MIL-HDBK-1005/16
2.2.4
Permit Application Forms. Contact the permitting
agencies to obtain the latest forms required for permit renewal
or changes. NPDES applications usually consist of a Form 1,
containing general owner information, and Form 2A, containing a
substantial amount of wastewater treatment plant information.
These forms require historical plant operation data and much of
the same information required for the Capacity Analysis Report
and the Operations and Maintenance Report. The Federal
government does not charge a fee, but state and local agencies
may assess application-processing fees.
2.3
Governing Effluent Limitations. In planning any
wastewater treatment facility, it is essential that the specific
set of effluent limitations the facility will be required to meet
is defined at the start of the planning process. Potential new
requirements for effluent limitations should also be identified
so they can be considered in the planning and design of the
facility.
2.3.1
Current Trends in the Wastewater Industry That Affect
Effluent Permitting. The regulatory agencies (either state
and/or EPA) responsible for the issuance of discharge permits are
implementing more comprehensive programs to ensure protection of
the water quality standards of the state's streams. In addition,
the regulatory agencies are implementing basinwide permitting
programs designed to bring streams that have been identified as
not currently meeting water quality standards into compliance.
This program evaluates all sources of pollution (point and
nonpoint sources); through the development of total maximum daily
loads (TMDL) for the watershed, the program allocates allowable
discharge levels from all sources within the drainage basin.
This could mean that more restrictive effluent limits will be
placed in discharge permits. The use of TMDL in the permitting
process will be prevalent in the future. As facilities go to
basinwide permitting, permit renewals may occur over a period of
less than five years.
2.3.2
Water Quality Standards. Effluent limits contained in
the NPDES permit are developed by the permit writer and are
normally based on state water quality standards for the receiving
stream. These effluent limits are called "water quality-based
effluent limits." These are generally more stringent than
technology-based standards. Each stream in the state is
classified in the water quality standards according to its
existing or potential uses. Specific and general standards apply
7
Previous Page
