NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Notice No. BWC:11041501.bah

Public Notice Beginning Date: June 3, 2011

Public Notice Ending Date: July 5, 2011

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

Permit Program

Draft Reissued NPDES Permit to Discharge into Waters of the State

Public Notice/Fact Sheet Issued By:

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Bureau of Water, 

Division of Water Pollution Control

Permit Section

1021 North Grand Avenue East

Post Office Box 19276

Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276

217/782-0610

Name and Address of Discharger:

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.

800 Stevens Port Drive, Suite 709

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota 57049

Name and Address of Facility:

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.

Highway 92

P.O. Box 28

Geneseo, Illinois 61254

(Rock Island County)

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has made a tentative determination to issue a NPDES permit to discharge into the 

waters of the state and has prepared a draft permit and associated fact sheet for the above named discharger. The Public Notice period 

will begin and end on the dates indicated in the heading of this Public Notice/Fact Sheet. The last day comments will be received will be 

on the Public Notice period ending date unless a commentor demonstrating the need for additional time requests an extension to this 

comment period and the request is granted by the IEPA. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the draft permit to 

the IEPA at the above address. Commentors shall provide his or her name and address and the nature of the issues proposed to be 

raised and the evidence proposed to be presented with regards to those issues. Commentors may include a request for public hearing. 

Persons submitting comments and/or requests for public hearing shall also send a copy of such comments or requests to the permit 

applicant. The NPDES permit and notice number(s) must appear on each comment page.

The application, engineer's review notes including load limit calculations, Public Notice/Fact Sheet, draft permit, comments received, and 

other documents are available for inspection and may be copied at the IEPA between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday 

when scheduled by the interested person.

If written comments or requests indicate a significant degree of public interest in the draft permit, the permitting authority may, at its 

discretion, hold a public hearing. Public notice will be given 45 days before any public hearing. Response to comments will be provided 

when the final permit is issued. For further information, please call Brian Cox at 217/782-0610.

The applicant is engaged in the operation of an existing beef slaughter and processing plant with associated rendering activities. A 

through-the-blue leather tanning operation is located at the facility site (SIC 2011, 2077, 3111, and 4222). Waste water is generated from 

the following processes and/or areas: slaughter, processing and rendering, boilers, BPI, yards washing, lab, PBX and freezer, hides 

cleaning/curing, tannery, tannery (beamhouse), sanitary, biogas condensate, evaporative condenser, and storm water. Plant operation 

results in an average discharge of 3.17 MGD of treated process waste, boiler blowdown, sanitary wastewater, miscellaneous wastes, 

stormwater, and cooling water from outfall 001.
Public Notice/Fact Sheet -- Page 2 -- NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Application is made for the existing discharge(s) which is located in Rock Island County, Illinois. The following information identifies the 

discharge point, receiving stream and stream classifications:

Outfall Receiving Stream Latitude Longitude

Stream

Classification

Integrity

Rating

001 Rock River 41° 32′ 13′′ North 90° 13′ 18′′ West General Use Not Rated

To assist you further in identifying the location of the discharge please see the attached map.

The stream segment receiving the discharge from outfall(s) 001 is on the partially approved 2008 and on the draft 2010 year; 303 (d) list 

of impaired waters, and is a biologically significant stream. 

The following parameters have been identified as the pollutants causing impairment:

Potential Causes Designated Use

Mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls Fish Consumption

The discharge(s) from the facility shall be monitored and limited at all times as follows:

Outfall: 001

LOAD LIMITS lbs/day

DAF (DMF)

CONCENTRATION

LIMITS mg/L

PARAMETER

30 DAY

AVERAGE

DAILY

MAXIMUM REGULATION

30 DAY 

AVERAGE

DAILY

MAXIMUM REGULATION

Flow (MGD) Monitor Only

pH Shall be within the range of 

6.0-9.0

35 IAC 304.125

and 40 CFR 425

CBOD5 529 1,301 35 IAC 304.120 20 40 35 IAC 304.120

Total Suspended Solids 661 1,626 35 IAC 304.120 25 50 35 IAC 304.120

Oil and Grease 431 897 40 CFR 425 and 

40 CFR 432 15 30 35 IAC 304.124

Iron (total) 52.9 130 35 IAC 304.124 2.0 4.0 35 IAC 304.124

Chromium (Total) 5.67 15.1 40 CFR 425 1.0 2.0 35 IAC 304.124

Total Residual Chlorine 0.05 40 CFR 125.3

Fecal Coliform 35 IAC 304.121 400/100 mL 35 IAC 304.121

and 40 CFR 432

Ammonia Nitrogen (as N)

June-August 101 35 IAC 302.212 and 35 IAC 355 3.1 35 IAC 302.212 and 35 IAC 355

November-February 104 35 IAC 302.212 

and 35 IAC 355 3.2 35 IAC 302.212 and 35 IAC 355

Mar.-May/Sept.-Oct. 107 35 IAC 302.212 

and 35 IAC 355 3.3 35 IAC 302.212 and 35 IAC 355

Nitrogen (as N), Total 3,543 6,310 40 CFR 432 134 194 40 CFR 432

Chloride Monitor Only

Sulfate Monitor Only

Phosphorus (as P), Total Monitor Only
Public Notice/Fact Sheet -- Page 3 -- NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Load Limit Calculations:

A. Load limit calculations for the following pollutant parameters were based on an average flow of 3.17 MGD and a maximum flow of 3.9 

MGD and using the formula of average or maximum flow (MGD) X concentration limit (mg/l) X 8.34 = the average or maximum load 

limit (lbs/day): CBOD5, Total Suspended solids, Iron (Total), Total Nitrogen and Ammonia Nitrogen (as N).

B. Production based load limits were calculated by multiplying the average production by the effluent limit contained in 40 CFR 432 and 

425. Production figures utilized in these calculations for the following subcategories are as follows:

Subcategory Production Rate

Part 432 Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category

Subpart B Complex Slaughterhouse Subcategory 

Maximum LWK (on-site slaughter) = 3,950,000 lbs LWK

Maximum ELWK (off-site slaughter) = 1,394,000 lbs 

ELWK

Part 425 Leather Tanning and Finishing Point Source Category

Subpart F Through-the-Blue Subcategory

189,000 lbs of hide per day

Oil and Grease and Chromium (Total) were limited using Federal production based load limits. 

The following sample calculation shows the methodology utilized to determine production based load limitations:

40 CFR 432.22(b)(2)

BOD5: Daily Max = 3,950,000 lbs LWK x 0.42 lbs BOD/1,000 lbs LWK = 1,659 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 3,950,000 lbs LWK x 0.21 lbs BOD/1,000 lbs LWK = 830 lbs/day

TSS: Daily Max = 3,950,000 lbs LWK x 0.50 lbs TSS/1,000 lbs LWK = 1,975 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 3,950,000 lbs LWK x 0.25 lbs TSS/1,000 lbs LWK = 988 lbs/day

Oil & Grease: Daily Max = 3,950,000 lbs LWK x 0.16 lbs O&G/1,000 lbs LWK = 632 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 3,950,000 lbs LWK x 0.08 lbs O&G/1,000 lbs LWK = 316 lbs/day

40 CFR 432.22(b)(2)

BOD5: Daily Max = 1,394,000 lbs ELWK x 0.04 lbs BOD/1,000 lbs ELWK= 56 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 1,394,000 lbs ELWK x 0.02 lbs BOD/1,000 lbs ELWK= 28 lbs/day

TSS: Daily Max = 1,394,000 lbs ELWK x 0.08 lbs TSS/1,000 lbs ELWK= 112 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 1,394,000 lbs ELWK x 0.04 lbs BOD/1,000 lbs ELWK= 56 lbs/day

40 CFR 425.60

BOD5: Daily Max =189,000 lbs raw x 3.2 lbs BOD/1,000 lbs raw = 604.8 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 189,000 lbs raw x 1.5 lbs BOD/1,000 lbs raw = 283.5 lbs/day

TSS: Daily Max =189,000 lbs raw x 4.7 lbs TSS/1,000 lbs raw = 888.3 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 189,000 lbs raw x 2.1 lbs TSS/1,000 lbs raw = 396.9 lbs/day

Oil & Grease: Daily Max =189,000 lbs raw x 1.4 lbs O&G/1,000 lbs raw = 264.6 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 189,000 lbs raw x 0.61 lbs O&G/1,000 lbs raw = 115.3 lbs/day

Total Chromium: Daily Max =189,000 lbs raw x 0.08 lbs Cr/1,000 lbs raw = 15.1 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 189,000 lbs raw x 0.03 lbs Cr/1,000 lbs raw = 5.67 lbs/day
Public Notice/Fact Sheet -- Page 4 -- NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Total Load Limit based on the above federal categorical standards:

BOD5: Daily Max=1,659+56+605 = 2,320 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 830+28+284 = 1,142 lbs/day

TSS: Daily Max = 1,975+112+888 = 2,975 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 988+56+397 = 1,441 lbs/day

Oil & Grease: Daily Max = 632+265 = 897 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 316+115 = 431 lbs/day

Total Chromium: Daily Max = 15.1 lbs/day

30-Day Ave = 5.67 lbs/day

The load limits appearing in the permit will be the more stringent of the State and Federal Guidelines.

The following explain the conditions of the proposed permit:

The special conditions of this permit clarify metals monitoring requirements, biomonitoring requirements, stormwater monitoring 

requirements, reporting requirements, treatment by-pass requirements, schedules of compliance and other sampling requirements.
Public Notice of Draft Permit

Public Notice Number BWC:11041501.bah is hereby given by Illinois EPA, Division of Water Pollution Control, Permit Section, 1021 North 

Grand Avenue East, Post Office Box 19276, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276 (herein Agency) that a draft National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Number IL0003913 has been prepared under 40 CFR 124.6(d) for Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., 800 

Stevens Port Drive, Suite 709, Dakota Dunes, South Dakota 57049 for discharge into the Rock River from the Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., 

Highway 92, P.O. Box 28, Geneseo, Illinois 61254, (Rock Island County). The applicant is a cattle slaughtering facility which processes 

carcasses into primal and subprimal cuts. Associated activities include rendering, offal and hide processing which includes 

Through-The-Blue Chrome tanning (SIC Codes 2011, 2077, 3111 and 4222). Treated sanitary waste, process waste, boiler blowdown, 

miscellaneous wastes, stormwater and cooling water are discharged at an average rate of 3.17 MGD to the Rock River. 

The application, draft permit and other documents are available for inspection and may be copied at the Agency between 9:30 a.m. and 

3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A Fact Sheet containing more detailed information is available at no charge. For further information, 

call the Public Notice Clerk at 217/782-0610.

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the draft permit to the Agency at the above address. The NPDES Permit 

and Joint Public Notice numbers must appear on each comment page. All comments received by the Agency not later than 30 days from 

the date of this publication shall be considered in making the final decision regarding permit issuance.

Any interested person may submit written request for a public hearing on the draft 

If written comments and/or requests indicate a significant degree of public interest in the draft permit, the permitting authority may, at its 

discretion, hold a public hearing. Public notice will be given 30 days before any public hearing.
NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Division of Water Pollution Control

1021 North Grand Avenue East

Post Office Box 19276

Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276

NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM

Reissued (NPDES) Permit

Expiration Date: Issue Date: 

Effective Date: 

Name and Address of Permittee:

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.

800 Stevens Port Drive, Suite 709

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota 57049

Facility Name and Address:

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.

Highway 92

P.O. Box 28

Geneseo, Illinois 61254

(Rock Island County)

Discharge Number and Name: Receiving Waters:

001 Treated Sanitary Waste, Process Waste, Boiler Blowdown, 

Miscellaneous Waste, Stormwater, and Cooling Water

Rock River

In compliance with the provisions of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Title 35 of Ill. Adm. Code, Subtitle C and/or Subtitle D, 

Chapter 1, and the Clean Water Act (CWA), the above-named permittee is hereby authorized to discharge at the above location to the 

above-named receiving stream in accordance with the standard conditions and attachments herein.

Permittee is not authorized to discharge after the above expiration date. In order to receive authorization to discharge beyond the 

expiration date, the permittee shall submit the proper application as required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) not 

later than 180 days prior to the expiration date.

Alan Keller, P.E.

Manager, Permit Section

Division of Water Pollution Control

SAK: BWC:11041501.bah
Page 2

NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Effluent Limitations and Monitoring

1. From the effective date of this permit until the expiration date, the effluent of the following discharge(s) shall be 

monitored and limited at all times as follows:

Outfall(s): 001 - Treated Sanitary Waste, Process Waste, Boiler Blowdown, Miscellaneous Waste, Stormwater, and 

Cooling Water (Average Flow = 3.17 MGD; Maximum Flow = 3.9 MGD)

LOAD LIMITS lbs/day

DAF (DMF)

CONCENTRATION

LIMITS mg/L

PARAMETER

30 DAY

AVERAGE

DAILY

MAXIMUM

30 DAY 

AVERAGE

DAILY

MAXIMUM

SAMPLE

FREQUENCY

SAMPLE

TYPE

Flow (MGD)* Monitor Only Daily Continuous

pH** Shall be within the range of 6.0-9.0 3/Week Grab

CBOD5 529 1,301 20 40 5/Week Composite

Total Suspended Solids 661 1,626 25 50 5/Week Composite

Oil and Grease 431 897 15 30 3/Week Composite

Iron (total) 52.9 130 2.0 4.0 3/Week Composite

Chromium (Total) 5.67 15.1 1.0 2.0 3/Week Composite

Total Residual Chlorine*** 1.32 1.63 0.05 1/Week Grab

Fecal Coliform † 400/100 mL 3/Week Grab

Ammonia Nitrogen (as N) †††

June-August 101 3.1 5/Week Composite

November-February 104 3.2 5/Week Composite

Mar.-May/Sept.-Oct. 107 3.3 5/Week Composite

Nitrogen (as N), Total †† 3,543 6,310 134 194 5/Week Composite

Chloride Monitor Only Monthly Composite

Sulfate Monitor Only Monthly Composite

Phosphorus (as P), Total Monitor Only Monthly Composite

* See Special Condition No. 9

** See Special Condition No. 1

*** See Special Condition No. 8

† See Special Condition No. 3

†† See Special Condition Nos.18 and 20

††† See Special Condition No. 20
Page 3

NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Special Conditions

SPECIAL CONDITION 1. The pH shall be in the range 6.0 to 9.0. The monthly minimum and monthly maximum values shall 

be reported on the DMR form.

SPECIAL CONDITION 2. All composite samples for oil, fats, and greases shall consist of sample aliquots of approximately 

equal volume, a minimum of 100 milliliters, be collected at regular time intervals over a 8 hour period (3 aliquots total). A single 

sample formed by combining all the aliquots, and the solvent rinse of the container, would then be analyzed. The results of the 

single analysis is then reported.

SPECIAL CONDITION 3. The daily maximum fecal coliform count shall not exceed 400 cfu per 100 ml.

SPECIAL CONDITION 4. Samples taken in compliance with the effluent monitoring requirements shall be taken at a point 

representative of the discharge, but prior to entry into the receiving stream.

SPECIAL CONDITION 5. The Permittee shall record monitoring results on Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Forms using 

one such form for each outfall each month.

In the event that an outfall does not discharge during a monthly reporting period, the DMR Form shall be submitted with no 

discharge indicated.

The Permittee may choose to submit electronic DMRs (eDMRs) instead of mailing paper DMRs to the IEPA. More information, 

including registration information for the eDMR program, can be obtained on the IEPA website, 

http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/edmr/index.html.

The completed Discharge Monitoring Report forms shall be submitted to IEPA no later than the 15th day of the following month, 

unless otherwise specified by the permitting authority.

Permittees not using eDMRs shall mail Discharge Monitoring Reports with an original signature to the IEPA at the following 

address:

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Division of Water Pollution Control

1021 North Grand Avenue East

Post Office Box 19276

Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276

Attention: Compliance Assurance Section, Mail Code # 19

SPECIAL CONDITION 6

STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN (SWPPP)

A. A storm water pollution prevention plan shall be maintained by the permittee for the storm water associated with industrial 

activity at this facility. The plan shall identify potential sources of pollution which may be expected to affect the quality of 

storm water discharges associated with the industrial activity at the facility. In addition, the plan shall describe and ensure 

the implementation of practices which are to be used to reduce the pollutants in storm water discharges associated with 

industrial activity at the facility and to assure compliance with the terms and conditions of this permit. The permittee shall 

modify the plan if substantive changes are made or occur affecting compliance with this condition.

1. Waters not classified as impaired pursuant to Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.

Unless otherwise specified by federal regulation, the storm water pollution prevention plan shall be designed for a storm 

event equal to or greater than a 25-year 24-hour rainfall event.

2. Waters classified as impaired pursuant to Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act

For any site which discharges directly to an impaired water identified in the Agency's 303(d) listing, and if any parameter 

in the subject discharge has been identified as the cause of impairment, the storm water pollution prevention plan shall 

be designed for a storm event equal to or greater than a 25-year 24-hour rainfall event. If required by federal 

regulations, the storm water pollution prevention plan shall adhere to a more restrictive design criteria.

B. The operator or owner of the facility shall make a copy of the plan available to the Agency at any reasonable time upon 

request.
Page 4

NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Special Conditions

Facilities which discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer system shall also make a copy available to the operator of 

the municipal system at any reasonable time upon request.

C. The permittee may be notified by the Agency at any time that the plan does not meet the requirements of this condition. 

After such notification, the permittee shall make changes to the plan and shall submit a written certification that the 

requested changes have been made. Unless otherwise provided, the permittee shall have 30 days after such notification 

to make the changes.

D. The discharger shall amend the plan whenever there is a change in construction, operation, or maintenance which may 

affect the discharge of significant quantities of pollutants to the waters of the State or if a facility inspection required by 

paragraph H of this condition indicates that an amendment is needed. The plan should also be amended if the discharger 

is in violation of any conditions of this permit, or has not achieved the general objective of controlling pollutants in storm 

water discharges. Amendments to the plan shall be made within 30 days of any proposed construction or operational 

changes at the facility, and shall be provided to the Agency for review upon request.

E. The plan shall provide a description of potential sources which may be expected to add significant quantities of pollutants to 

storm water discharges, or which may result in non-storm water discharges from storm water outfalls at the facility. The 

plan shall include, at a minimum, the following items:

1. A topographic map extending one-quarter mile beyond the property boundaries of the facility, showing: the facility, 

surface water bodies, wells (including injection wells), seepage pits, infiltration ponds, and the discharge points where 

the facility's storm water discharges to a municipal storm drain system or other water body. The requirements of this 

paragraph may be included on the site map if appropriate. Any map or portion of map may be withheld for security 

reasons.

2. A site map showing:

i. The storm water conveyance and discharge structures;

ii. An outline of the storm water drainage areas for each storm water discharge point;

iii. Paved areas and buildings;

iv. Areas used for outdoor manufacturing, storage, or disposal of significant materials, including activities that 

generate significant quantities of dust or particulates.

v. Location of existing storm water structural control measures (dikes, coverings, detention facilities, etc.);

vi. Surface water locations and/or municipal storm drain locations

vii. Areas of existing and potential soil erosion;

viii. Vehicle service areas;

ix. Material loading, unloading, and access areas.

x. Areas under items iv and ix above may be withheld from the site for security reasons.

3. A narrative description of the following:

i. The nature of the industrial activities conducted at the site, including a description of significant materials that are 

treated, stored or disposed of in a manner to allow exposure to storm water;

ii. Materials, equipment, and vehicle management practices employed to minimize contact of significant materials 

with storm water discharges;

iii. Existing structural and non-structural control measures to reduce pollutants in storm water discharges;

iv. Industrial storm water discharge treatment facilities;

v. Methods of onsite storage and disposal of significant materials.

4. A list of the types of pollutants that have a reasonable potential to be present in storm water discharges in significant 

quantities. Also provide a list of any pollutant that is listed as impaired in the most recent 303(d) report.
Page 5

NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Special Conditions

5. An estimate of the size of the facility in acres or square feet, and the percent of the facility that has impervious areas 

such as pavement or buildings.

6. A summary of existing sampling data describing pollutants in storm water discharges.

F. The plan shall describe the storm water management controls which will be implemented by the facility. The appropriate 

controls shall reflect identified existing and potential sources of pollutants at the facility. The description of the storm water 

management controls shall include:

1. Storm Water Pollution Prevention Personnel - Identification by job titles of the individuals who are responsible for 

developing, implementing, and revising the plan.

2. Preventive Maintenance - Procedures for inspection and maintenance of storm water conveyance system devices such 

as oil/water separators, catch basins, etc., and inspection and testing of plant equipment and systems that could fail 

and result in discharges of pollutants to storm water.

3. Good Housekeeping - Good housekeeping requires the maintenance of clean, orderly facility areas that discharge 

storm water. Material handling areas shall be inspected and cleaned to reduce the potential for pollutants to enter the 

storm water conveyance system.

4. Spill Prevention and Response - Identification of areas where significant materials can spill into or otherwise enter the 

storm water conveyance systems and their accompanying drainage points. Specific material handling procedures, 

storage requirements, spill cleanup equipment and procedures should be identified, as appropriate. Internal 

notification procedures for spills of significant materials should be established.

5. Storm Water Management Practices - Storm water management practices are practices other than those which control 

the source of pollutants. They include measures such as installing oil and grit separators, diverting storm water into 

retention basins, etc. Based on assessment of the potential of various sources to contribute pollutants, measures to 

remove pollutants from storm water discharge shall be implemented. In developing the plan, the following 

management practices shall be considered:

i. Containment - Storage within berms or other secondary containment devices to prevent leaks and spills from 

entering storm water runoff. To the maximum extent practicable storm water discharged from any area where 

material handling equipment or activities, raw material, intermediate products, final products, waste materials, 

by-products, or industrial machinery are exposed to storm water should not enter vegetated areas or surface 

waters or infiltrate into the soil unless adequate treatment is provided.

ii. Oil & Grease Separation - Oil/water separators, booms, skimmers or other methods to minimize oil contaminated 

storm water discharges.

iii. Debris & Sediment Control - Screens, booms, sediment ponds or other methods to reduce debris and sediment in 

storm water discharges.

iv. Waste Chemical Disposal - Waste chemicals such as antifreeze, degreasers and used oils shall be recycled or 

disposed of in an approved manner and in a way which prevents them from entering storm water discharges.

v. Storm Water Diversion - Storm water diversion away from materials manufacturing, storage and other areas of 

potential storm water contamination. Minimize the quantity of storm water entering areas where material handling 

equipment of activities, raw material, intermediate products, final products, waste materials, by-products, or 

industrial machinery are exposed to storm water using green infrastructure techniques where practicable in the 

areas outside the exposure area, and otherwise divert storm water away from exposure area.

vi. Covered Storage or Manufacturing Areas - Covered fueling operations, materials manufacturing and storage areas 

to prevent contact with storm water.

vii. Storm Water Reduction - Install vegetation on roofs of buildings within adjacent to the exposure area to detain and 

evapotranspirate runoff where precipitation falling on the roof is not exposed to contaminants, to minimize storm 

water runoff; capture storm water in devices that minimize the amount of storm water runoff and use this water as 

appropriate based on quality.

6. Sediment and Erosion Prevention - The plan shall identify areas which due to topography, activities, or other factors, 

have a high potential for significant soil erosion. The plan shall describe measures to limit erosion.
Page 6

NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Special Conditions

7. Employee Training - Employee training programs shall inform personnel at all levels of responsibility of the components 

and goals of the storm water pollution control plan. Training should address topics such as spill response, good 

housekeeping and material management practices. The plan shall identify periodic dates for such training.

8. Inspection Procedures - Qualified plant personnel shall be identified to inspect designated equipment and plant areas. 

A tracking or follow-up procedure shall be used to ensure appropriate response has been taken in response to an 

inspection. Inspections and maintenance activities shall be documented and recorded.

G. Non-Storm Water Discharge - The plan shall include a certification that the discharge has been tested or evaluated for the 

presence of non-storm water discharge. The certification shall include a description of any test for the presence of 

non-storm water discharges, the methods used, the dates of the testing, and any onsite drainage points that were observed 

during the testing. Any facility that is unable to provide this certification must describe the procedure of any test conducted 

for the presence of non-storm water discharges, the test results, potential sources of non-storm water discharges to the 

storm sewer, and why adequate tests for such storm sewers were not feasible.

H. Quarterly Visual Observation of Discharges - The requirements and procedures for quarterly visual observations are 

applicable to all outfalls covered by this condition.

1. You must perform and document a quarterly visual observation of a storm water discharge associated with industrial 

activity from each outfall. The visual observation must be made during daylight hours. If no storm event resulted in 

runoff during daylight hours from the facility during a monitoring quarter, you are excused from the visual observations 

requirement for that quarter, provided you document in your records that no runoff occurred. You must sign and certify 

the document.

2. Your visual observation must be made on samples collected as soon as practical, but not to exceed 1 hour or when the 

runoff or snow melt begins discharging from your facility. All samples must be collected from a storm event discharge 

that is greater than 0.1 inch in magnitude and that occurs at least 72 hours from the previously measureable (greater 

than 0.1 inch rainfall) storm event. The observation must document: color, odor, clarity, floating solids, settled solids, 

suspended solids, foam, oil sheen, and other obvious indicators of storm water pollution. If visual observations 

indicate any unnatural color, odor, turbidity, floatable material, oil sheen or other indicators of storm water pollution, the 

permittee shall obtain a sample and monitor for the parameter or the list of pollutants in Part E.4.

3. You must maintain your visual observation reports onsite with the SWPPP. The report must include the observation 

date and time, inspection personnel, nature of the discharge (i.e., runoff or snow melt), visual quality of the storm water 

discharge (including observations of color, odor, floating solids, settled solids, suspended solids, foam, oil sheen, and 

other obvious indicators of storm water pollution), and probable sources of any observed storm water contamination.

4. You may exercise a waiver of the visual observation requirement at a facility that is inactive or unstaffed, as long as 

there are no industrial materials or activities exposed to storm water. If you exercise this waiver, you must maintain a 

certification with your SWPPP stating that the site is inactive and unstaffed, and that there are no industrial materials or 

activities exposed to storm water.

5. Representative Outfalls - If your facility has two or more outfalls that you believe discharge substantially identical 

effluents, based on similarities of the industrial activities, significant materials, size of drainage areas, and storm water 

management practices occurring within the drainage areas of the outfalls, you may conduct visual observations of the 

discharge at just one of the outfalls and report that the results also apply to the substantially identical outfall(s).

6. The visual observation documentation shall be made available to the Agency and general public upon written request.

I. The permittee shall conduct an annual facility inspection to verify that all elements of the plan, including the site map, 

potential pollutant sources, and structural and non-structural controls to reduce pollutants in industrial storm water 

discharges are accurate. Observations that require a response and the appropriate response to the observation shall be 

retained as part of the plan. Records documenting significant observations made during the site inspection shall be 

submitted to the Agency in accordance with the reporting requirements of this permit.

J. This plan should briefly describe the appropriate elements of other program requirements, including Spill Prevention Control 

and Countermeasures (SPCC) plans required under Section 311 of the CWA and the regulations promulgated there under, 

and Best Management Programs under 40 CFR 125.100.

K. The plan is considered a report that shall be available to the public at any reasonable time upon request.

L. The plan shall include the signature and title of the person responsible for preparation of the plan and include the date of 

initial preparation and each amendment thereto.
Page 7

NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Special Conditions

M. Facilities which discharge storm water associated with industrial activity to municipal separate storm sewers may also be 

subject to additional requirement imposed by the operator of the municipal system

Construction Authorization

Authorization is hereby granted to construct treatment works and related equipment that may be required by the Storm Water 

Pollution Prevention Plan developed pursuant to this permit.

This Authorization is issued subject to the following condition(s).

N. If any statement or representation is found to be incorrect, this authorization may be revoked and the permittee there upon 

waives all rights there under.

O. The issuance of this authorization (a) does not release the permittee from any liability for damage to persons or property 

caused by or resulting from the installation, maintenance or operation of the proposed facilities; (b) does not take into 

consideration the structural stability of any units or part of this project; and (c) does not release the permittee from 

compliance with other applicable statutes of the State of Illinois, or other applicable local law, regulations or ordinances.

P. Plans and specifications of all treatment equipment being included as part of the stormwater management practice shall be 

included in the SWPPP.

Q. Construction activities which result from treatment equipment installation, including clearing, grading and excavation 

activities which result in the disturbance of one acre or more of land area, are not covered by this authorization. The 

permittee shall contact the IEPA regarding the required permit(s).

REPORTING

R. The facility shall submit an electronic copy of the annual inspection report to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. 

The report shall include results of the annual facility inspection which is required by Part I of this condition. The report shall 

also include documentation of any event (spill, treatment unit malfunction, etc.) which would require an inspection, results of 

the inspection, and any subsequent corrective maintenance activity. The report shall be completed and signed by the 

authorized facility employee(s) who conducted the inspection(s). The annual inspection report is considered a public 

document that shall be available at any reasonable time upon request.

S. The first report shall contain information gathered during the one year time period beginning with the effective date of 

coverage under this permit and shall be submitted no later than 60 days after this one year period has expired. Each 

subsequent report shall contain the previous year's information and shall be submitted no later than one year after the 

previous year's report was due.

T. If the facility performs inspections more frequently than required by this permit, the results shall be included as additional 

information in the annual report.

U. The permittee shall retain the annual inspection report on file at least 3 years. This period may be extended by request of 

the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency at any time.

Annual inspection reports shall be mailed to the following address:

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Bureau of Water

Compliance Assurance Section

Annual Inspection Report

1021 North Grand Avenue East

Post Office Box 19276

Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276

V. The permittee shall notify any regulated small municipal separate storm sewer owner (MS4 Community) that they maintain 

coverage under an individual NPDES permit. The permittee shall submit any SWPPP or any annual inspection to the MS4 

community upon request by the MS4 community.

SPECIAL CONDITION 7. If an applicable effluent standard or limitation is promulgated under Sections 301(b)(2)(C) and (D), 

304(b)(2), and 307(a)(2) of the Clean Water Act and that effluent standard or limitation is more stringent than any effluent 

limitation in the permit or controls a pollutant not limited in the NPDES Permit, the Agency shall revise or modify the permit in 

accordance with the more stringent standard or prohibition and shall so notify the permittee.
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NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Special Conditions

SPECIAL CONDITION 8. All samples for Total Residual Chlorine shall be analyzed by an applicable method contained in 40 

CFR 136, equivalent in accuracy to low-level amperometric titration. Any analytical variability of the method used shall be 

considered when determining the accuracy and precision of the results obtained. 

SPECIAL CONDITION 9. Flow shall be reported as a monthly average and a daily maximum in units of Million Gallons per Day 

(MGD) on the monthly Discharge Monitoring Report.

SPECIAL CONDITION 10. The use or operation of this facility shall be by or under the supervision of a Certified Class K

operator.

SPECIAL CONDITION 11. In the event the permittee shall require the use of water treatment additives other than those 

previously approved by this Agency, or if the permittee increases the feed rate or quantity of the additives used beyond what has 

previously been approved by this Agency, the permittee shall request a modification of this permit in accordance with the 

Standard Conditions – Attachment H.

SPECIAL CONDITION 12. For the purpose of this permit, the discharge from outfall 001 shall be limited to treated process 

waste, sanitary waste, boiler blowdown, miscellaneous waste, stormwater, and cooling water free from other discharges.

SPECIAL CONDITION 13. The provisions of 40 CFR Section 122.41(m) & (n) are applicable and are hereby incorporated by 

reference.

SPECIAL CONDITION 14. The permittee, on a daily basis, shall determine the volume of water diverted to the aerobic ponds 

and the volume of water returned to the activated sludge system for further treatment or discharged through Outfall 001. The

permittee shall maintain records of these flows and make them available to the Agency upon request.

SPECIAL CONDITION 15. The permittee shall maintain records of any analytical work, including flow measurement, performed 

for operational control of the waste water treatment plant. Said records shall be made available to the Agency upon request.

SPECIAL CONDITION 16. The Permittee shall conduct annual biomonitoring of the effluent from Outfall Number(s) 001.

Biomonitoring

1. Acute Toxicity - Standard definitive acute toxicity tests shall be run on at least two trophic levels of aquatic species (fish, 

invertebrate) representative of the aquatic community of the receiving stream. Testing must be consistent with 

Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms 

(Fifth Ed.) EPA/821-R-02-012. Unless substitute tests are pre-approved; the following tests are required:

a. Fish - 96 hour static LC50 Bioassay using fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas).

b. Invertebrate 48-hour static LC50 Bioassay using Ceriodaphnia.

2. Testing Frequency - The above tests shall be conducted using 24-hour composite samples unless otherwise authorized 

by the IEPA. Sample collection and testing must be conducted once per year. When possible, bioassay sample 

collection should coincide with sample collection for metals analysis or other parameters that may contribute to effluent 

toxicity.

3. Reporting - Results shall be reported according to EPA/821-R-02-012, Section 12, Report Preparation, and shall be 

submitted to IEPA, Bureau of Water, Compliance Assurance Section within one week of receipt from the laboratory.

4. Toxicity – Should a bioassay result in toxicity to >20% of organisms tested in the 100% effluent treatment, the IEPA may 

require, upon notification, six (6) additional rounds of monthly testing on the affected organism(s) to be initiated within 

30 days of the toxic bioassay. Results shall be submitted to IEPA within one (1) week of becoming available to the 

Permittee. Should any of the additional bioassays result in toxicity to ≥50% of organisms tested in the 100% effluent 

treatments, the Permittee may wish to contact the IEPA to request the discontinuance of further sampling at which time 

the IEPA may require the Permittee to begin the toxicity reduction evaluation and identification as outlined below.
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NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Special Conditions

5. Toxicity Reduction Evaluation - Should any of the additional bioassays result in toxicity to ≥50% of organisms tested in 

the 100% effluent treatment, the IEPA may require, upon notification, that the Permittee prepare a plan for toxicity 

reduction evaluation and identification. This plan shall be developed in accordance with Toxicity Reduction Evaluation 

Guidance for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants, EPA/833B-99/002, and shall include an evaluation to determine 

which chemicals have a potential for being discharged in the plant wastewater, a monitoring program to determine their 

presence or absence and to identify other compounds which are not being removed by treatment, and other measures 

as appropriate. The Permittee shall submit to the IEPA its plan for toxicity reduction evaluation within ninety (90) days 

following notification by the IEPA. The Permittee shall implement the plan within ninety (90) days or other such date as 

contained in a notification letter received from the IEPA.

The IEPA may modify this Permit during its term to incorporate additional requirements or limitations based on the 

results of the biomonitoring. In addition, after review of the monitoring results, the IEPA may modify this Permit to 

include numerical limitations for specific toxic pollutants. Modifications under this condition shall follow public notice 

and opportunity for hearing.

SPECIAL CONDITION 17. The Permittee shall monitor the effluent from outfall 001 for the following parameters on a 

semi-annual basis. This Permit may be modified with public notice to establish effluent limitations if appropriate, based on 

information obtained through sampling. The sample shall be a 24-hour effluent composite except as otherwise specifically 

provided below and the results shall be reported in units of (mg/L) and submitted to the address in special condition 5 in June and 

December. The parameters to be sampled and the minimum reporting limits to be attained are as follows:

STORET Minimum

CODE PARAMETER reporting limit

01002 Arsenic 0.05 mg/L

01007 Barium 0.5 mg/L

01027 Cadmium 0.001 mg/L

01032 Chromium (hexavalent) (grab) 0.01 mg/L

01042 Copper 0.005 mg/L

00718 Cyanide (weak acid dissociable) (grab) 5.0 ug/L

00720 Cyanide (total) (grab not to exceed 24 hours) 5.0 ug/L

00951 Fluoride 0.1 mg/L

01046 Iron (Dissolved) 0.5 mg/L

01051 Lead 0.05 mg/L

01055 Manganese 0.5 mg/L

71900 Mercury (grab)** 1.0 ng/L*

01067 Nickel 0.005 mg/L

32730 Phenols (grab) 0.005 mg/L

01147 Selenium 0.005 mg/L

01077 Silver (total) 0.003 mg/L

01092 Zinc 0.025 mg/L

Unless otherwise indicated, concentrations refer to the total amount of the constituent present in all phases, whether solid,

suspended or dissolved, elemental or combined, including all oxidation states.

*1.0 ng/L = 1 part per trillion.

**Utilize USEPA Method 1631E and the digestion procedure described in Section 11.1.1.2 of 1631E.

SPECIAL CONDITION 18. For the purposes of this permit, Total Nitrogen means the sum total of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, 

Nitrate and Nitrite.

SPECIAL CONDITION 19. Modeling or field studies may be used to demonstrate the availability of a mixing zone and ZID 

(zone of initial dilution). The purpose of these optional studies is to define the dilution ratios present during 7Q10 low receiving 

stream flow conditions. Any report submitted to the IEPA should show effluent concentrations at various distances downstream 

of the effluent outfall, sufficient to demonstrate the areas of the mixing zone and ZID, during the observed or modeled low flow 

condition. The missing regulations of Title 35 Ill. Adm. Code 302.102 will then be used to determine if the conditions necessary 

for the Agency to grant a mixing zone and ZID are present. If the permittee intends to pursue this option, a study plan outlining 

the methodologies proposed to be used must be submitted for IEPA approval. The IEPA will review the submitted sample data 

and may reopen and modify this Permit to eliminate or include revised effluent limitations based on the results of the collected 

data.
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NPDES Permit No. IL0003913

Special Conditions

SPECIAL CONDITION 20.

Schedule of Compliance with Final Effluent Limitations

The Ammonia and Total Nitrogen limits specified on page 2 of this permit shall become effective upon completion of the following 

compliance schedule:

Compliance Item Compliance Date

1. Perform a study to examine if additional treatment equipment 

is necessary to comply with the proposed limits. 6 Months from the Effective Date of This Permit

2. Submit an Interim Report on the findings of the study* 8 Months from the Effective Date of This Permit

3. Determine necessary equipment to achieve compliance and 

submit construction permit application 12 Months from the Effective Date of This Permit

4. Complete installation of necessary equipment to achieve 

compliance and submit Interim Report 18 Month from the Effective Date of This Permit

5. Achieve Compliance 24 Months from the Effective Date of this Permit

*The Interim Report shall be submitted to the IEPA to the address identified in Special Condition 5. Should the study identify 

that additional equipment is not needed to comply with the limits, the compliance date shall be moved to 9 months from the 

effective date of this permit and items 3, 4 and 5 shall be dropped from the compliance schedule.

Total Nitrogen shall be monitored until the limits specified on page 2 of this permit become effective.

Interim limitations for Ammonia Nitrogen (as N) shall be as follows: 

Load Limits (lbs/day) Concentration Limits (mg/L)

Parameter Monthly Average Daily Maximum Monthly Average Daily Maximum

Ammonia Nitrogen (as N)

June-August -- 175.6 -- 5.4

November-February -- 260.2 -- 8.0

March-May and Sept.-Oct. -- 162.6 -- 5.0

REPORTING

The Permittee shall submit a report no later than fourteen (14) days following the completion dates indicated above for each 

numbered item in the compliance schedule, indicating, a) the date the item was completed, or b) that the item was not completed, 

the reason for non-completion, and the anticipated completion date.