in NDEQ Title 119 - Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Issuance of Permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Chapter 24. Blair WWTF Page 9 of 9 NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 January 1, 2015 Table of Contents for Appendix A Standard Conditions that Apply to NPDES and NPP Permits Section Page 1 . INFORMATION AVAILABLE ..................................................................................... ............................... 1 2 . DUTY TO COMPLY .................................................................................................... ............................... 1 3 . VIOLATIONS OF THIS PERMIT .................................................................................. ............................... 1 4 . DUTY TO REAPPLY ................................................................................................... ............................... 1 5. NEED TO HALT OR REDUCE ACTIVITY NOT A DEFENSE ....................................... ............................... 1 6 . DUTY TO MITIGATE ................................................................................................. ............................... 1 7. PROPER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ............................................................. ............................... 2 8 . PERMIT ACTIONS..................................................................................................... ............................... 2 9 . PROPERTY RIGHTS .................................................................................................. ............................... 2 10. DUTY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION .......................................................................... ............................... 2 11 . INSPECTION AND ENTRY.......................................................................................... ............................... 2 12 . MONITORING AND RECORDS .................................................................................. ............................... 3 13. SIGNATORY REQUIREMENT ..................................................................................... ............................... 4 14. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................. ............................... 6 15 . BYPASS....................................................................................................................... ..............................8 16 . UPSET......................................................................................................................... ..............................9 17. OTHER RULES AND REGULATIONS LIABILITY .................................................... ............................... 10 18 . SEVERABILITY .......................................................................................................... .............................10 19. OTHER CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO NPDES AND NPP PERMITS .................... ............................... 10 20 . DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................. .............................13 21 . ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... ............................... 16 Appendix A Conditions applicable to all NPDES permits The following conditions apply to all NPDES permits: 1. Information Available All permit applications, fact sheets, permits, discharge data, monitoring reports, and any public comments concerning such shall be available to the public for inspection and copying, unless such information about methods or processes is entitled to protection as trade secrets of the owner or operator under Neb. Rev. Stat. §31 -1527, (Reissue 1999) and NDEQ Title 115, Chapter 4. 2. Duty to Comply a. The permittee must comply with all conditions of this permit. Any permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of the Federal Clean Water Act and the Applicable State Statutes and Regulations and is grounds for enforcement action; for permit termination, revocation and reissuance, or modification; or denial of a permit renewal application. b. The permittee shall comply with effluent standards or prohibitions established under section 307(a) of the Clean Water Act for toxic pollutants and with standards for sewage sludge use or disposal established under section 405(d) of the CWA within the time provided in the regulations that establish these standards or prohibitions or standards for sewage sludge use or disposal, even if the permit has not yet been modified to incorporate the requirement. 3. Violations of this permit a. Any person who violates this permit may be subject to penalties and sanctions as provided by the Clean Water Act. b. Any person who violates this permit may be subject to penalties and sanctions as provided by the Nebraska Environmental Protection Act. 4. Duty to Reapply If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by this permit after the expiration date of this permit, the permittee must apply for and obtain a new permit. 5. Need to Halt or Reduce Activity not a Defense It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this permit. 6. Duty to Mitigate The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge or sludge use or disposal in violation of this permit which has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment. Page 1 of 16 7. Proper Operation and Maintenance The permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit. Proper operation and maintenance also includes effective performance based on designed facility removals, effective management, adequate operator staffing and training, adequate process controls, adequate funding that reflects proper user fee schedules, adequate laboratory controls and appropriate quality assurance procedures. This provision requires the operation of back -up or auxiliary facilities or similar systems which are installed by a permittee only when the operation is necessary to achieve compliance with the conditions of the permit. 8. Permit Actions This permit may be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated for cause. The filing of a request by the permittee for a permit modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination, or a notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance does not stay any permit condition. 9. Property Rights This permit does not convey any property rights of any sort, or any exclusive privilege. 10. Duty to Provide Information The permittee shall furnish to the Director, within a reasonable time, any information which the Director may request to determine whether cause exists for modifying, revoking and reissuing, or terminating this permit or to determine compliance with this permit. The permittee shall also furnish to the Director upon request, copies of records required to be kept by this permit. 11. Inspection and Entry The permittee shall allow the Director, or an authorized representative (including an authorized contractor acting as a representative of the Administrator), upon presentation of credentials and other documents as may be required by law, to: a. Enter upon the permittee's premises where a regulated facility or activity is located or conducted, or where records must be kept under the conditions of this permit; b. Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must be kept under the conditions of this permit; c. Inspect at reasonable times any facilities, equipment (including monitoring and control equipment), practices, or operations regulated or required under this permit; and Page 2 of 16 d. Sample or monitor at reasonable times, for the purposes of assuring permit compliance or as otherwise authorized by the Clean Water Act, any substances or parameters at any location. 12. Monitoring and Records a. Samples and measurements taken for the purpose of monitoring shall be representative of the monitored activity. b. Except for records of monitoring information required by this permit related to the permittee's sewage sludge use and disposal activities, which shall be retained for a period of at least five years (or longer as required by 40 CFR part 503), the permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, copies of all reports required by this permit, and records of all data used to complete the application for this permit, for a period of at least 3 years from the date of the sample, measurement, report or application. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time. c. Records of monitoring information shall include: i) The date(s), exact place, time and methods of sampling or measurements; ii) The individual(s) who performed the sampling or measurements; iii) The date(s) analyses were performed; iv) The individual(s) who performed the analyses; v) The analytical techniques or methods used; and vi) The results of such analyses. d. Monitoring must be conducted according to test procedures approved under NDEQ Title 119, Chapter 27 002unless another method is required under 40 CFR subchapters N— Effluent Guidelines and Standards Parts 425 to 471 or 0— Sewer Sludge Parts 501 and 503. e. Falsifies, Tampers, or Knowingly Renders Inaccurate i) On actions brought by EPA, The Clean Water Act provides that any person who falsifies, tampers with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained under this permit shall, upon conviction: be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both. If a conviction of a person is for a violation committed after a first conviction of such person under this paragraph, punishment is a fine of not more than $20,000 per day of violation, or by imprisonment of not more than 4 years, or both. ii) On action brought by the State, The Nebraska Environmental Protection Act provides that any person who falsifies, tampers with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained under this permit shall, upon conviction: be punished pursuant to Neb. Stat. §81- 1508.01. Page 3 of 16 13. Signatory requirement a. All applications, reports, or information submitted to the Director shall be signed and certified. i) All permit applications shall be signed as follows: (a) For a corporation (i) By a responsible corporate officer: For the purpose of this section, a responsible corporate officer means: (a) A president, secretary, treasurer, or vice - president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy or decision - making functions for the corporation, or (b) The manager of one or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities, provided, the manager is authorized to make management decisions which govern the operation of the regulated facility including having the explicit or implicit duty of making major capital investment recommendations, and initiating and directing other comprehensive measures to assure long term environmental compliance with environmental laws and regulations; the manager can ensure that the necessary systems are established or actions taken to gather complete and accurate information for permit application requirements; and where authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures. (b) For a partnership or sole proprietorship (i) By a general partner or the proprietor. (c) For a municipality, State, Federal, or other public agency (i) By either a principal executive officer or ranking elected official. For purposes of this section, a principal executive officer of a Federal agency includes: (a) The chief executive officer of the agency, or (b) A senior executive officer having responsibility for the overall operations of a principal geographic unit of the agency (e.g., Regional Administrators of EPA). b. Reports and Other Information i) All reports required by permits, and other information requested by the Director shall be signed by a person described in this section [paragraphs12. a. i) (a),(b), or (c)], or by a duly authorized representative of that person. A person is a duly authorized representative only if: (a) The authorization is made in writing by a person described in paragraphs 12. a. i) (a), (b), or (c); Page 4 of 16 (b) The authorization specifies either an individual or a position having responsibility for the overall operation of the regulated facility or activity such as the position of plant manager, operator of a well or a well field, superintendent, position of equivalent responsibility, or an individual or position having overall responsibility for environmental matters for the company, (a duly authorized representative may thus be either a named individual or any individual occupying a named position) and; (c) The written authorization is submitted to the Director. c. Changes to Authorization i) If an authorization of paragraphs 12. a. i) (a),(b), or (c);is no longer accurate because a different individual or position has responsibility for the overall operation of the facility, a new authorization satisfying the requirements of this section must be submitted to the Director prior to or together with any reports, information, or applications to be signed by an authorized representative. d. Certification i) All applications, reports and information submitted as a requirement of this permit shall contain the following certification statement: (a) I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gathered and evaluated the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations. e. False Statement, Representation, or Certification i) The CWA provides that any person who knowingly makes any false statement, representation, or certification in any record or other document submitted or required to be maintained under this permit, including monitoring reports or reports of compliance or non - compliance shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 per violation, or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months per violation, or by both. ii) The Nebraska Environmental Protection Act provides criminal penalties and sanctions for false statement, representation, or certification in any application, label, manifest, record, report, plan, or other document required to be filed or maintained by the Environmental Protection Act, the Integrated solid waste Management Act, or the Livestock Waste Management Act or the rules or regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant to such acts. Page 5 of 16 14. Reporting Requirements a. Planned Changes i) The permittee shall give notice to the Director as soon as possible of any planned physical alterations or additions to the permitted facility. Notice is required only when: (a) The alteration or addition to a permitted facility may meet one of the criteria for determining whether a facility is a new source in Title 119, Chapter 4 and 8. Or (b) The alteration or addition could significantly change the nature or increase the quantity of pollutants discharged. This notification applies to pollutants which are subject neither to effluent limitations in the permit, nor to notification requirements under Title 119, Chapter 15. (c) The alteration or addition results in a significant change in the permittee's sludge use or disposal practices, and such alteration, addition, or change may justify the application of permit conditions that are different from or absent in the existing permit, including notification of additional use or disposal sites not reported during the permit application process or not reported pursuant to an approved land application plan; The sludge program is not delegated to the State so notification to the Regional Administrator for EPA in addition to the State are required. b. Anticipated Noncompliance i) The permittee shall give advance notice to the Director of any planned changes in the permitted facility or activity which may result in noncompliance with permit requirements. c. Transfers i) This permit is not transferable to any person except after notice to the Director. The Director may require modification or revocation and reissuance of the permit to change the name of the permittee and incorporate such other requirements as may be necessary under Title 119, Chapter 24 in some cases, modification or revocation and reissuance is mandatory. d. Monitoring Reports i) Monitoring results shall be reported at the intervals specified elsewhere in this permit. ii) Monitoring results must be reported on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) or forms provided or specified by the Director. iii) Monitoring results shall be submitted on a quarterly basis using the reporting schedule set forth below, unless otherwise specified in this permit or by the Department. Page 6 of 16 Monitoring Quarters DMR Reporting Deadlines January - March April 28 April - June July 28 July - September October 28 October— December January 28 i) For reporting results of monitoring of sludge use or disposal practices ii) additional reports may be required by the Regional Administrator (RA). iii) If the permittee monitors any pollutant more frequently than required by the permit using test procedures approved in Title 119, Chapter 27, Section 002, or another method required for an industry- specific waste stream under 40 CFR subchapters N — Effluent Guidelines and Standards Parts 425 to 471 and subchapter or O— Sewer Sludge Parts 501 and 503, the results of such monitoring shall be included in the calculation and reporting of the data submitted in the DMR or sludge reporting form specified by the Director or RA. iv) Calculations for all limitations which require averaging of measurements shall utilize an arithmetic mean unless otherwise specified by the Director in the permit. e. Compliance schedules. i) Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports on, interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule of this permit shall be submitted no later than 14 days following each schedule date. f. Twenty -four hour reporting. i) The permittee shall report any noncompliance which may endanger human health or the environment. Any information shall be provided orally within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. A written submission shall also be provided within 5 days of the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The written submission shall contain a description of the noncompliance and its cause; the period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times, and if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance. ii) The following shall be included as information which must be reported within 24 hours under this paragraph. (a) Any unanticipated bypass which exceeds any effluent limitation in the permit. (b) Any upset which exceeds any effluent limitation in the permit. (c) Violation of a maximum daily discharge limitation for any of the pollutants listed by the Director in the permit to be reported within 24 hours. Page 7 of 16 g. The Director may waive the written report on a case -by -case basis for reports under section 14. f. ii) (a), (b) and (c) if the oral report has been received within 24 hours. h. Other noncompliance. i) The permittee shall report all instances of noncompliance not reported under paragraphs d., e., and f. of this section, at the time monitoring reports are submitted. The reports shall contain the information listed in paragraph f. of this section. Other information i) Where the permittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts in a permit application, or submitted incorrect information in a permit application or in any report to the Director, it shall promptly submit such facts or information. j. Noncompliance Report Forms i) Noncompliance Report Forms are available from the Department and shall be submitted with or as the written non - compliance report. ii) The submittal of a written noncompliance report does not relieve the permittee of any liability from enforcement proceedings that may result from the violation of permit or regulatory requirements. 15. Bypass a. Definitions. i) Bypass means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of a treatment facility. ii) Severe property damage means substantial physical damage to property, damage to the treatment facilities which causes them to become inoperable, or substantial and permanent loss of natural resources which can reasonably be expected to occur in the absence of a bypass. Severe property damage does not mean economic loss caused by delays in production. b. Bypass not exceeding limitations. The permittee may allow any bypass to occur which does not cause effluent limitations to be exceeded, but only if it also is for essential maintenance to assure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to the provisions of paragraphs 15. c. and d. of this section. c. Notice. i) Anticipated bypass. If the permittee knows in advance of the need for a bypass, it shall submit prior notice, if possible at least ten days before the date of the bypass. ii) Unanticipated bypass. The permittee shall submit notice of an unanticipated bypass as required in paragraph 14. f. of this section (24 -hour notice). d. Prohibition of bypass. Page 8 of 16 i) Bypass is prohibited, and the Director may take enforcement action against a permittee for bypass, unless: (a) Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage; (b) There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if adequate back -up equipment should have been installed in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent a bypass which occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; and (c) The permittee submitted notices as required under paragraph 15. c. of this section. e. The Director may approve an anticipated bypass, after considering its adverse effects, if the Director determines that it will meet the three conditions listed above in paragraph 15. d. i)(a), (b), and (c) . 16. Upset a. Definition. i) Upset means an exceptional incident in which there is unintentional and temporary noncompliance with technology based permit effluent limitations because of factors beyond the reasonable control of the permittee. An upset does not include noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventive maintenance, or careless or improper operation. b. Effect of an upset. i) An upset constitutes an affirmative defense to an action brought for noncompliance with such technology based permit effluent limitations if the requirements of paragraph 16. c. of this section are met. No determination made during administrative review of claims that noncompliance was caused by upset, and before an action for noncompliance, is final administrative action subject to judicial review. c. Conditions necessary for a demonstration of upset. ii) A permittee who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall demonstrate, through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence that: (a) An upset occurred and that the permittee can identify the cause(s) of the upset; (b) The permitted facility was at the time being properly operated. (c) The permittee submitted notice of the upset as required in paragraph 14.f. ii) (a), of this section (24 hour notice). Page 9 of 16 (d) The permittee complied with any remedial measures required under paragraph (d) of this section. d. Burden of proof. i) In any enforcement proceeding, the permittee seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset has the burden of proof. 17. Other Rules and Regulations Liability The issuance of this permit in no way relieves the obligation of the permittee to comply with other rules and regulations of the Department. 18. Severability If any provision of this permit is held invalid, the remainder of this permit shall not be affected. 19. Other Conditions that Apply to NPDES and NPP Permits a. Land Application of Wastewater Effluent i) The permittee shall be permitted to discharge treated domestic wastewater effluent by means of land application in accordance with the regulations and standards set forth in NDEQ Title 119, Chapter 12 002. The Wastewater Section of the Department must be notified in writing if the permittee chooses to land apply effluent. b. Toxic Pollutants i) The permittee shall not discharge pollutants to waters of the state that cause a violation of the standards established in NDEQ Titles 117, 118 or 119. All discharges to surface waters of the state shall be free of toxic (acute or chronic) substances which alone or in combination with other substances, create conditions unsuitable for aquatic life outside the appropriate mixing zone. c. Oil and Hazardous Substances /Spill Notification i) Nothing in this permit shall preclude the initiation of any legal action or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities or penalties under section 311 of the Clean Water Act. The permittee shall conform to the provisions set forth in NDEQ Title 126, Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Management of Wastes. If the permittee knows, or has reason to believe, that Oil or hazardous substances were released at the facility and could enter waters of the state or any of the outfall discharges authorized in this permit, the permittee shall immediately notify the Department of a release of oil or hazardous substances. During Department office hours (i.e., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays), notification shall be made to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality at telephone Page 10 of 16 numbers (402) 471 -2186 'or (877) 253 -2603 (toll free). When NDEQ cannot be contacted, the permittee shall report to the Nebraska State Patrol for referral to the NDEQ Immediate Response Team at telephone number (402) 471 -4545. It shall be the permittee's responsibility to maintain current telephone numbers necessary to carry out the notification requirements set forth in this paragraph. d. Removed Substances i) Solids, sludge, filter backwash or other pollutants removed in the course of treatment or control of wastewater shall be disposed of at a site and in a manner approved by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. (a) The disposal of nonhazardous industrial sludges shall conform to the standards established in or to the regulations established pursuant to 40 CFR, Part 257. (b) The disposal of sludge shall conform to the standards established in or to the regulations established pursuant to 40 CFR, Part 503. (c) If solids are disposed of in a licensed sanitary landfill, the disposal of solids shall conform to the standards established in NDEQ Title 132. ii) Publicly owned treatment works shall dispose of sewage sludge in a manner that protects public health and the environment from any adverse effects which may occur from toxic pollutants as defined in Section 307 of the Clean Water Act. iii) This permit may be modified or revoked and reissued to incorporate regulatory limitations established pursuant to 40 CFR, Part 503. e. Representative Sampling i) Samples and measurements taken as required within this permit shall be representative of the discharge. All samples shall be taken at the monitoring points specified in this permit and, unless otherwise specified, before the effluent joins or is diluted by any other waste stream, body of water or substance. Monitoring points shall not be changed without notification to the Department and with the written approval of the Director. ii) Composite sampling shall be conducted in one of the following manners (a) Continuous discharge - a minimum of one discrete aliquot collected every three hours, (b) Less than 24 hours - a minimum of hourly discrete aliquots or a continuously drawn sample shall be collected during the discharge, or (c) Batch discharge - a minimum of three discrete aliquots shall be collected during each discharge. (d) Composite samples shall be collected in one of the following manners: (i) The volume of each aliquot must be proportional to either the waste stream flow at the time of sampling or the total waste stream flow since collection of the previous aliquot, Page 11 of 16 (ii) A number of equal volume aliquots taken at varying time intervals in proportion to flow, (iii) A sample continuously collected in proportion to flow, and (e) Where flow proportional sampling is infeasible or non - representative of the pollutant loadings, the Department may approve the use of time composite samples. (f) Grab samples shall consist of a single aliquot collected over a time period not exceeding 15 minutes. iii) All sample preservation techniques shall conform to the methods adopted in NDEQ Title 119, Chapter 21 006 unless: (a) In the case of sludge samples, alternative techniques are specified in the 40 CFR, Part 503, or (b) Other procedures are specified in this permit. iv) Flow Measurements (a) Appropriate flow measurement devices and methods consistent with accepted scientific practices shall be used to insure the accuracy and reliability of measurements. The devices shall be installed, calibrated and maintained to insure that the accuracy of the measurements. The accepted capability shall be consistent with that type of device. Devices selected shall be capable of measuring flows with a maximum deviation of +1- 10 %. The amount of deviation shall be from the true discharge rates throughout the range of expected discharge volumes. Guidance can be obtained from the following references for the selection, installation, calibration and operation of acceptable flow measurement devices: f. Changes of Loadings to Publicly Owned Treatment Work (POTW) i) All POTWs must provide adequate notice to the Director of the following: (a) Any new introduction of pollutants into the POTW from an indirect discharger which would be subject to NDEQ Title 119, Chapter 26, if it were directly discharging those pollutants; and (b) Any substantial change in the volume or character of pollutants being introduced into that POTW by a source introducing pollutants into the POTW at the time of issuance of the permit. (c) For purposes of this paragraph, adequate notice shall include information on the quality and quantity of effluent introduced into the POTW, and any anticipated impact of the change on the quantity or quality of effluent to be discharged from the POTW. Page 12 of 16 20. Definitions Administrator: The Administrator of the USEPA. Aliquot: An individual sample having a minimum volume of 100 milliliters that is collected either manually or in an automatic sampling device. Annually: Once every calendar year. Authorized Representative: Individual or position designated the authorization to submit reports, notifications, or other information requested by the Director on behalf of the Owner under the circumstances that the authorization is made in writing by the Owner, the authorization specifies the individual or postion who is duly authorized, and the authorization is submitted to the Director. Bimonthly: Once every other month. Biosolids: Sewage sludge that is used or disposed through land application, surface disposal, incineration, or disposal in a municipal solid waste landfill. Biweekly: Once every other week. Bypass: The intentional diversion of wastes from any portion of a treatment facility. Certifying Official: See Section 13, Standard Conditions above. Daily Average: An effluent limitation that cannot be exceeded and is calculated by averaging the monitoring results for any given pollutant parameter obtained during a 24 -hour day. Department: Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. Director: The Director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. Industrial Discharge: Wastewater that originates from an industrial process and / or is noncontact cooling water and / or is boiler blowdown. Industrial. User: A source of indirect discharge (a pretreatment facility). Monthly Average: An effluent limitation that cannot be exceeded. It is calculated by averaging any given pollutant parameter monitoring results obtained during a calendar month. Operator: A person (often the general contractor) designated by the owner who has day to day operational control and /or the ability to modify project plans and specifications related to the facility. Owner: A person or party possessing the title of the land on which the activities will occur; or if the activity is for a lease holder, the party or individual identified as the lease holder; or the contracting government agency responsible for the activity. Outfall: A discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, or Page 13 of 16 container from which pollutants are or may be discharged into Waters of the State. Passive Discharge: A discharge from a POTW that occurs in the absence of an affirmative action and is not authorized by the NPDES permit (e.g. discharges due to a leaking valve, discharges from an overflow structure) and / or is a discharge from an overflow structure not designed as part of the POTW (e.g. discharges resulting from lagoon berm / dike breaches). Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW): A treatment works as defined by Section 212 of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 100 -4) which is owned by the state or municipality, excluding any sewers or other conveyances not leading to a facility providing treatment. Semiannually: Twice every year Significant Industrial User (SIU): All industrial users subject to Categorical Pretreatment Standards or any industrial user that, unless exempted under Chapter 1, Section 105 of NDEQ Title 119, discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day or more of process water; or contributes a process waste stream which makes up 5 percent or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the POTW; or is designated as such by the Director on the basis that the industrial user has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW's operation or for violating any National Pretreatment Standard or requirement. Sludge: Any solid, semisolid, or liquid waste generated from a municipal, commercial, or industrial wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility or any other such waste having similar characteristics and effect. 30 -Day Average: An effluent limitation that cannot be exceeded. It is calculated by averaging any given pollutant parameter monitoring results obtained during a calendar month. Total Toxic Organics (TTO): The summation of all quantifiable values greater than 0.01 milligrams per liter (mg /1) for toxic organic compounds that may be identified elsewhere in this permit. (If this term has application in this permit, the list of toxic organic compounds will be identified, typically in the Limitations and Monitoring Section(s) and /or in an additional Appendix to this permit.) Toxic Pollutant: Those pollutants or combination of pollutants, including disease causing agents, after discharge and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation or assimilation into an organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains will, on the basis of information available to the administrator, cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutations, physiological malfunction (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations in such organisms or their offspring. Page 14 of 16 Upset: An exceptional incident in which there is unintentional and temporary noncompliance with technology based permit effluent limitations because of factors beyond the reasonable control of the permittee, excluding such factors as operational error, improperly designed or inadequate treatment facilities or improper operation and maintenance or lack thereof. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): The summation of all quantifiable values greater than 0.01 milligrams per liter (mg /1) for volatile, toxic organic compounds that may be identified elsewhere in this permit. (See the definition for Total Toxic Organics above. In many instances, VOCs are defined as the volatile fraction of the TTO parameter. If the term "VOC" has application in this permit, the list of toxic organic compounds will be identified, typically in the Limitations and Monitoring Section(s) and /or in an additional Appendix to this permit.) Waters of the State: All waters within the jurisdiction of this state including all streams, lakes, ponds, impounding reservoirs, marshes, wetlands, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems, drainage systems, and all other bodies or accumulations of water, surface and underground, natural or artificial, public or private, situated wholly or partly within or bordering upon the state. Weekly Average: An effluent limitation that cannot be exceeded. It is calculated by averaging any given pollutant parameter monitoring results obtained during a fixed calendar week. The permittee may start their week on any weekday but the weekday must remain fixed. The Department approval is required for any change of the starting day. "X" Day Average: An effluent limitation defined as the maximum allowable "X" day average of consecutive monitoring results during any monitoring period where "X" is a number in the range of one to seven days. Page 15 of 16 21. Abbreviations - CFR: Code of Federal Regulations kg /Day: Kilograms per Day IVIGD: Million Gallons per Day mg /L: Milligrams per Liter NOI: Notice of Intent NDEQ: Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality NDEQ Title 115: Rules of Practice and Procedure NDEQ Title 117: Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards NDEQ Title 118: Ground Water Quality Standards and Use Classification NDEQ Title 119: Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Issuance of Permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NDEQ Title 126: Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Management of Wastes NDEQ Title 132: Integrated Solid Waste Management Regulations NPDES: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NPP: Nebraska Pretreatment Program POTW: Publicly Owned Treatment Works pg /L: Micrograms per Liter WWTF: Wastewater Treatment Facility Page 16 of 16 Attachment 1. Additional Pollutant Monitoring for Selected POTWs The permittee shall monitor the effluent for the parameters set forth in the Tables below using the analytical methods in 40 CFR 136. The monitoring is required during the current permit term and the analytical data obtained from the monitoring shall be submitted as an attachment to the next NPDES permit application. tz, - , -t .,,.:, r ,-. -- � - � i ._✓.. r t x ice. � ,. ] .. =`G ..,Y` �u.,'zs... - 4::pz -..�f. r 3�tk.. .�?�. -£ .r i�:. �i .i 3. �-x.. � 'r - s- �="`.. :. ,.tea -, �'.. -.— `r. ��, �. �i.-F -. .,3 , x., -ty�� :— _� .., ..e�: >aar,` ::: � '� •�. �- ..� ;�4 :moo . �.', �- s=?'`-' �. `'��3f�:'„�.��s`;�- :2*�z`�F�... �.�M1�4 ,�sl .. �. -'�.,� „i��;,�; .� �._� ,sfr = -., - � ! ,:3.'3; #�., ��.,� -X� �} �'+�/� Method �/�}� } !'. s��'y�► p - =- �arameters la et�od Frequer►cy Tyke . Antimony, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Arsenic, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Beryllium, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Cadmium, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Chromium, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Copper, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Lead, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Mercury, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Nickel, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Selenium, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Silver, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Thallium, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Zinc, Total Recoverable gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite a °-�., x f E k t i=.. ;�,� ' # � �,. ti F — - £ #� ' g•i tE 4� :� S 3 x a—. ..�. i � x �a � � � # � Y �� f� i" � ,-� -. � E �3i3_ ,�, _• �?- €.::� E , rz x �- � � r . _..{ _ <...: -. �. ..:= -r #- =e .; _a - # _ - flunt Analyca Metho dMontorin Sa txipe Parameters LTruts = Fatco �ietectton Fre one T e _ S Acrolein µg-/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Acrylonitrile gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Benzene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Bromoform gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Carbon Tetrachloride gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Chlorobenzene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Chlorodibromomethane gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Chloroethane gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term 2- Choroethylvinyl Ether gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Chloroform µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Dichorobromomethane µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term l,l- Dichloroethane gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term 1.2- Dichloroethane gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Trans 1,2- Dichloroethylene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term pp� i 1 S � Yfi•- � x .... .. r ._ .. .... ....... .. v..t i, {.. t.. ..t t5tti tu.. Stt. t.t.tttR,t.t.At.t „l..r::�,..... �. ..... .. 'S .. .. .......1. .....�. ..,..,... ... r �2s4O,IC J4 N ------ - --------- fuent ayt�cal Morutorurg Sample lE'arameters ,' .. r �.In�ts de #ect�on Data xnet�od ��) �xegttency : - �`ypo . l,l- Dichroethylene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term 1,2- Dichloropropane µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term 1,3- Dichloropropylene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Ethylbenzene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Methyl Bromide µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Methyl Chloride µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Methylene Chloride µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term 1,1,2,2 - Tetrachloroethane µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Tetrachloroethylene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Toluene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term 1,1,1 - Trichloroethane µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term 1,1,2- Trichloroethane µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Trichloroethylene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term Vinyl Chloride µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per Grab permit term r p- Chloro -m- Cresol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 2- Chlorophenol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 2,4- Dichlorophenol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 2,4- Dimethylphenol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 4,6- Dinitro -o- Cresol n/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 2,4- Dintrophenol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 2- Nitrophenol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 4- Nitrophenol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Pentachlorophenol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Phenol µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 2,4,6 - Trichlorophenol gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 5 , ... mg 3p # # 3 i } += . �..` -•:� �. f # .-. # , i....: -r r k :l:.tn .�` .� `= t _�.f , t 3" i :{1r s "k .,.... � `�` � ,Ye }� k } t .'#`.r . =e �#� , G—, �— �£si "5. # ^t; F 3 f 3 h ��flrx�f An�I yt}�a.� �Vlethod Nromtt►ruy � S�nlple )aameters _umt T Trnt Data detecf��an () method Frequency Tyke Ht Acenaphthene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Acenaphthylene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Anthracene µg-/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Benzidine gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Benzo(a)anthracene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Benzo(a)pyrene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 3,4 Benzo- fluoranthene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Benzo(ghi)perylene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Benzo(k)fluoranthene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Bis (2- chloroethoxy)methane µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Bis (2- chloroethyl)ether gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Bis (2- chlorosiopropyl)ether gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Bis (2- ethylhexyl)phthalate gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 4- bromophenyl phenylether µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Butyl benzyl phthalate gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite A - 4 b S S ` z '} r# �— 4t# �a t '� � £ L x � 5 �'ks�� xtm f F #.._. •�� £ 4 i - Y Q . Q {] /� � � E- -..__. -k; ' ...._"` Y •_: E..3 £,:- ..'.. m r b '4"t _ If '£ 1} Y. - - method Si hit. 'Type - pmt - k'�equency . _ 2- Chloronaphthalene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 4- Chorphenyl phenyl ether µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Chrysene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Di -N -butyl phthalate µg-/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Di -N -octyl phthalate µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Dibenzo(A,H) anthracene n/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 1,2- Dichorobenzene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 1,3- Dichlorobenzene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 1,4- Dichlorobenzene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 3,3- Dichlorobenzidine µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Diethyl phthalate µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Dimethyl phthalate µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 2,4- Dinitrotoluene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 2,6- Dinitrotolune n/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 1,2- Diphenylhydrazine µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 3£ $ o(� _ - # 3 E �_ - _ .. r'*-V �F�� 3` �' 3 . #` "" £ I 1 3 4 ? �3 Th - Parameters � o f E a ca Units I?ata Method = dotectton Nlonit --- (� i Ie .. .� �t�od Frequency Type Fluoranthene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Fluorene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Hexachlorobenzene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Hexachlorobutadiene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Hexachlorocyclopentadiene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Hexachloroethane µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Indeno(1,2,3- CD)pyrene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Isophorone µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Naphthalene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Nitrobenzene gg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite N- nitrosodi- n- propylamme µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite N- nitrosodimethylamine µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite N- nitrosodiphenylamine n/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Phenanthrene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite Pyrene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite 1,2,4- Trichlorobenzene µg/L Report Report Report 3 tests per 24 hour permit term composite i Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Wastewater Section 1200 `N' Street, Suite 400, The Atrium PO Box 98922 Lincoln, NE 68509 -8922 Tel. 402/471 -4220 Fax 402/471 -2909 Fact Sheet Blair WWTF Blair, Washington County, Nebraska NPDES NE0021482/ 46927 Table of Contents A. PROPOSED ACTION - TENTATIVE DETERMINATION ....................................................... ............................... 2 B. APPLICANT AND FACILITY INFORMATION ...................................................................... ............................... 2 C. SEGMENT, USE DESIGNATIONS, AND IMPAIRMENTS ....................................................... ............................... 2 D. DESCRIPTION OF DISCHARGE AND POTENTIAL POLLUTANTS ....................................... ............................... 2 1. Description of Discharge .............................................................................................. ............................... 2 2. Potential Pollutants ....................................................................................................... ............................... 3 3. Antidegradation Review ............................................................................................... ............................... 3 E . EXISTING PERMIT LIMITS ................................................................................................ ............................... 3 F. SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE DRAFT PERMIT .................................. ............................... 3 G. BASIS FOR REQUIREMENTS IN THE DRAFT PERMIT ....................................................... ............................... 4 1. Overview of Permit Requirements ............................................................................... ............................... 4 2. Outfall 001. Basis for Monitoring and Limitations (Part I of the Permit) ................... ............................... 4 3. Influent Monitoring Requirements (Part II of the Permit) ........................................... ............................... 9 4. Biosolids Monitoring Requirements (Part III of the Permit) ........................................ ............................... 9 5. Other Conditions and Requirements (Part IV of the Permit) ...................................... ............................... 9 H. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ..................................................................................... ............................... 10 1 . INFORMATION REQUESTS ............................................................................................... ............................... 10 J. SUBMISSION OF FORMAL COMMENTS OR REQUESTS FOR HEARING .......................... ............................... 10 Attachment 1— Excel spreadsheets Attachment 2 — Site Map Page 1 of 10 Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 A. Proposed Action - Tentative Determination Page 2 of 10 January 1, 2015 On the basis of a preliminary staff review, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has made a tentative determination to reissue, with change, the NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 to Blair WWTF for discharge of treated wastewater to the Missouri River, segment MT1- 10000. B. Applicant and Facility Information Applicant: City of Blair Address: 218 South 16 111 Street, Blair, NE 68008 Location of Facility: 850 East Fairview Drive, Blair, NE 68008 Legal Description: NW 1 /, NW %, Section 6, Township 18 N, Range 12 E, Washington County, NE SIC Number: 4952 Other Information: Blair WWTF is a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) that receives and treats domestic wastewater. C. Segment, Use Designations, and Impairments Blair WWTF discharges treated wastewater to the Missouri River, segment MT1- 10000, the Missouri Tributaries River Basin. Segment, basin, and use designations are set forth in NDEQ Title 117, Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards. Impairments and pollutants of concern are from the NDEQ, 2014 Water Quality Integrated Report. Receiving Streams: Missouri River Basin/Segment: MT1 -10000 in the Missouri Tributaries River Basin Water Quality Usage Designations for the Missouri River (MT1- 10000) State Resource Water No Recreation Yes Aquatic Life Warmwater A Public Drinking Water Supply Yes Agricultural Water Supply Class A Industrial Water Supply Yes Aesthetics Yes Key Species Lake Sturgeon, Pallid Sturgeon, Sturgeon Chub, Paddlefish, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish Impairments and Parameters of Concern for the Missouri River (MT1- 10000) Impairments None Parameters of Concern None D. Description of Discharge and Potential Pollutants 1. Description of Discharge Blair WWTF is a publicly owned treatment works which receives and treats domestic wastewater. No Significant Industrial Users (SIUs) discharge to the facility. A separate privately owned treatment facility treats industrial wastewater at the Cargill industrial complex. Blair WWTF uses mechanical treatment including a bar screen, grit removal, primary treatment with sludge removal, aeration, secondary treatment and chlorine disinfection during the recreation season. The WWTF discharges through Outfall 001 to the Missouri River, segment MT1- 10000. The treatment system serves a population of 9500 with an average flow of 1.0 MGD, a design daily flow of 2.0 MGD, and maximum design flow of 2.0 MGD. Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 2. Potential Pollutants Page 3 of 10 January 1, 2015 The residential wastewater originates primarily from domestic sources. The most prevalent pollutants are biodegradable organic material, suspended solids, nutrients, and fats & oils. Other pollutants such as machine oil, grease, metals, and synthetic organic compounds can also be found in sanitary wastewater. SlUs discharging to the facility contribute increased organic loading (BOD), oil and grease, and suspended solids. State regulations put restrictions on wastewater discharges to protect the wastewater treatment system from over - loading, pass - through, and upset. The permit establishes discharge limits and monitoring requirements to ensure that the pollutant removal efficiency of the WWTF is adequate to meet secondary treatment standards and to protect water quality. 3. Antddegradation Review An antidegradation review was performed for purposes of developing the permit pursuant to 40 CFR 131.12. The results of the evaluation indicate that the Missouri River, the receiving water body of the discharge addressed by the permit, has habitat for aquatic life. The designated uses of the Missouri River were considered during permit development. The limitations in the draft permit are protective of the Clean Water Act § 101(a)(2) fishable /swimmable goals and will ensure the existing quality of water in the receiving stream is not lowered. E. Existing Permit Limits Listed below is a summary of the existing permit monitoring requirements and limitations for the treated effluent discharged to the receiving stream. Table FS -1. Existing Monitoring Requirements for Outfall 001 — Blair WWTF Parameter 30 Day Average Maximum Monitoring Frequenc Flow Report Report Once Each Weekday CBOD 25.0 mg/1 40.0 mg /1 (7 -day) Weekly TSS 30.0 mg/1 45.0 mg/1(7 day) Weekly Dissolved Oxygen Report Report Weekly Total PCBs Report Report Annual Dieldrin Report Report Annual Spring Ammonia Report Report Weekly Summer Ammonia Report Report Weekly Winter Ammonia Report Report Weekly Spring TRC 1.18 mg /1 2.37 mg /1 Weekly Summer TRC 2.02 mg/1 2.68 mg/1 Weekly Winter TRC 1.20 mg /1 2.40 mg/1 Weekly E. coli 126 CFU /100 ml Report Weekly Cadmium, Dissolved Report Report Quarterly Chromium, Dissolved Report Report Quarterly Copper, Dissolved Report Report Quarterly Lead, Dissolved Report Report Quarterly Mercury, Total Recoverable Report Report Quarterly Nickel, Dissolved Report Report Quarterly Zinc, Dissolved Report Report Quarterly Spring Toxicity — Cerioda hnia sp. - -- 37.41 TUa Quarterly Spring Toxicity - Pime hales pr. - -- 37.41 TUa Quarterly Summer Toxicity — Cerioda hnia s . - -- 42.31 TUa Quarterly Summer Toxicity - Pime hales pr. - -- 42.31 TUa Quarterly Winter Toxicity — Cerioda hnia s . - -- 37.62 TUa Quarterly Winter Toxicity - Pimephales pr. - -- 37.62 TUa Quarterly H (Standard Units) Maintain between 6.5 to 9.0 Weekly F. Summary of the Proposed Changes in the Draft Permit The highlights of the proposed draft permit requirements are summarized below. See the attached draft permit for specific information on the permit conditions. Blair WWTF Page 4 of 10 NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 January 1, 2015 1. Temperature monitoring has been added to the permit. 2. Dissolved oxygen monitoring requirements have been reduced to annual. 3. Mass limits for CBOD and TSS have been included in the permit. 4. Total nitrogen and total phosphorous monitoring are included in the permit because total nitrogen and total phosphorous are constituents that may be of concern in downstream waters. 5. TRC mass limits have been revised. 6. Dieldrin and PCB monitoring has been removed from the permit 7. Pollutant scan requirements for dissolved oxygen, nitrate /nitrite, TKN, oil and grease, and total dissolved solids have been included in the permit. G. Basis for Requirements in the Draft Permit 1. Overview of Permit Requirements When developing effluent limits for a NPDES permit, the NDEQ considers limits based on both the technology available to treat the pollutants (technology -based effluent limits) and limits that are protective of the designated uses of the receiving water (water quality -based effluent limits). Technology -based effluent limits for facilities are derived from secondary treatment standards. The intent of technology -based effluent limitations are to require a minimum level of treatment for point sources based on currently available treatment technology. Water quality -based effluent limits are developed by the State of Nebraska to protect the beneficial uses of the receiving waters. The water quality -based effluent limits involve a site - specific evaluation of the effluent discharge and its effect on the receiving water. Permit limits are developed by a comprehensive assessment of both technology -based limits and water quality -based limits. a. Secondary Treatment Standards Secondary treatment is the biological component of a municipal wastewater treatment plant and technological limits in the permit are based on the manner of treatment employed at that plant. Blair WWTF employs a mechanical treatment system to reduce organic loadings before discharge to the Missouri River. The secondary limits for CBOD and TSS were derived by comparing the treatment efficiency of various mechanical treatment systems and thereby establishing a reasonable level of treatment based on similar technologies. b. Water Quality Based Effluent Limits Water quality monitoring and limitations are included in the permit to protect the receiving stream from the discharge of toxic substances in toxic amounts. In NDEQ Title 117, Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards, the water quality criteria for specific pollutants are determined as acute and chronic instream criteria. The NDEQ develops seasonal (spring, summer, winter) wasteload allocations (WLA) to protect these criteria. Title 117, Chapter 2, promulgates the use of mixing zones when developing acute and chronic WLAs. Mixing zones are limited to as small an area and volume of a receiving stream as is practical to prevent interference with or impairment of any beneficial uses. Maximum limitations on the length and width of mixing zones are applicable based on the receiving water use classification. If there is a reasonable potential to cause an instream excursion of the water quality criteria for a parameter, then limitations are included in the NPDES permit. The permit limitations are established from the WLAs according to the procedures given in the Technical Support Document for Water Quality -based Toxics Control (TSD). WLA and limitation worksheets for the permit are attached. 2. Outfall 001. Basis for Monitoring and Limitations (Part I of the Permit) The effluent from Blair WWTF Outfall 001 discharges to the Missouri River after being treated by a mechanical treatment system. The treatment system is operated and maintained to meet the secondary and water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act. The basis for the permit monitoring requirements and limitations are specified below. Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 Page 5 of 10 January 1, 2015 a. Basis for Monitoring Frequencies Monitoring frequencies are based on the Department's guidelines for facilities discharging greater than 1.0 MGD and less than 5.0 MGD. b. Basis for Flow Monitoring NDEQ Title 119, Chapter 17.012.01B requires facilities to monitor the volume of effluent from each outfall. The median flow rate from the facility will be used in subsequent permits to determine water quality limits. c. Basis for Temperature Limits and Monitoring Temperature monitoring is included in the permit. Temperature standards to protect aquatic life are set forth in NDEQ Title 117 Nebraska Surface Water Standards in Chapter 4 General Criteria for Aquatic Life. According to the requirements of Title 117, the temperature of a receiving water shall not be increased by a total of more than 5° F and for warm waters, the maximum limit is 90° F. Facilities not directly adding heat to their effluent discharges are required to monitor the temperature of their effluent without limits. d. Basis for CBOD Discharge Limits CBOD monitoring and limitations are included in the permit based on the secondary treatment standards set forth in NDEQ Title 119, Chapter 21. For mechanical treatment systems, the 30 day average for CBOD shall not exceed 25 mg /1 and the 7 day average shall not exceed 40 mg /l. Mass limits for CBOD are included based on plant design flow of 2.0 MGD. Mass limits of 189.2 kg /day for a monthly average and 302.8 kg/day for a weekly maximum are included. e. Basis for TSS Discharge Limits The Total Suspended Solids (TSS) monitoring and limitations are continued in the permit based on the secondary treatment standards set forth in NDEQ Title 119 for mechanical treatment facilities. For these types of treatment systems, the 30 day average for TSS shall not exceed 30 mg /1 and the 7 day average shall not exceed 45 mg /l. Mass limits for TSS are included based on plant design flow of 2.0 MGD. Mass limits of 227.1 kg/day for a monthly average and 340.6 kg /day for a weekly maximum are included. f. Basis for the pH Discharge Limits The hydrogen ion concentration of the effluent discharge is expressed as pH. A pH range of 6.5 to 9.0 S.U. as set forth in NDEQ Title 117 is continued in the permit to ensure water quality protection for aquatic life in the receiving waters. g. Basis for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous Monitoring High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in rivers and streams can cause the degradation of the water bodies and harm fish, wildlife, and human health. Excessive levels of nutrients in water bodies are often the direct result of human activities. Nitrogen and phosphorus are contributed to water bodies by both point and nonpoint sources, but the extent to which they contribute to water quality degradation varies by watershed and surrounding land uses. Monitoring for nitrogen and phosphorus is included in the permit so that the Department can evaluate the input of the wastewater effluent loadings of these pollutants in the receiving stream. h. Basis for Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Requirements Acute whole effluent toxicity (WET) monitoring is included in the permit to determine if the effluent from Blair WWTF will cause toxicity in the receiving stream. Whole effluent toxicity limits are included in the permit because toxicity to aquatic life shall not be allowed at any time outside of either an acute or chronic mixing zone. According to Title 117, the pollutant levels or concentrations of wastewaters, which contain unknown or complex mixtures or potentially, additive or synergistic toxic pollutants, shall not exceed 0.3 acute toxic units (TUa) or 1.0 chronic toxic units (TUc). The permit limitations are established from the acute toxic criteria according to the procedures given in the Technical Support Document for Water Quality -based Toxics Control (TSD) and is documented in NE0021482WLA.xIs and NE0021482WQL.xIs. A reasonable potential calculation was performed to determine if the effluent from Blair WWTF would exceed water quality -based limits. The results of this calculation indicate no reasonable potential to exceed these limits, therefore "Report" only monitoring is included in the permit. Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 Mean: 1.33 TUa StdDev: 0.89 TUa CV = 0.67 RP Multiplier = 3.9 Reasonable Potential = 3.9 *3.43 = 13.38 < 99.7 i. Basis for Ammonia Monitoring Page 6 of 10 January 1, 2015 WQBEL: 99.7 TUa Max Obs. Cone.: 3.43 TUa No Reasonable Potential to Exceed In NDEQ Title 117, Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards, the water quality criteria for ammonia are determined as acute and chronic in- stream criteria. Seasonal (spring, summer, and winter), wasteload allocations (WLAs) are developed to ensure that the effluent discharge from the end of the pipe of the treatment system does not exceed these instream criteria. The WLAs are developed to protect the assigned beneficial uses of the Missouri River. The calculation of the WLAs from the ammonia criteria is based on stream design flows, receiving stream design parameters, effluent design flow parameters, and receiving stream information and is chosen using the most protective long term average. NDEQ Title 117, Chapter 2 requires that all mixing zones be based on critical condition of minimum dilution, which have been defined as the 1Q10 and 30Q5 flows (design flows). The WLAs for Blair WWTF are presented below. Table FS -2. Ammonia WLAs for Blair WWTF Parameter Spring Summer Winter Acute Ammonia 6228 mg/1 8247 mg/1 6424 mg/1 Chronic Ammonia 2091 mg/1 1786 mg/1 5455 mg/1 The ammonia permit limits are calculated from the WLAs according to the procedures given in the TSD for permit limit derivation from two - value, steady -state outputs for acute and chronic protection. The permit limits are chosen using the most protective long term average which is the chronic for the spring, summer, and winter seasons. The calculations of projected draft ammonia limits are documented in the NE0021482WQL.xls spreadsheet and presented in Table FS -3. Table FS -3 Projected Ammonia Limitations for the Blair WWTF Parameter 30 -Day Average Limit Maximum Spring Ammonia Limitations 1712 mg/1 3435 mg/1 (March 1 - May 31) 7493 kg/day 15032 kg/day Summer Ammonia Limitations 1462 mg/1 2933 mg/1 (June 1 - October 31) 5944 kg/day 11924 kg/day Winter Ammonia Limitations 3202 mg/1 6424 mg/1 (November 1— Feb. 28 {29}) 12835 kg/day 25749 kg/day The projected ammonia limits are revised based on changes to the effluent flow rate, stream flow rate, and effluent pH values reported during the permit term. A reasonable potential calculation was performed to determine if the effluent from Blair WWTF would exceed water quality -based limits. The results of this calculation indicate no reasonable potential to exceed these limits, therefore "Report" only monitoring is included in the permit. Mean: 14.15 mg /l StdDev: 7.27 mg /l WQBEL: 1462 mg /l CV = 0.51 RP Multiplier = 2.0 Max Obs. Cone.: 27.3 mg /l Reasonable Potential = 2.0 *27.3 = 54.6 < 1462 No Reasonable Potential to Exceed j. Basis for including E.coli Limits The effluent from the Blair WWTF is discharged through Outfall 001 to the Missouri River, segment MT1- 10000, which is designated as a recreational use stream in NDEQ Title 117, Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards. It is department policy to require disinfection for all facilities discharging to a recreational water. The recreational use applies to surface waters, which are used, or have a high potential to be used, for primary contact recreational activities. Primary contact recreation includes activities where the body may come into prolonged or intimate contact with the water, such that water may be accidentally ingested and sensitive body organs may be exposed. According to the requirements set forth in NDEQ Title 117, E. coli bacteria shall not exceed a monthly geometric mean of 126 /100mL in the effluent during the recreational period that is May 1 through Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 Page 7 of 10 January 1, 2015 September 30. The monthly geometric mean limit of 126/100 mL is included in the current permit along with a requirement to report the daily maximum. The monthly geometric mean (GM) limit of 126/100 mL for E. coli is continued in the draft permit; however a statistical threshold value (STV) of 410 /100 mL which is not to be exceeded in more than 10 % of the E. coli samples taken within a month has replaced the maximum reporting requirement. According to the requirements set forth in 40 CFR 122.45(d)(2), all permit effluent limitations, standards, and prohibitions, including those necessary to achieve water quality standards, shall be stated as maximum daily (or average weekly) and average monthly discharge limitations for continuously discharging POTWs. No single sample maximum limit or weekly average limit is included in NDEQ Title 117 for E. coli except that single sample maxima are included solely for issuing periodic public advisories regarding use of waterbodies for primary contact recreation. Since no short term E. coli criteria are provided in state regulations, short term limits for E. coli are established in the draft permit based on the EPA recommendations in the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQC). In November 2012; EPA published the document Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQC) that contains EPA's draft ambient water quality criteria recommendations that are intended as guidance to States in developing water quality standards for protecting human health in ambient water that are designated for primary contact recreation. EPA's 2012 RWQC recommendations describe the desired ambient water quality conditions to support the designated use of primary contact recreation. In the 2012 RWQC, to ensure public health protection and to minimize inconsistencies in the interpretation or application of the statistical construct; EPA is recommending that E. coli magnitude be expressed using two components which are the GM and the 90 percentile STV of 410 /100 mL The 2012 RWQC recommendations are based on data and scientific conclusions on the relationship between fecal indicator bacteria, such as E. coli, and gastrointestinal illness. EPA believes these criteria recommendations are scientifically defensible and protective of use regardless of source or climate. To develop the 2012 RWQC, EPA considered indicators of fecal contamination, methods for detecting and enumerating such indicators, the relationship between the occurrence of fecal indicator bacteria in the water and their human health effects, the populations to be protected, waterbody types, sources of fecal contamination and how the 2012 RWQC should be expressed in terms of a magnitude, duration, and frequency. EPA believes that the recommended 2012 RWQC, which are derived from and informed by the preponderance of epidemiological evidence in human fecal impaired waters, would be protective of primary contact recreation. Indicator organisms, such as E. coli, have a demonstrated correlation with gastrointestinal illness from exposure to ambient recreational water based on extensive epidemiological studies conducted by EPA and other scientific organizations. In the 2012 RWQC, EPA is recommending the criteria magnitude be expressed as a GM value corresponding to the 50 percentile and a STV corresponding to the 90 percentile of the same water quality distribution. EPA believes that the STV, used in conjunction with the GM, can help ensure the E. coli densities in recreational waters correspond to a water quality level protective of the designated use of primary contact recreation by constraining the number of high water quality values. EPA now specifically recommends a duration period over which the GM of samples should be calculated and over which the STV should be compared against a recommended limit on the frequency of excursions. EPA is recommending that states use duration for the GM and STV of 30 days. The NPDES regulations in 40 CFR 122.44(d) require the development of water quality based effluent limitations (WQBELs) as necessary to attain water quality standards. Under 122.24(d) permit limits for continuous dischargers must include both short and long term WQBELs. To derive the required short term (maximum) permit limits, EPA recommends that permitting authorities use the more stringent derivation values between the GM and STV. To derive the required long term (monthly average) permit limits, EPA recommends that permitting authorities use the GM. EPA also recommended that the criteria be expressed using two components which are the geometric mean (GM) and the 90 percentile STV. Because indicator bacteria such as E. coli are highly variable in environmental waters, distributional estimates are more robust than single point estimates. The designated use of primary contact recreation would be protected if the following standards are applied which are E. coli at a GM of 126/100 mL and an STV of 410 /100mL not to be exceeded in 10% of the samples taken in a 30 day period. Once established, pathogen limits for continuous dischargers are then applied and enforced in a manner consistent with all other water quality parameters. Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 Page 8 of 10 January 1, 2015 The water quality criteria recommendations in the 2012 RWQC are intended as guidance to states in establishing new or revised water quality standards (WQS). They are not regulations themselves and do not impose legally binding requirements on states or the public. When EPA reviews State WQSs for approval or disapproval under the CWA, EPA must ensure that the WQC in the standard are scientifically defensible and protective of the designated use. The proposed STV for short term E. coli criteria of 410/100 ml, is not now included in NDEQ Title 117. Based on the recommendations in the 2012 RWQC, an E. coli limit of 410/100 ml STV at the 90 percentile is included in the Blair WWTF draft permit to protect the designated recreational use of the Missouri River and to satisfy the permit requirements in 20 CFR 122( d). k. Basis for TRC Limits Total residual chlorine (TRC) limits are included in the permit. Water quality standards for chlorine are set forth in NDEQ Title 117, Chapter 4. TRC limits were determined for the facility using the standards set forth in the Technical Support Document for Water Quality -based Toxics Control (TSD) manual. These limits were compared to the results of a reasonable potential calculation to determine whether there is a reasonable potential for the effluent from the facility to cause an exceedance of instream criteria. The results of this calculation indicated no reasonable potential to exceed instream criteria. TRC limits are included in the permit based on the backsliding regulations set forth in 40 CFR 122.44(1), when a permit is reissued the new permit limitations must be at least as stringent as the final effluent limitations in the previous permit. Therefore the current TRC limits will remain in the permit for the spring season. The calculations used to determine the requirements for this monitoring parameter are included in NE0021482WLA.xls and NE0021482WQL.xls and are included as attached spreadsheets with this Fact Sheet. Mass limits are calculated for TRC based on the median flow from the facility and the water quality -based permit limits. 1. Basis for Metals Monitoring Heavy metals are known toxic pollutants that can have detrimental effects on aquatic life and can be found in industrial wastewaters. Monitoring for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc is continued in the permit to provide data on the concentration of these pollutants in the effluent. m. Basis for Removal of Dieldrin and PCBs Monitoring Segment MT1 -10000 of the Missouri River had a fish consumption advisory in the NDEQ 2012 Water Quality Integrated Report. The fish consumption advisory was listed for dieldrin and PCBs in the NDEQ Findings of the 2009 Regional Ambient Fish Tissue Program in Nebraska. The NDEQ 2014 Water Quality Integrated Report removes the fish consumption advisory for this segment of the Missouri River, therefore monitoring for dieldrin and PCBs is removed from the permit. n. Basis for Pollutant Scan Requirements 40 CFR, Part 122.21 requires direct discharging publicly owned treatment facilities to scan for biochemical oxygen demand, fecal coliforms, pH, temperature, and total suspended solids. Annual monitoring is required for pollutants not regularly monitored by the permit requirements. Blair WWTF NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 3. Influent Monitoring Requirements (Part II of the Permit) Page 9 of 10 January 1, 2015 The requirement that the influent be monitored for BOD, TSS, and pH is included in the permit to provide data to evaluate influent quality and loadings. Influent flow must be monitored on the same day as sample collection for all influent parameters. 4. Biosolids Monitoring Requirements (Part III of the Permit) The biosolids requirements for monitoring and disposal are in accordance with 40 CFR Part 503. EPA Region VII administers the sludge regulations for the Blair WWTF. 5. Other Conditions and Requirements (Part IV of the Permit) a. Removal of CBOD and TSS The requirement to achieve at least 85% removal for BOD and TSS is based on the treatment standards for lagoon treatment systems set forth in NDEQ Title 119. b. Narrative Limits The narrative limits on toxicity, noxious odors, objectionable materials, and undesirable aquatic life are in accordance with the water quality criteria set forth in NDEQ Title 117. c. Additional Monitoring The conditions under which the Department may require increases in monitoring frequencies and monitoring for additional parameters are in accordance with NDEQ Title 119. d. Method Detection Limit Reporting Requirements The requirement to report the method detection limits on the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) instead of zero when an analyte is not detected is according to NDEQ permitting procedures. e. Certified Operator Requirement The requirement that the wastewater treatment plant is to be operated and maintained by certified operators is in accordance with NDEQ Title 197. L Permit Modification and Reopening The permit may be reopened and modified in accordance with NDEQ Title 119. g. Revision of Permit Attachments The option to revise permit attachments is according to NDEQ permitting procedures. These attachments can be modified without public hearing since the attachments are not a component of the NPDES Permit terms and conditions. Blair WWTF Page 10 of 10 NPDES Permit Number NE0021482 January 1, 2015 H. SupportinIz Documentation The following documents and regulations were used in the preparation of the draft permit: 1. NDEQ Title 117, Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards, April 1, 2012. 2. NDEQ Title 118, Ground Water Quality Standards and Use Classifications, March 27, 2006. 3. NDEQ Title 119, Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Issuance of Permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, May 16, 2005. 4. NDEQ Title 197, Rules and Regulations for the Certification of Wastewater Treatment Facility Operators in Nebraska, March 13, 2006. 5. NDEQ, 2014 Surface Water Quality Integrated Report, April 1, 2014. 6. Technical Support Document for Water Quality -based Toxic Control (EPA 505/2 -90 -001 P1391- 127415, March, 1991. 7. 40 CFR, Part 122, 124, and 125, NPDES Regulations. 8. 40 CFR, Part 503, Sludge Regulations. 9. Permit application form 1 and 2A from the City of Blair received by the NDEQ on April 22, 2014. 10. DMR data and facility file data for the Blair WWTF; NPDES NE0021482; IIS 46927. I. Information Requests Inquiries concerning the draft permit, its basis or the public comment process may be directed to: Lisa Giesbrecht Tel. 402/471 -8830 or 402/471 -4220 Fax: 402/471 -2909 Individuals requiring special accommodations or alternate formats of materials should notify the Department by calling (402) 471 -2186. TDD users should call (800) 833 -7352 and ask the relay operator to call the Department at (402) 471 -2186. Copies of the application and other supporting material used in the development of the permit are available for review and copying at the Department's office between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Office Location: The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Suite 400; Lincoln, NE Mail Address: NPDES Permits Unit, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, PO Box 98922; Lincoln, Nebraska 68509 -8922 J. Submission of Formal Comments or Requests for Hearin The date on which the public comment period ends is specified in the public notice. During the public notice period, the public may submit formal comments or objections, and/or petition the Department to hold a public hearing concerning the issuance of the draft permit. All such requests need to: be submitted in written form, state the nature of the issues to be raised, and present arguments and factual grounds to support them. The Department shall consider all written comments, objections and/or hearing petitions, received during public comment period, in making a final decision regarding permit issuance. Formal comments, objections and/or hearing requests need to be submitted to: Lisa Giesbrecht; NPDES Permits Unit Mailing Address: Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 98922 Lincoln, Nebraska 68509 -8922 Location Address: Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Suite 400 Lincoln, Nebraska i' co (Y) U) o 00 co M N C N N ++ �0N N cA O 75 E (oLO r- ;E o mm �N1` N rn �N��h U U) 00 tom= r co C) N N M --� Mx- }ham M U I L. 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