NR 211.13(2)(d)1.1. For purposes of this paragraph “measurable" refers to the ability of the analytical method to quantify as well as identify the presence of the pollutant in question. “Limit of detectability" refers to the lowest limit at which the analytical method can quantify the pollutant in question.
NR 211.13(2)(d)2.
2. For each sample, removal shall be calculated by dividing the difference between the concentrations of a pollutant in the POTW's influent and effluent by the influent concentration. If the number of samples with measurable concentrations is greater than 12, the consistent removal is the average of the lowest half of the removals. If the number of samples with measurable concentrations is between 8 and 12, the consistent removal is the average of the lowest 6 removals. If less than 8 samples have measurable concentrations, the department may approve a means for demonstrating consistent removal on a case-by-case basis.
NR 211.13(2)(d)3.
3. If a substance is measurable in the influent but not in the effluent, the effluent concentration may be assumed to be the limit of measurement, and those data may be used by the POTW, subject to approval by the department.
NR 211.13(2)(d)4.
4. When calculating consistent removal, the POTW shall use all of the data obtained for measuring removal, except for measurements in which a substance is not measurable in the influent.
NR 211.13(2)(e)
(e) If an overflow of untreated water to receiving water occurs at least once per year, a POTW may claim consistent removal only by complying with either subd.
1. or
2., except as provided in subd.
3. NR 211.13(2)(e)1.a.
a. All industrial users to which the POTW proposes to apply removal credits have demonstrated the ability to contain or reduce discharges or increase pretreatment to compensate for the removal not being provided by the POTW during circumstances in which overflow can be reasonably expected to occur;
NR 211.13(2)(e)1.b.
b. The POTW has identified circumstances in which an overflow event can be reasonably expected to occur and has a notification plan or other viable plan to ensure that industrial users will learn of an impending overflow event in sufficient time to contain or reduce discharges or increase pretreatment to prevent untreated overflow from occurring;
NR 211.13(2)(e)1.c.
c. The POTW will monitor and verify the data required in subd.
1. d. to ensure that industrial users are containing or reducing discharges or pretreatment during overflow events; and
NR 211.13(2)(e)1.d.
d. All industrial users to which the POTW proposes to apply removal credits have demonstrated the ability and commitment to collect and make available, upon request, to the POTW, department or EPA, daily flow reports or other data sufficient to demonstrate that all discharges from regulated processes containing the pollutant for which the removal credit is requested were contained, reduced or subject to increased pretreatment during all circumstances in which an overflow was reasonably expected to occur.
NR 211.13(2)(e)2.a.a. The consistent removal calculated according to par.
(d) is reduced according to the following equation:
rc = rm 8760 - Z
8760
NR 211.13(2)(e)2.b.
b. The POTW is complying with all WPDES permit requirements and any additional requirements in any order or decree issued pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, (33 U.S. Code section 1251
et seq.), (Clean Water Act), affecting combined sewer outflows. These requirements include, but are not limited to, any requirements contained in EPA's Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy.
NR 211.13(2)(e)3.
3. This paragraph does not apply if the industrial user can show that overflow does not occur between the industrial user and the POTW treatment plant.
NR 211.13(3)
(3)
Provisional credits. For pollutants which are not discharged currently (i.e., new or modified facilities, or production changes) the POTW may apply for authorization to give removal credits prior to the initial discharge of the pollutant. Consistent removal for the first 18 months of discharge shall be based on data from treatability studies or demonstrated removal at other treatment facilities where the quality and quantity of influent are similar. Eighteen months after initial discharge of pollutants, consistent removal shall be demonstrated pursuant to the requirements of sub.
(2). If the POTW cannot demonstrate consistent removal pursuant to the requirements of sub.
(2), the authority to grant provisional removal credits shall be terminated by the department. All industrial users to whom the revised discharge limits had been applied shall achieve compliance with the applicable categorical pretreatment standards within a reasonable time, not to exceed the period of time prescribed in the applicable categorical pretreatment standards, as may be specified by the department.
NR 211.13(4)
(4)
Terms and conditions for POTW granting and continuing conditional removal credits. A POTW required to develop a local pretreatment program by s.
NR 211.20 may give removal credits pending approval of the program under the following terms and conditions:
NR 211.13(4)(a)
(a) All industrial users who are currently subject to a categorical pretreatment standard and who apply for a conditional removal credit shall submit to the POTW the information required in s.
NR 211.15 (1) (a) to
(h). However, new or modified industrial users shall only submit the information required by s.
NR 211.15 (1) (a) to
(f), pertaining to the categorical pretreatment standard as modified by the removal credit. The industrial users shall indicate what additional technology, if any, will be needed to comply with the categorical pretreatment standard as modified by the removal credit;
NR 211.13(4)(b)
(b) The POTW shall have submitted to the department an application for pretreatment program approval meeting the requirements of subch.
II of ch. NR 211 in a timely manner, not to exceed the time limitation set forth in a compliance schedule for development of a pretreatment program included in the POTW's WPDES permit, but in no case later than July 1, 1983, where no permit deadline exists;
NR 211.13(4)(c)1.
1. Compile and submit data demonstrating its consistent removal in accordance with sub.
(2);
NR 211.13(4)(c)3.
3. Submit a complete application for removal credit authority in accordance with sub.
(5);
NR 211.13(4)(d)
(d) If a POTW receives authority to grant conditional removal credits and the department subsequently makes a final determination, after appropriate notice, that the POTW failed to comply with the conditions in pars.
(b) and
(c), the authority to grant conditional removal credits shall be terminated by the department. All industrial users to whom the revised discharge limits had been applied shall achieve compliance with the applicable categorical pretreatment standard within a reasonable time, not to exceed the period of time prescribed in the applicable categorical pretreatment standard, as may be specified by the department.
NR 211.13(4)(e)
(e) If a POTW grants conditional removal credits and the POTW or the department subsequently makes a final determination, after appropriate notice, that the industrial user failed to comply with the conditions in par.
(a), the conditional credit shall be terminated by the POTW or the department for the non-complying industrial user. The industrial user to whom the revised discharge limits had been applied shall achieve compliance with the applicable categorical pretreatment standard within a reasonable time, not to exceed the period of time prescribed in the applicable categorical pretreatment standard, as may be specified by the department. The conditional credit may not be terminated where a violation of the provisions of this paragraph results from causes entirely outside of the control of the industrial user or the industrial user had demonstrated substantial compliance.
NR 211.13(4)(f)
(f) The department may decide not to review an application for conditional removal credit authority, in which case the conditionally revised discharge limits shall become effective and remain in effect until reviewed by the department. This review shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures of s.
NR 211.30 before any pretreatment program approval or any WPDES permit reissuance pursuant to the pretreatment program approval.
NR 211.13(5)
(5)
POTW application for authorization to give removal credits. NR 211.13(5)(a)(a) Any POTW that wants to give removal credits or modify existing ones shall apply for authorization from the department. Such application may be submitted at any time and shall include the following information:
NR 211.13(5)(a)3.
3. Proposed revised discharge limits for each affected subcategory of industrial users calculated in accordance with sub.
(1) (c);
NR 211.13(5)(a)4.
4. A certification that the POTW has an approved local pretreatment program or qualifies for the exceptions to this requirement found in subs.
(4) and
(7);
NR 211.13(5)(a)5.
5. A specific description of the POTW's current methods of using or disposing of its sludge and a certification that the granting of removal credits will not cause a violation of the sludge requirements identified in sub.
(1) (b) 4.;
NR 211.13(5)(a)6.
6. A certification that the granting of removal credits will not cause a violation of the POTW's WPDES permit limits and conditions as required in sub.
(1) (b) 5.; and
NR 211.13(5)(a)7.
7. A demonstration that the granting of removal credits will be consistent with sub.
(1) (b) 6. for each industrial user for whom removal credits are proposed.
NR 211.13(5)(b)
(b) The department shall review the POTW's application for authorization to give or modify removal credits in accordance with the procedures of s.
NR 211.30 within 180 days from public notice of an application to complete review.
NR 211.13(5)(c)
(c) Nothing in these regulations precludes an industrial user or other interested party from assisting the POTW in preparing and presenting the information necessary to apply for authorization.
NR 211.13(6)
(6)
Continuation and withdrawal of authorization. NR 211.13(6)(a)
(a) A POTW authorized to grant removal credits for a pollutant regulated in a categorical pretreatment standard may extend that removal credit to the same pollutant when it is regulated in other categorical standards. If a POTW elects to extend removal credits to a new categorical standard, industrial subcategory, or one or more industrial users that were not granted removal credits, it shall notify the department. A POTW may extend removal credits if granting the removal credit will not cause the POTW to violate the sludge requirements identified in sub.
(1) (b) 4., or its WPDES permit limits and conditions as required by sub.
(1) (b) 5. NR 211.13(6)(b)
(b) Removal credits shall be included in the authorized POTW's WPDES permit as soon as possible and shall become an enforceable requirement of the POTW's WPDES permit. The removal credits shall remain in effect for the term of the POTW's WPDES permit, provided the POTW maintains compliance with the conditions specified in par.
(d).
NR 211.13(6)(c)
(c) A POTW authorized to give removal credits shall monitor and report on the POTW's removal capabilities. The reporting period shall be specified by the department and may not be less than once per year. A minimum of one sample per month during the reporting period is required, and all sampling data shall be in-cluded in the POTW's compliance report. As a condition of retaining removal credit authorization, the POTW's consistent removal shall continue to be equal to or greater than the removal credit.
NR 211.13(6)(d)1.1. Compliance with the conditions in sub.
(1) (b) 3. to
5. may be reviewed by the department whenever it elects and shall, at the very least, be reviewed whenever the POTW's WPDES permit is reissued. If the department determines, on the basis of compliance monitoring reports or other information available to it, that the conditions specified in sub.
(1) (b) 3. to
5. are not being met, the department shall withdraw the POTW's authority to grant removal credits or modify those credits in accordance with the procedures specified in subd.
3. NR 211.13(6)(d)2.
2. If, during the term of the POTW's WPDES permit, the department determines that the POTW's consistent removal rate is consistently and substantially lower than the removal credit specified in the POTW's WPDES permit, the department shall either withdraw the POTW's authority to grant removal credits or modify those credits in accordance with the procedures specified in subd.
3. NR 211.13(6)(d)3.
3. If the department tentatively determines that a POTW's authority to grant removal credits should be withdrawn or modified, the department shall notify the POTW of its determination and give the POTW a reasonable time to take corrective action. The period for corrective action may exceed 60 days only if the POTW or industrial users demonstrate that a longer period is reasonably necessary to undertake appropriate corrective action.
NR 211.13(6)(d)4.
4. If the department finds the corrective action insufficient, the department shall, in accordance with the procedures specified in s.
NR 211.30, issue a public notice, provide a public comment period of at least 30 days and provide an opportunity for interested persons to request a public hearing. The mailing list for the public notice shall include, at a minimum, the POTW and industrial users to whom the revised discharge limits have been applied.
NR 211.13(6)(d)5.
5. If the department finally determines to withdraw or modify the POTW's authority to grant removal credits, the department shall provide notice of the determination to the POTW, all industrial users to whom the revised limits have been applied and each person who has requested individual notice. This notice shall include the basis for the determination. Notice of the final determination shall also be published in the same newspaper that published the notice of the tentative determination.
NR 211.13(6)(d)6.
6. Following the notice required by subd.
5., all industrial users to whom revised discharge limits have been applied shall be subject to the modified discharge limits or the limits prescribed in the applicable categorical pretreatment standard. Industrial users shall comply with these limits within a reasonable time, not to exceed the period of time prescribed in the applicable categorical pretreatment standard, as may be specified by the department.
NR 211.13(7)
(7) Where the department has not required the POTW to develop a pretreatment program, the POTW may not be required to develop a pretreatment program as a precondition to obtaining authorization to give removal credits. The POTW shall, however, be required to comply with the other conditions of sub.
(1) (b).
NR 211.13 History
History: Cr.
Register, September, 1986, No. 369, eff. 10-1-86; cr. (1) (b) 6., (2) (e), (5) (a) 7., (6) (d) 4. to 6., am. (2) (a), (5) (a) 5. and 6., r. and recr. (2) (d) 2. to 4. and (6) (d) 3.,
Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92;
CR 13-006: r. and recr. (2) (e) 2. b.
Register January 2014 No. 697, eff. 2-1-14.
NR 211.14
NR 211.14 Fundamentally different factors variances. NR 211.14(1)(1)
Any interested person believing that factors relating to an industrial user are fundamentally different from the factors considered during development of a categorical pretreatment standard applicable to that industrial user, and that the existence of those factors justifies a different discharge limit from that specified in the applicable categorical pretreatment standard may request a fundamentally different factors variance under this section. Such a variance request may be initiated by EPA.
NR 211.14(2)(a)(a) A request for a fundamentally different factors variance may be approved only if:
NR 211.14(2)(a)1.
1. Factors relating to the industrial user which would be affected by the variance are fundamentally different from the factors considered in establishing the applicable categorical pretreatment standard;
NR 211.14(2)(a)2.
2. There is an applicable categorical pretreatment standard which specifically controls the pollutant for which alternative limits have been proposed; and
NR 211.14(2)(b)
(b) A request for a fundamentally different factors variance to establish limits less stringent than required by the categorical pretreatment standard may be approved only if:
NR 211.14(2)(b)1.
1. The alternative limit requested is no less stringent than justified by the fundamental difference; and
NR 211.14(2)(b)2.
2. The alternative limit will not result in a violation of any prohibited discharge standard set forth in or established under s.
NR 211.10;
NR 211.14(2)(b)3.
3. The alternative limit will not result in an environmental impact not related to water quality which would be fundamentally more adverse than the impact considered during development of the categorical pretreatment standard; and
NR 211.14(2)(b)4.
4. Compliance with the applicable categorical pretreatment standard would result in either a removal cost wholly out of proportion to the removal cost considered during development of the standard or an environmental impact not related to water quality which would be fundamentally more adverse than the impact considered during development of the standard.
NR 211.14(2)(c)
(c) A request for a fundamentally different factors variance to establish limits more stringent than required by the categorical pretreatment standard may be approved only if:
NR 211.14(2)(c)1.
1. The alternative limit requested is no more stringent than justified by the fundamental difference; and
NR 211.14(2)(c)2.
2. Compliance with the alternative limit would not result in either a removal cost wholly out of proportion to the removal cost considered during development of the standard or an environmental impact not related to water quality which would be fundamentally more adverse than the impact considered during the development of the standard.
NR 211.14(3)
(3) Factors considered fundamentally different are:
NR 211.14(3)(a)
(a) The nature or quality of pollutants contained in the industrial user's raw process wastewater;
NR 211.14(3)(b)
(b) The volume of the industrial user's process wastewater and the volume of effluent discharged;
NR 211.14(3)(c)
(c) The environmental impact, other than that related to water quality, of control and treatment of the industrial user's raw process wastewater;
NR 211.14(3)(d)
(d) The energy requirements of the application of control and treatment technology;
NR 211.14(3)(e)
(e) Age, size, and configuration of the industrial user's equipment, facilities, production processes and process changes, availability of land, and engineering aspects of the application of control technology; and
NR 211.14(3)(f)
(f) The cost of compliance with required control technology.
NR 211.14(4)
(4) Factors which may not be considered fundamentally different are:
NR 211.14(4)(a)
(a) The feasibility of installing the required pretreatment equipment within the time allowed by the categorical pretreatment standard;
NR 211.14(4)(b)
(b) The assertion that the standard cannot be achieved with the appropriate pretreatment equipment installed, if such assertion is not based on factors listed in sub.
(3);
NR 211.14(4)(c)
(c) The industrial user's ability to pay for the required pretreatment equipment; or
NR 211.14(4)(d)
(d) The impact of a discharge on the quality of the POTW's receiving water.
NR 211.14(5)
(5) Requests for a variance shall be submitted in writing to the department within 180 days after the effective date of the federal categorical pretreatment standard. If the industrial user has requested a categorical determination under s.
NR 211.33, the request for a fundamentally different factors variance may be delayed to within 30 days after the final decision on the category determination has been made. Variance requests shall include the following:
NR 211.14(5)(b)
(b) Identification of the interest of the person making the request;
NR 211.14(5)(c)
(c) Identification of the POTW receiving the indirect discharge from the industrial user for which the variance is requested;
NR 211.14(5)(d)
(d) Identification of the categorical pretreatment standards applicable to the industrial user;
NR 211.14(5)(e)
(e) A list of each pollutant for which an alternative discharge limit is sought;
NR 211.14(5)(f)
(f) The alternative discharge limits being proposed for each pollutant identified in par.
(e);
NR 211.14(5)(g)
(g) A description of the industrial user's existing pretreatment equipment;
NR 211.14(5)(h)
(h) A schematic flow chart of the industrial user's water system including water supply, process wastewater systems, and points of discharge; and
NR 211.14(5)(i)
(i) A statement of facts clearly establishing why the variance request should be approved, including detailed supporting data, documentation and evidence necessary to fully evaluate the merits of the request.
NR 211.14(6)
(6) The department will act only on written requests for variances which contain all of the information required in sub.
(5). Persons who submit incomplete requests will be notified that the requests are deficient and will be given 30 days to correct the deficiency. If the deficiency is not corrected within 30 days, or within an extended period if allowed by the department, the request for the variance shall be denied.
