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 

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

Vessels Less Than 79 Feet (sVGP) 

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 Vessels Less 

Than 79 Feet (Small Vessel General Permit) pursuant to certification under Section 401 of the 

Clean Water Act. The Small Vessel General Permit as drafted covers discharges from any nonrecreational, non-military vessel less than 79 feet in length, 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 Small Vessel 

General Permit will comply with Illinois Water Quality Standards pursuant to Section 401 of the 

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 Small Vessel General Permit shall be consistent with the 

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

2. No effluent from any vessel covered by the Small 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. 

3. The discharge from any vessel covered by the Small 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. 

4302 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61103 (815)987-7760 9511 Harrison St., Des Plaines, IL 60016 (847)294-4000 

595 S. State, Elgin, IL 60123 (847)608-3131 5407 N. University St., Arbor 1 13, Peoria, IL 61614 (309)693-5462 

2125 S. First St., Champaign, IL 61820 (217)278-5800 2309 W . Main St., Suite 116, Marion, IL 62959 (618)993-7200 

2009 Mall St., Collinsville, IL 62234 (618)346-5120 100 W . Randolph, Suite 11-300, Chicago, IL 60601 (312)814-6026 

PLEASE PRINT O N RECYCLED PAPER 
4. No bilge or ballast water from vessels covered by the Small Vessel General Permit which 

fails to meet the effluent standards of Part 304 shall be discharged to waters of the State 

pursuant to 35 111. Adm. Code 308.103. 

5. 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 Small 

Vessel General Permit, the IEPA will review the new or modified Small 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. 

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

Disposal of Wastes from Watercraft. 

7. 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. 

8. All discharges to Waters ofthe State from vessels covered by the Small 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. 

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