Do you know your rights as a permittee and how the conditions in your NPDES permit were developed?  Potentially, you can comply with the underlying statutory/regulatory standard and be subject to less stringent/costly requirements.  Correcting the permit in the future may not be an option.  Furthermore, a permittee generally cannot first raise concerns about the appropriateness of the permit in enforcement actions.   

A TWO PART COURSE ON NPDES PERMITTING

PART 1

The Importance of Being Proactive in NPDES Permitting  (December 15, 2020-10:00 am - 11:30 am)

A. Welcome and Introduction – NPDES Program Objectives

B. NPDES Permit Overview

1. Role of State vs. EPA/ Federal Law vs State Law

2. Procedures – Draft Permit and Fact Sheet

3. Opportunities for Permittee to be Proactive

4. Anti-Backsliding 

5. Enforcement Implications

a. EPA, State and/or Citizen Suit

b. Defenses

c. Coronavirus Implications

C. NPDES Permit Effluent Limitations

1. Technology vs Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits

2. Anti-degradation Performance Based Limits

3. Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits (continued tomorrow)   

PART II   

Imposition of NPDES Permit Effluent Limitations (December 16, 2020-10:00 am - 11:30 am)

A. Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits

1. Reasonable Potential Analysis 

a. EPA’s Technical Support Document (“TSD”) b. Assumptions 

2. Opportunities for Permittee to be Proactive

3. Critical Receiving Water Flows a. Seasonal Limits

4. Mixing Zones

5. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and § 303(d) Listed Non-Attainment Waterbodies

a. Effect on Permit/Consistent with TMDL

b. Challenge to TMDLs

B. Permitting Issues Associated with Nutrients

1. Assumptions and Causation

2. Site-Specific Data

3. TMDL Implications

4. Other Issues

C. Wet Weather Issues

1. Combined Sewer Overflows (“CSO”)

2. Sanitary Sewer Overflows (“SSO”)

3. Blending vs. Bypass

4. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (“MS4”) Permitting