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Title 40: Protection of Environment

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PART 117—DETERMINATION OF REPORTABLE QUANTITIES FOR HAZARDOUS 

SUBSTANCES 

Section Contents

Subpart A—General Provisions

§ 117.1 Definitions.

§ 117.2 Abbreviations.

§ 117.3 Determination of reportable quantities.

Subpart B—Applicability

§ 117.11 General applicability.

§ 117.12 Applicability to discharges from facilities with NPDES permits.

§ 117.13 Applicability to discharges from publicly owned treatment works and their users.

§ 117.14 Demonstration projects.

Subpart C—Notice of Discharge of a Reportable Quantity

§ 117.21 Notice.

§ 117.23 Liabilities for removal.

Authority: Secs. 311 and 501(a), Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et 

seq.), (“the Act”) and Executive Order 11735, superseded by Executive Order 12777, 56 FR 

54757. 

Source: 44 FR 50776, Aug. 29, 1979, unless otherwise noted. 

Subpart A—General Provisions 

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§ 117.1 Definitions. 

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As used in this part, all terms shall have the meanings stated in 40 CFR part 116. 

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(a) Reportable quantities means quantities that may be harmful as set forth in §117.3, the discharge of 

which is a violation of section 311(b)(3) and requires notice as set forth in §117.21. 

(b) Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”). 

(c) Mobile source means any vehicle, rolling stock, or other means of transportation which contains or 

carries a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance. 

(d) Public record means the NPDES permit application or the NPDES permit itself and the materials 

comprising the administrative record for the permit decision specified in §124.18 of this chapter. 

(e) National Pretreatment Standard or Pretreatment Standard means any regulation containing pollutant 

discharge limits promulgated by the EPA in accordance with section 307 (b) and (c) of the Act, which 

applies to industrial users of a publicly owned treatment works. It further means any State or local 

pretreatment requirement applicable to a discharge and which is incorporated into a permit issued to a 

publicly owned treatment works under section 402 of the Act. 

(f) Publicly Owned Treatment Works or POTW means a treatment works as defined by section 212 of 

the Act, which is owned by a State or municipality (as defined by section 502(4) of the Act). This 

definition includes any sewers that convey wastewater to such a treatment works, but does not include 

pipes, sewers or other conveyances not connected to a facility providing treatment. The term also 

means the municipality as defined in section 502(4) of the Act, which has jurisdiction over the indirect 

discharges to and the discharges from such a treatment works. 

(g) Remove or removal refers to removal of the oil or hazardous substances from the water and 

shoreline or the taking of such other actions as may be necessary to minimize or mitigate damage to the 

public health or welfare, including, but not limited to, fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public and private 

property, shorelines, and beaches. 

(h) Contiguous zone means the entire zone established by the United States under Article 24 of the 

Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone. 

(i) Navigable waters means “waters of the United States, including the territorial seas.” This term 

includes: 

(1) All waters which are currently used, were used in the past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate 

or foreign commerce, including all waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide; 

(2) Interstate waters, including interstate wetlands; 

(3) All other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams, (including intermittent streams), mudflats, 

sandflats, and wetlands, the use, degradation or destruction of which would affect or could affect 

interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters: 

(i) Which are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for recreational or other purposes; 

(ii) From which fish or shellfish are or could be taken and sold in interstate or foreign commerce; 

(iii) Which are used or could be used for industrial purposes by industries in interstate commerce; 

(4) All impoundments of waters otherwise defined as navigable waters under this paragraph; 

(5) Tributaries of waters identified in paragraphs (i) (1) through (4) of this section, including adjacent 

wetlands; and 

(6) Wetlands adjacent to waters identified in paragraphs (i) (1) through (5) of this section (“Wetlands” 

means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and 

duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of 

vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally included playa lakes, 

swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas such as sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, prairie river 

overflows, mudflats, and natural ponds): Provided, That waste treatment systems (other than cooling 

ponds meeting the criteria of this paragraph) are not waters of the United States. 

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Navigable waters do not include prior converted cropland. Notwithstanding the determination of an 

area's status as prior converted cropland by any other federal agency, for the purposes of the Clean 

Water Act, the final authority regarding Clean Water Act jurisdiction remains with EPA. 

(j) Process waste water means any water which, during manufacturing or processing, comes into direct 

contact with or results from the production or use of any raw material, intermediate product, finished 

product, byproduct, or waste product. 

[44 FR 50776, Aug. 29, 1979, as amended at 58 FR 45039, Aug. 25, 1993; 65 FR 30904, May 15, 2000] 

§ 117.2 Abbreviations. 

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NPDES equals National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. RQ equals reportable quantity. 

§ 117.3 Determination of reportable quantities. 

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Each substance in Table 117.3 that is listed in Table 302.4, 40 CFR part 302, is assigned the reportable 

quantity listed in Table 302.4 for that substance. 

Table 117.3—Reportable Quantities of Hazardous Substances Designated Pursuant to Section 311 of 

the Clean Water Act 

Note: The first number under the column headed “RQ” is the reportable quantity in pounds. 

The number in parentheses is the metric equivalent in kilograms. For convenience, the table 

contains a column headed “Category” which lists the code letters “X”, “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” 

associated with reportable quantities of 1, 10, 100, 1000, and 5000 pounds, respectively.

Table 117.3—Reportable Quantities of Hazardous Substances Designated Pursuant to Section 

311 of the Clean Water Act 

Material Category

RQ in pounds 

(kilograms)

Acetaldehyde C 1,000 (454)

Acetic acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Acetic anhydride D 5,000 (2,270)

Acetone cyanohydrin A 10 (4.54)

Acetyl bromide D 5,000 (2,270)

Acetyl chloride D 5,000 (2,270)

Acrolein X 1 (0.454)

Acrylonitrile B 100 (45.4)

Adipic acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Aldrin X 1 (0.454)

Allyl alcohol B 100 (45.4)

Allyl chloride C 1,000 (454)

Aluminum sulfate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonia B 100 (45.4)

Ammonium acetate D 5,000 (2,270)

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Ammonium benzoate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium bicarbonate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium bichromate A 10 (4.54)

Ammonium bifluoride B 100 (45.4)

Ammonium bisulfite D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium carbamate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium carbonate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium chloride D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium chromate A 10 (4.54)

Ammonium citrate dibasic D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium fluoborate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium fluoride B 100 (45.4)

Ammonium hydroxide C 1,000 (454)

Ammonium oxalate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium silicofluoride C 1,000 (454)

Ammonium sulfamate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium sulfide B 100 (45.4)

Ammonium sulfite D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium tartrate D 5,000 (2,270)

Ammonium thiocyanate D 5,000 (2,270)

Amyl acetate D 5,000 (2,270)

Aniline D 5,000 (2,270)

Antimony pentachloride C 1,000 (454)

Antimony potassium tartrate B 100 (45.4)

Antimony tribromide C 1,000 (454)

Antimony trichloride C 1,000 (454)

Antimony trifluoride C 1,000 (454)

Antimony trioxide C 1,000 (454)

Arsenic disulfide X 1 (0.454)

Arsenic pentoxide X 1 (0.454)

Arsenic trichloride X 1 (0.454)

Arsenic trioxide X 1 (0.454)

Arsenic trisulfide X 1 (0.454)

Barium cyanide A 10 (4.54)

Benzene A 10 (4.54)

Benzoic acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Benzonitrile D 5,000 (2,270)

Benzoyl chloride C 1,000 (454)

Benzyl chloride B 100 (45.4)

Beryllium chloride X 1 (0.454)

Beryllium fluoride X 1 (0.454)

Beryllium nitrate X 1 (0.454)

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Butyl acetate D 5,000 (2,270)

Butylamine C 1,000 (454)

n-Butyl phthalate A 10 (4.54)

Butyric acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Cadmium acetate A 10 (4.54)

Cadmium bromide A 10 (4.54)

Cadmium chloride A 10 (4.54)

Calcium arsenate X 1 (0.454)

Calcium arsenite X 1 (0.454)

Calcium carbide A 10 (4.54)

Calcium chromate A 10 (4.54)

Calcium cyanide A 10 (4.54)

Calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate C 1,000 (454)

Calcium hypochlorite A 10 (4.54)

Captan A 10 (4.54)

Carbaryl B 100 (45.4)

Carbofuran A 10 (4.54)

Carbon disulfide B 100 (45.4)

Carbon tetrachloride A 10 (4.54)

Chlordane X 1 (0.454)

Chlorine A 10 (4.54)

Chlorobenzene B 100 (45.4)

Chloroform A 10 (4.54)

Chlorosulfonic acid C 1,000 (454)

Chlorpyrifos X 1 (0.454)

Chromic acetate C 1,000 (454)

Chromic acid A 10 (4.54)

Chromic sulfate C 1,000 (454)

Chromous chloride C 1,000 (454)

Cobaltous bromide C 1,000 (454)

Cobaltous formate C 1,000 (454)

Cobaltous sulfamate C 1,000 (454)

Coumaphos A 10 (4.54)

Cresol B 100 (45.4)

Crotonaldehyde B 100 (45.4)

Cupric acetate B 100 (45.4)

Cupric acetoarsenite X 1 (0.454)

Cupric chloride A 10 (4.54)

Cupric nitrate B 100 (45.4)

Cupric oxalate B 100 (45.4)

Cupric sulfate A 10 (4.54)

Cupric sulfate, ammoniated B 100 (45.4)

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Cupric tartrate B 100 (45.4)

Cyanogen chloride A 10 (4.54)

Cyclohexane C 1,000 (454)

2,4-D Acid B 100 (45.4)

2,4-D Esters B 100 (45.4)

DDT X 1 (0.454)

Diazinon X 1 (0.454)

Dicamba C 1,000 (454)

Dichlobenil B 100 (45.4)

Dichlone X 1 (0.454)

Dichlorobenzene B 100 (45.4)

Dichloropropane C 1,000 (454)

Dichloropropene B 100 (45.4)

Dichloropropene-Dichloropropane 

(mixture)

B 100 (45.4)

2,2-Dichloropropionic acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Dichlorvos A 10 (4.54)

Dicofol A 10 (4.54)

Dieldrin X 1 (0.454)

Diethylamine B 100 (45.4)

Dimethylamine C 1,000 (454)

Dinitrobenzene (mixed) B 100 (45.4)

Dinitrophenol A 10 (45.4)

Dinitrotoluene A 10 (4.54)

Diquat C 1,000 (454)

Disulfoton X 1 (0.454)

Diuron B 100 (45.4)

Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid C 1,000 (454)

Endosulfan X 1 (0.454)

Endrin X 1 (0.454)

Epichlorohydrin B 100 (45.4)

Ethion A 10 (4.54)

Ethylbenzene C 1,000 (454)

Ethylenediamine D 5,000 (2,270)

Ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) D 5,000 (2,270)

Ethylene dibromide X 1 (0.454)

Ethylene dichloride B 100 (45.4)

Ferric ammonium citrate C 1,000 (454)

Ferric ammonium oxalate C 1,000 (454)

Ferric chloride C 1,000 (454)

Ferric fluoride B 100 (45.4)

Ferric nitrate C 1,000 (454)

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Ferric sulfate C 1,000 (454)

Ferrous ammonium sulfate C 1,000 (454)

Ferrous chloride B 100 (45.4)

Ferrous sulfate C 1,000 (454)

Formaldehyde B 100 (45.4)

Formic acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Fumaric acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Furfural D 5,000 (2,270)

Guthion X 1 (0.454)

Heptachlor X 1 (0.454)

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene A 10 (4.54)

Hydrochloric acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Hydrofluoric acid B 100 (45.4)

Hydrogen cyanide A 10 (4.54)

Hydrogen sulfide B 100 (45.4)

Isoprene B 100 (45.4)

Isopropanolamine 

dodecylbenzenesulfonate

C 1,000 (454)

Kepone X 1 (0.454)

Lead acetate A 10 (4.54)

Lead arsenate X 1 (0.454)

Lead chloride A 10 (4.54)

Lead fluoborate A 10 (4.54)

Lead fluoride A 10 (4.54)

Lead iodide A 10 (4.54)

Lead nitrate A 10 (4.54)

Lead stearate A 10 (4.54)

Lead sulfate A 10 (4.54)

Lead sulfide A 10 (4.54)

Lead thiocyanate A 10 (4.54)

Lindane X 1 (0.454)

Lithium chromate A 10 (4.54)

Malathion B 100 (45.4)

Maleic acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Maleic anhydride D 5,000 (2,270)

Mercaptodimethur A 10 (4.54)

Mercuric cyanide X 1 (0.454)

Mercuric nitrate A 10 (4.54)

Mercuric sulfate A 10 (4.54)

Mercuric thiocyanate A 10 (4.54)

Mercurous nitrate A 10 (4.54)

Methoxychlor X 1 (0.454)

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Methyl mercaptan B 100 (45.4)

Methyl methacrylate C 1,000 (454)

Methyl parathion B 100 (45.4)

Mevinphos A 10 (4.54)

Mexacarbate C 1,000 (454)

Monoethylamine B 100 (45.4)

Monomethylamine B 100 (45.4)

Naled A 10 (4.54)

Naphthalene B 100 (45.4)

Naphthenic acid B 100 (45.4)

Nickel ammonium sulfate B 100 (45.4)

Nickel chloride B 100 (45.4)

Nickel hydroxide A 10 (4.54)

Nickel nitrate B 100 (45.4)

Nickel sulfate B 100 (45.4)

Nitric acid C 1,000 (454)

Nitrobenzene C 1,000 (454)

Nitrogen dioxide A 10 (4.54)

Nitrophenol (mixed) B 100 (45.4)

Nitrotoluene C 1,000 (454)

Paraformaldehyde C 1,000 (454)

Parathion A 10 (4.54)

Pentachlorophenol A 10 (4.54)

Phenol C 1,000 (454)

Phosgene A 10 (4.54)

Phosphoric acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Phosphorus X 1 (0.454)

Phosphorus oxychloride C 1,000 (454)

Phosphorus pentasulfide B 100 (45.4)

Phosphorus trichloride C 1,000 (454)

Polychlorinated biphenyls X 1 (0.454)

Potassium arsenate X 1 (0.454)

Potassium arsenite X 1 (0.454)

Potassium bichromate A 10 (4.54)

Potassium chromate A 10 (4.54)

Potassium cyanide A 10 (4.54)

Potassium hydroxide C 1,000 (454)

Potassium permanganate B 100 (45.4)

Propargite A 10 (4.54)

Propionic acid D 5,000 (2,270)

Propionic anhydride D 5,000 (2,270)

Propylene oxide B 100 (45.4)

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Pyrethrins X 1 (0.454)

Quinoline D 5,000 (2,270)

Resorcinol D 5,000 (2,270)

Selenium oxide A 10 (4.54)

Silver nitrate X 1 (0.454)

Sodium A 10 (4.54)

Sodium arsenate X 1 (0.454)

Sodium arsenite X 1 (0.454)

Sodium bichromate A 10 (4.54)

Sodium bifluoride B 100 (45.4)

Sodium bisulfite D 5,000 (2,270)

Sodium chromate A 10 (4.54)

Sodium cyanide A 10 (4.54)

Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate C 1,000 (454)

Sodium fluoride C 1,000 (454)

Sodium hydrosulfide D 5,000 (2,270)

Sodium hydroxide C 1,000 (454)

Sodium hypochlorite B 100 (45.4)

Sodium methylate C 1,000 (454)

Sodium nitrite B 100 (45.4)

Sodium phosphate, dibasic D 5,000 (2,270)

Sodium phosphate, tribasic D 5,000 (2,270)

Sodium selenite B 100 (45.4)

Strontium chromate A 10 (4.54)

Strychnine A 10 (4.54)

Styrene C 1,000 (454)

Sulfuric acid C 1,000 (454)

Sulfur monochloride C 1,000 (454)

2,4,5-T acid C 1,000 (454)

2,4,5-T amines D 5,000 (2,270)

2,4,5-T esters C 1,000 (454)

2,4,5-T salts C 1,000 (454)

TDE X 1 (0.454)

2,4,5-TP acid B 100 (45.4)

2,4,5-TP acid esters B 100 (45.4)

Tetraethyl lead A 10 (4.54)

Tetraethyl pyrophosphate A 10 (4.54)

Thallium sulfate B 100 (45.4)

Toluene C 1,000 (454)

Toxaphene X 1 (0.454)

Trichlorfon B 100 (45.4)

Trichloroethylene B 100 (45.4)

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[50 FR 13513, Apr. 4, 1985, as amended at 51 FR 34547, Sept. 29, 1986; 54 FR 33482, Aug. 14, 1989; 

58 FR 35327, June 30, 1993; 60 FR 30937, June 12, 1995] 

Subpart B—Applicability 

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§ 117.11 General applicability. 

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This regulation sets forth a determination of the reportable quantity for each substance designated as 

Trichlorophenol A 10 (4.54)

Triethanolamine 

dodecylbenzenesulfonate

C 1,000 (454)

Triethylamine D 5,000 (2,270)

Trimethylamine B 100 (45.4)

Uranyl acetate B 100 (45.4)

Uranyl nitrate B 100 (45.4)

Vanadium pentoxide C 1,000 (454)

Vanadyl sulfate C 1,000 (454)

Vinyl acetate D 5,000 (2,270)

Vinylidene chloride B 100 (45.4)

Xylene (mixed) B 100 (45.4)

Xylenol C 1,000 (454)

Zinc acetate C 1,000 (454)

Zinc ammonium chloride C 1,000 (454)

Zinc borate C 1,000 (454)

Zinc bromide C 1,000 (454)

Zinc carbonate C 1,000 (454)

Zinc chloride C 1,000 (454)

Zinc cyanide A 10 (4.54)

Zinc fluoride C 1,000 (454)

Zinc formate C 1,000 (454)

Zinc hydrosulfite C 1,000 (454)

Zinc nitrate C 1,000 (454)

Zinc phenolsulfonate D 5,000 (2,270)

Zinc phosphide B 100 (45.4)

Zinc silicofluoride D 5,000 (2,270)

Zinc sulfate C 1,000 (454)

Zirconium nitrate D 5,000 (2,270)

Zirconium potassium fluoride C 1,000 (454)

Zirconium sulfate D 5,000 (2,270)

Zirconium tetrachloride D 5,000 (2,270)

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hazardous in 40 CFR part 116. The regulation applies to quantities of designated substances equal to or 

greater than the reportable quantities, when discharged into or upon the navigable waters of the United 

States, adjoining shorelines, into or upon the contiguous zone, or beyond the contiguous zone as 

provided in section 311(b)(3) of the Act, except to the extent that the owner or operator can show such 

that discharges are made: 

(a) In compliance with a permit issued under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 

1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq. ); 

(b) In compliance with approved water treatment plant operations as specified by local or State 

regulations pertaining to safe drinking water; 

(c) Pursuant to the label directions for application of a pesticide product registered under section 3 or 

section 24 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 

136 et seq. ), or pursuant to the terms and conditions of an experimental use permit issued under 

section 5 of FIFRA, or pursuant to an exemption granted under section 18 of FIFRA; 

(d) In compliance with the regulations issued under section 3004 or with permit conditions issued 

pursuant to section 3005 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (90 Stat. 2795; 42 U.S.C. 

6901); 

(e) In compliance with instructions of the On-Scene Coordinator pursuant to 40 CFR part 1510 (the 

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Plan) or 33 CFR 153.10(e) (Pollution by Oil and 

Hazardous Substances) or in accordance with applicable removal regulations as required by section 311

(j)(1)(A); 

(f) In compliance with a permit issued under §165.7 of Title 14 of the State of California Administrative 

Code; 

(g) From a properly functioning inert gas system when used to provide inert gas to the cargo tanks of a 

vessel; 

(h) From a permitted source and are excluded by §117.12 of this regulation; 

(i) To a POTW and are specifically excluded or reserved in §117.13; or 

(j) In compliance with a permit issued under section 404(a) of the Clean Water Act or when the 

discharges are exempt from such requirements by section 404(f) or 404(r) of the Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(a), 

(f), (r)). 

§ 117.12 Applicability to discharges from facilities with NPDES permits. 

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(a) This regulation does not apply to: 

(1) Discharges in compliance with a permit under section 402 of this Act; 

(2) Discharges resulting from circumstances identified, reviewed and made a part of the public record 

with respect to a permit issued or modified under section 402 of this Act, and subject to a condition in 

such permit; 

(3) Continuous or anticipated intermittent discharges from a point source, identified in a permit or permit 

application under section 402 of this Act, which are caused by events occurring within the scope of the 

relevant operating or treatment systems; or 

(b) A discharge is “in compliance with a permit issued under section 402 of this Act” if the permit 

contains an effluent limitation specifically applicable to the substance discharged or an effluent limitation 

applicable to another waste parameter which has been specifically identified in the permit as intended to 

limit such substance, and the discharge is in compliance with the effluent limitation. 

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(c) A discharge results “from circumstances identified, reviewed and made a part of the public record 

with respect to a permit issued or modified under section 402 of the Act, and subject to a condition in 

such permit,” whether or not the discharge is in compliance with the permit, where: 

(1) The permit application, the permit, or another portion of the public record contains documents that 

specifically identify: 

(i) The substance and the amount of the substance; and 

(ii) The origin and source of the substance; and 

(iii) The treatment which is to be provided for the discharge either by: 

(A) An on-site treatment system separate from any treatment system treating the permittee's normal 

discharge; or 

(B) A treatment system designed to treat the permittee's normal discharge and which is additionally 

capable of treating the identified amount of the identified substance; or 

(C) Any combination of the above; and 

(2) The permit contains a requirement that the substance and amounts of the substance, as identified in 

§117.12(c)(1)(i) and §117.12(c)(1)(ii) be treated pursuant to §117.12(c)(1)(iii) in the event of an on-site 

release; and 

(3) The treatment to be provided is in place. 

(d) A discharge is a “continuous or anticipated intermittent discharge from a point source, identified in a 

permit or permit application under section 402 of this Act, and caused by events occurring within the 

scope of the relevant operating or treatment systems,” whether or not the discharge is in compliance 

with the permit, if: 

(1) The hazardous substance is discharged from a point source for which a valid permit exists or for 

which a permit application has been submitted; and 

(2) The discharge of the hazardous substance results from: 

(i) The contamination of noncontact cooling water or storm water, provided that such cooling water or 

storm water is not contaminated by an on-site spill of a hazardous substance; or 

(ii) A continuous or anticipated intermittent discharge of process waste water, and the discharge 

originates within the manufacturing or treatment systems; or 

(iii) An upset or failure of a treatment system or of a process producing a continuous or anticipated 

intermittent discharge where the upset or failure results from a control problem, an operator error, a 

system failure or malfunction, an equipment or system startup or shutdown, an equipment wash, or a 

production schedule change, provided that such upset or failure is not caused by an on-site spill of a 

hazardous substance. 

[44 FR 50776, Aug. 29, 1979, as amended at 44 FR 58910, Oct. 12, 1979] 

§ 117.13 Applicability to discharges from publicly owned treatment works and their 

users. 

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(a) [Reserved] 

(b) These regulations apply to all discharges of reportable quantities to a POTW, where the discharge 

originates from a mobile source, except where such source has contracted with, or otherwise received 

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written permission from the owners or operators of the POTW to discharge that quantity, and the mobile 

source can show that prior to accepting the substance from an industrial discharger, the substance had 

been treated to comply with any effluent limitation under sections 301, 302 or 306 or pretreatment 

standard under section 307 applicable to that facility. 

§ 117.14 Demonstration projects. 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 

Agency may, on a case-by-case basis, allow the discharge of designated hazardous substances in 

connection with research or demonstration projects relating to the prevention, control, or abatement of 

hazardous substance pollution. The Administrator will allow such a discharge only where he determines 

that the expected environmental benefit from such a discharge will outweigh the potential hazard 

associated with the discharge. 

Subpart C—Notice of Discharge of a Reportable Quantity 

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§ 117.21 Notice. 

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Any person in charge of a vessel or an onshore or an offshore facility shall, as soon as he has 

knowledge of any discharge of a designated hazardous substance from such vessel or facility in 

quantities equal to or exceeding in any 24-hour period the reportable quantity determined by this part, 

immediately notify the appropriate agency of the United States Government of such discharge. Notice 

shall be given in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary of Transportation has set forth in 33 

CFR 153.203. This provision applies to all discharges not specifically excluded or reserved by another 

section of these regulations. 

§ 117.23 Liabilities for removal. 

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In any case where a substance designated as hazardous in 40 CFR part 116 is discharged from any 

vessel or onshore or offshore facility in a quantity equal to or exceeding the reportable quantity 

determined by this part, the owner, operator or person in charge will be liable, pursuant to section 311 (f) 

and (g) of the Act, to the United States Government for the actual costs incurred in the removal of such 

substance, subject only to the defenses and monetary limitations enumerated in section 311 (f) and (g) 

of the Act. 

The Administrator may act to mitigate the damage to the public health or welfare caused by a discharge 

and the cost of such mitigation shall be considered a cost incurred under section 311(c) for the removal 

of that substance by the United States Government. 

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