ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

1021 NORTH GRAND AVENUE EAST, P.O. Box 19276, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62794-927 6 • (217)782-3397 

PATQUINN , GOVERNOR JOH N J . KIM , INTERIM DIRECTOR 

217/782-0610 

November 30, 2012 

Ms. Tinka Hyde 

Director, Water Division 

United States Environmental Protection Agency 

77 West Jackson Boulevard 

Chicago, Illinois 60604 

D E C ?;31 Z 

NPDES PROGRAMS-BRANCH 

Re: NPDES Vessel General Permit - Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of 

Vessels (VGP) 

Section 401 Certification 

Dear Ms. Hyde: 

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has reviewed the United States 

Environmental Protection Agency's Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 

(NPDES) general permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Commercial and 

Large Recreational Vessels (Vessel General Permit) pursuant to certification under Section 401 

of the Clean Water Act. The Vessel General Permit as drafted covers all discharges from 

commercial and large recreational vessels, as defined in the permit, that take place within all 

waters of the State of Illinois. 

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency hereby Certifies that the draft Vessel General 

Permit will comply with Illinois Water Quality Standards pursuant to Section 401 ofthe Clean 

Water Act. This certification is issued subject to the following conditions: 

1. Discharges of wastestreams containing Bioacccumulative Chemicals of Concern (BCC's) 

from vessel covered by the Vessel General Permit shall be consistent with the provisions 

of 35 111. Adm. Code 302.520, 302.521, and 302.530. 

2. All discharges to Waters of the State from vessels covered by the Vessel General Permit 

shall not cause a violation of Illinois Water Quality Standards, as found at 35 111. Adm. 

Code Part 302 or effluent standards, as found at 35 111. Adm. Code Part 304. 

3. No effluent from any vessel covered by the Vessel General Permit shall contain settleable 

solids, floating debris, visible oil, grease, scum, or sludge solids pursuant to 35 111. Adm. 

Code 304.106. Color, odor, and turbidity must be reduced to below obvious levels, 

pursuant to 35 111. Adm. Code 304.106. 

4. Any vessel covered by the Vessel General Permit employing ballast water treatment 

systems using chlorine in any of its forms, shall not exceed the acute water quality 

standard for Total Residual Chlorine of 0.019 mg/l or the chronic water quality standard 

4302 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61 103 (815)987-7760 

595 S. State, Elgin, IL 60123 (847)608-3131 

2125 S. First St., Champaign, IL 61820 (217)278-5800 

2009 Mall St., Collinsville, IL 62234 (618)346-5120 

9511 Harrison St., Des Plaines, IL 60016 (847)294-4000 

5407 N. University St., Arbor 113, Peoria, IL 61614 (309)693-5462 

2309 W . Main St., Suite 116, Marion, IL 62959 (618)993-7200 

100 W . Randolph, Suite 11-300, Chicago, IL 60601 (312)814-6026 

PLEASE PRINT O N RECYCLED PAPER 
for Total Residual Chlorine of 0.011 mg/l, pursuant to 35 111. Adm. Code 302.208. In 

order to demonstrate compliance with the water quality standards above, the discharge of 

Total Residual Chlorine shall not exceed the laboratory quantification level of 0.05 mg/l 

using test methods equivalent in accuracy to amperometric titration. The usage of other 

biocides shall not cause a violation of applicable water quality standards and shall not be 

discharged in concentrations considered toxic or harmful to aquatic life, pursuant to 35 

111. Adm. Code 302.210, 302.410 and 302.540. 

5. The discharge from any vessel covered by the Vessel General Permit shall be free from 

any substances or combination of substances in concentrations toxic or harmful to human 

health, or to animal, plant or aquatic life, pursuant to 35 111. Adm. Code 302.210, 

302.410, and 302.540. 

6. No bilge or ballast water from vessels covered by the Vessel General Permit which fails 

to meet the effluent standards of 35 111. Adm. Code Part 304 shall be discharged to waters 

ofthe State pursuant to 35 111. Adm. Code 308.103. 

7. IF ballast water treatment technologies, standards or limitations are adopted, approved or 

revised by the USEPA, the U.S. Coast Guard, or other duly authorized Federal Agency or 

multi-national governing body, AND incorporated into a modified or reissued Vessel 

General Permit, the IEPA will review the new or modified Vessel General Permit to 

ensure compliance with applicable Illinois laws and regulations. Based on that review, 

the Agency may waive, modify the existing certification, or issue a new certification 

pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. 

8. Any discharge of sewage from a vessel shall comply with 35 111. Adm. Code Part 308 -

Disposal of Wastes from Watercraft. 

9. The issuance of this certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act does not 

release any dischargers from responsibilities or liabilities for past or future violations of 

federal, state or local laws or regulations, nor does it release any potential dischargers 

from the responsibility of obtaining permits, including any from the IEPA, or other 

approvals from other units of government as may be required by law. 

Should you have any questions or comments regarding the content of this certification, please 

contact me or Darin LeCrone of my staff at the address above, or by phone at 217/782-0610. 

Sincerely, 

Alan Keller, P.E. 

Manager, Permit Section 

Division of Water Pollution Control