Athens City Code

Users, whether permitted or non-permitted, may be required to submit reports detailing the nature and characteristics of their discharges according to this section. Failure to make a requested report in the specified time is a violation subject to enforcement actions under ACC 18-70.

1. (1) Baseline monitoring report.
   1. (a) Generally. Within either 180 days after the effective date of a categorical pretreatment standard, or the final administrative decision on a category determination under Tenn. Comp. Rules and Regs. 1200-4-14-.06(1)(d), whichever is later, existing categorical industrial users currently discharging to or scheduled to discharge to the WWF shall submit to the superintendent a report which contains the information listed in subsection (a)(2) of this section. At least 90 days prior to commencement of their discharge, new sources, and sources that become categorical industrial users subsequent to the promulgation of an applicable categorical standard, shall submit to the superintendent a report which contains the information listed in subsection (a)(2) of this section. A new source shall report the method of pretreatment it intends to use to meet applicable categorical standards. A new source also shall give estimates of its anticipated flow and quantity of pollutants to be discharged.
   2. (b) Required information. Users described subsection (a)(1) of this section shall submit the information set forth below:
      1. (i) Identifying information. The user name and address of the facility, including the name of operators and owners.
      2. (ii) Permit information. A listing of any environmental control permits held by or for the facility.
      3. (iii) Description of operations. A brief description of the nature, average rate of production (including each product produced by type, amount, process, and rate of production), and standard industrial classifications of the operations carried out by such user. This description should include a schematic process diagram, which indicates points of discharge to the WWF from the regulated processes.
      4. (iv) Flow measurement. Information showing the measured average daily and maximum daily flow, in gallons per day, to the POTW from regulated process streams and other streams, as necessary, to allow use of the combined wastestream formula.
      5. (v) Measurement of pollutants.
         1. A. The categorical pretreatment standards applicable to each regulated process and any new categorically regulated processes for existing sources;
         2. B. The results of sampling and analysis identifying the nature and concentration, and/or mass, where required by the standard or by the superintendent, of regulated pollutants in the discharge from each regulated process;
         3. C. Instantaneous, daily maximum and long-term average concentrations, or mass, where required, shall be reported;
         4. D. The sample shall be representative of daily operations and shall be analyzed in accordance with procedures set out in 40 CFR 136 and amendments, unless otherwise specified in an applicable categorical standard. Where the standard requires compliance with a BMP or pollution prevention alternative, the user shall submit documentation as required by the superintendent or the applicable standards to determine compliance with the standard;
         5. E. The user shall take a minimum of one representative sample to compile that data necessary to comply with the requirements of this subsection (a)(2)e;
         6. F. Samples should be taken immediately downstream from pretreatment facilities if such exist or immediately downstream from the regulated process if no pretreatment exists. If other wastewaters are mixed with the regulated wastewater prior to pretreatment, the user should measure the flows and concentrations necessary to allow use of the combined wastestream formula to evaluate compliance with the pretreatment standards;
         7. G. Sampling and analysis shall be performed in accordance with 40 CFR 136 or other approved methods;
         8. H. The superintendent may allow the submission of a baseline report which utilizes only historical data so long as the data provides information sufficient to determine the need for industrial pretreatment measures;
         9. I. The baseline report shall indicate the time, date and place of sampling and methods of analysis and shall certify that such sampling and analysis is representative of normal work cycles and expected pollutant discharges to the WWF.
   3. (c) Compliance certification. Users shall provide a statement, reviewed by the user's duly authorized representative and certified by a qualified professional, indicating whether pretreatment standards are being met on a consistent basis, and, if not, whether additional operation and maintenance (O&M) and/or additional pretreatment is required to meet the pretreatment standards and requirements.
   4. (d) Compliance schedule. If additional pretreatment and/or O&M will be required to meet the pretreatment standards, the shortest schedule by which the user will provide such additional pretreatment and/or O&M must be provided. The completion date in this schedule shall not be later than the compliance date established for the applicable pretreatment standard. A compliance schedule pursuant to this section must meet the requirements set out in subsection (b) of this section.
   5. (e) Signature and report certification. All baseline monitoring reports must be certified in accordance with subsection (n) of this section and signed by the duly authorized representative.
2. (2) Compliance schedule progress reports. The following conditions shall apply to the compliance schedule required by subsection (a)(4) of this section:
   1. (a) The schedule shall contain progress increments in the form of dates for the commencement and completion of major events leading to the construction and operation of additional pretreatment required for the user to meet the applicable pretreatment standards (such events include, but are not limited to, hiring an engineer, completing preliminary and final plans, executing contracts for major components, commencing and completing construction, and beginning and conducting routine operation);
   2. (b) No increment referred to in subsection (b)(1) of this section shall exceed nine months;
   3. (c) The user shall submit a progress report to the superintendent no later than 14 days following each date in the schedule and the final date of compliance, including, at a minimum, whether or not it complied with the increment of progress, the reason for any delay, and, if appropriate, the steps being taken by the user to return to the established schedule;
   4. (d) In no event shall more than nine months elapse between such progress reports to the superintendent.
3. (3) Reports on compliance with categorical pretreatment standard deadline. Within 90 days following the date for final compliance with applicable categorical pretreatment standards or, in the case of a new source, following commencement of the introduction of wastewater into the WWF, any user subject to such pretreatment standards and requirements shall submit to the superintendent a report containing the information described in subsections (a)(2)d and e of this section. For all other users subject to categorical pretreatment standards expressed in terms of allowable pollutant discharge per unit of production (or other measure of operation), this report shall include the user's actual production during the appropriate sampling period. All compliance reports must be signed and certified in accordance with subsection (n) of this section. All sampling will be done in conformance with subsection (k) of this section.
4. (4) Periodic compliance reports.
   1. (a) All significant industrial users must, at a frequency determined by the superintendent, submit no less than twice per year (April 10 and October 10) reports indicating the nature, concentration of pollutants in the discharge which are limited by pretreatment standards and the measured or estimated average and maximum daily flows for the reporting period. In cases where the pretreatment standard requires compliance with a best management practice (BMP) or pollution prevention alternative, the user must submit documentation required by the superintendent or the pretreatment standard necessary to determine the compliance status of the user.
   2. (b) All periodic compliance reports must be signed and certified in accordance with this chapter.
   3. (c) All wastewater samples must be representative of the user's discharge. Wastewater monitoring and flow measurement facilities shall be properly operated, kept clean, and maintained in good working order at all times. The failure of a user to keep its monitoring facility in good working order shall not be grounds for the user to claim that sample results are unrepresentative of its discharge.
   4. (d) If a user subject to the reporting requirement in this section monitors any regulated pollutant at the appropriate sampling location more frequently than required by the superintendent, using the procedures prescribed in subsection (k) of this section, the results of this monitoring shall be included in the report.
5. (5) Reports of changed conditions. Each user must notify the superintendent of any significant changes to the user's operations or system which might alter the nature, quality, or volume of its wastewater at least 60 days before the change.
   1. (a) The superintendent may require the user to submit such information as may be deemed necessary to evaluate the changed condition, including the submission of a wastewater discharge permit application under ACC 18-66.
   2. (b) The superintendent may issue an individual wastewater discharge permit under ACC 18-66 or modify an existing wastewater discharge permit under ACC 18-66 in response to changed conditions or anticipated changed conditions.
6. (6) Report of potential problems.
   1. (a) In the case of any discharge, including, but not limited to, accidental discharges, discharges of a nonroutine, episodic nature, a noncustomary batch discharge, a slug discharge or slug load, that might cause potential problems for the POTW, the user shall immediately telephone and notify the superintendent of the incident. This notification shall include the location of the discharge, type of waste, concentration and volume, if known, and corrective actions taken by the user.
   2. (b) Within five days following such discharge, the user shall, unless waived by the superintendent, submit a detailed written report describing the causes of the discharge and the measures to be taken by the user to prevent similar future occurrences. Such notification shall not relieve the user of any expense, loss, damage, or other liability which might be incurred as a result of damage to the WWF, natural resources, or any other damage to person or property; nor shall such notification relieve the user of any fines, penalties, or other liability which may be imposed pursuant to this chapter.
   3. (c) A notice shall be permanently posted on the user's bulletin board or other prominent place advising employees who to call in the event of a discharge described in subsection (f)(1) of this section. Employers shall ensure that all employees who could cause such a discharge to occur are advised of the emergency notification procedure.
   4. (d) Significant industrial users are required to notify the superintendent immediately of any changes at its facility affecting the potential for a slug discharge.
7. (7) Reports from unpermitted users. All users not required to obtain an individual wastewater discharge permit shall provide appropriate reports to the superintendent as the superintendent may require to determine users status as non-permitted.
8. (8) Notice of violations/repeat sampling and reporting. Where a violation has occurred, another sample shall be conducted within 30 days of becoming aware of the violation, either a repeat sample or a regularly scheduled sample that falls within the required timeframe. If sampling performed by a user indicates a violation, the user must notify the superintendent within 24 hours of becoming aware of the violation. The user shall also repeat the sampling and analysis and submit the results of the repeat analysis to the superintendent within 30 days after becoming aware of the violation. Resampling by the industrial user is not required if the AUB performs sampling at the user's facility at least once a month, or if the AUB performs sampling at the user's facility between the time when the initial sampling was conducted and the time when the user or the city receives the results of this sampling, or if the AUB has performed the sampling and analysis in lieu of the industrial user.
9. (9) Notification of the discharge of hazardous waste. ACC 18-36(a)(s) prohibits the disposal of any waste that, if otherwise disposed of, would be a hazardous waste under 40 CFR part 261.
10. (10) Analytical requirements. All pollutant analyses, including sampling techniques, to be submitted as part of a wastewater discharge permit application or report shall be performed in accordance with the techniques prescribed in 40 CFR part 136 and amendments thereto, unless otherwise specified in an applicable categorical pretreatment standard. If 40 CFR part 136 does not contain sampling or analytical techniques for the pollutant in question, or where the EPA determines that the 40 CFR part 136 sampling and analytical techniques are inappropriate for the pollutant in question, sampling and analyses shall be performed by using validated analytical methods or any other applicable sampling and analytical procedures, including procedures suggested by the superintendent or other parties approved by EPA.
11. (11) Sample collection. Samples collected to satisfy reporting requirements must be based on data obtained through appropriate sampling and analysis performed during the period covered by the report, based on data that is representative of conditions occurring during the reporting period.
    1. (a) Except as indicated in subsections (k)(2) and (3) of this section, the user must collect wastewater samples using 24-hour flow proportional composite sampling techniques, unless time proportional composite sampling or grab sampling is authorized by the superintendent. Where time proportional composite sampling or grab sampling is authorized by the AUB, the samples must be representative of the discharge. Using protocols (including appropriate preservation) specified in 40 CFR part 136 and appropriate EPA guidance, multiple grab samples collected during a 24-hour period may be composited prior to the analysis as follows: for cyanide, total phenols, and sulfides, the samples may be composited in the laboratory or in the field; for volatile organics and oil and grease, the samples may be composited in the laboratory. Composite samples for other parameters unaffected by the compositing procedures as documented in approved EPA methodologies may be authorized by the AUB as appropriate. In addition, grab samples may be required to show compliance with instantaneous limits.
    2. (b) Samples for oil and grease, temperature, pH, cyanide, total phenols, sulfides, and volatile organic compounds must be obtained using grab collection techniques.
    3. (c) For sampling required in support of baseline monitoring and 90-day compliance reports required in subsections (a) and (c) of this section, a minimum of four grab samples must be used for pH, cyanide, total phenols, oil and grease, sulfide and volatile organic compounds for facilities for which historical sampling data do not exist; for facilities for which historical sampling data are available, the superintendent may authorize a lower minimum. For the reports required by subsection (d) of this section, the industrial user is required to collect the number of grab samples necessary to assess and ensure compliance with applicable pretreatment standards and requirements.
12. (12) Date of receipt of reports. Written reports will be deemed to have been submitted on the date postmarked. For reports, which are not mailed, the date of receipt of the report shall govern.
13. (13) Recordkeeping. Users subject to the reporting requirements of this chapter shall retain, and make available for inspection and copying, all records of information obtained pursuant to any monitoring activities required by this chapter, any additional records of information obtained pursuant to monitoring activities undertaken by the user independent of such requirements, and documentation associated with best management practices established under this chapter. Records shall include the date, exact place, method, and time of sampling, and the name of the persons taking the samples; the dates analyses were performed; who performed the analyses; the analytical techniques or methods used; and the results of such analyses. These records shall remain available for a period of at least three years. This period shall be automatically extended for the duration of any litigation concerning the user or the city, or where the user has been specifically notified of a longer retention period by the superintendent.
14. (14) Certification statements.
    1. (a) Signature and certification. All reports associated with compliance with the pretreatment program shall be signed by the duly authorized representative and shall have the following certification statement attached:
       
       "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 ensure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate 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."
    2. (b) Reports required to have signatures and certification statements include permit applications, periodic reports, compliance schedules, baseline monitoring, reports of accidental or slug discharges, and any other written report that may be used to determine water quality and compliance with local, state, and federal requirements.

(Code 1995, § 18-304; Ord. No. 972, 11-18-2008; Ord. No. 985, 3-16-2010)