Source: https://ecode360.com/14955184
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 15:27:26+00:00

Document:
§ 759-4 Illicit discharge remediation requirements.
§ 759-6 Rules and regulations.
§ 759-7 Penalties for offenses.
Disposal of stormwater placement — See Ch. 1133, Art. I.
This Legislature hereby finds that Suffolk County owns and operates a municipal separate storm sewer system ("municipal system").
This Legislature further finds that the County is required to implement a local law to enforce local programs to detect and eliminate illicit discharges and illicit connections to the municipal system and reduce the discharge of pollutants into the municipal system pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1342, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and New York Environmental Conservation Law Article 17, Title 8.
A violation of the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit No. GP-02-02, as amended, for stormwater discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems, issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to Suffolk County pursuant to New York State Environmental Conservation Law Article 17, Title 8.
This Legislature further finds that the above General Permit No. GP-02-02, as amended, also requires the County to implement a local law to detect and prohibit illicit discharges to the municipal system and to implement appropriate enforcement procedures and actions.
This Legislature further finds it necessary to establish a mechanism to recoup the cost of detecting and eliminating illicit discharges and illicit connections to the municipal system and the cost of damages to the municipal system caused by nonstormwater discharges.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to create a local law for controlling illicit discharges and illicit connections into the municipal system, to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Suffolk County, and to establish an enforcement program to accomplish these goals.
The Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Public Works, or his designee.
A test to determine whether a connection to the municipal system exists.
Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, direct or indirect, which allows an illicit discharge to the municipal system.
Any direct or indirect nonstormwater discharge to the municipal system, except as exempted in § 759-4 of this article.
An employee of Suffolk County empowered to administer and enforce the illicit discharge detection and elimination component of the stormwater management program.
Which is not part of a publicly owned treatment works, as defined by 40 CFR 122.2.
A substance on the most current list prepared by the Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Public Works, on file with the Office of the Clerk of the County Legislature, which specifies the primary pollutants causing pollution of water bodies listed pursuant to Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act [33 U.S.C. § 1313(d)].
Any individual, corporation, association, partnership, or other entity recognized by law causing or permitting to be caused a violation of this article.
An employee of Suffolk County designated to provide overall management and oversight of the stormwater management program.
The maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to be released under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and regulations promulgated thereunder.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to the Clean Water Act.
It shall be unlawful to cause, or engage in any activity that reasonably may be expected to cause, an illicit discharge into the municipal system.
It shall be unlawful to make, or permit to be made, any illicit connections to the municipal system.
In the event of any illicit discharge, the responsible discharger shall immediately notify the appropriate emergency response agencies and the Commissioner, and take all necessary steps to investigate, contain, eliminate and abate or remediate such release as required by any federal, state or local law.
The responsible discharger shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after an illicit discharge, notify the Commissioner in writing of such discharge. Such notification shall contain information required by the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder.
The owner or operator of a commercial or industrial establishment at which the illicit discharge occurs shall retain on-site a written record of the discharge and those actions taken to prevent recurrence of the illicit discharge. Such records shall be retained for a period of three years as measured from the date of the illicit discharge.
The remediation requirements set forth in this section shall not be construed to constitute compliance with other applicable laws, rules or regulations.
The Commissioner may, in writing, approve an exemption which authorizes a discharge necessary to protect life or property from imminent harm or damage; provided, however, that such approval shall not be construed to constitute compliance with other applicable laws, rules and regulations, and further provided that such approval shall contain such conditions as deemed appropriate in the Commissioner's sole discretion.
The Commissioner may, in writing, approve an exemption which authorizes a dye testing discharge; provided, however, that such approval shall not be construed to constitute compliance with other applicable laws, rules and regulations, and further provided that such approval shall contain such conditions as deemed appropriate in the Commissioner's sole discretion.
The prohibitions in this article shall not apply to any discharge permitted under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit issued pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1342, a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued pursuant to New York Environmental Conservation Law Article 17, Title 8, and any waiver or waste discharge order issued to the discharger under the authority of an authorized governmental agency; provided, however, that the discharger is in full compliance with such permit, waiver or order.
The exemptions set forth in this section shall not be construed to constitute compliance with other applicable laws, rules or regulations.
The Commissioner, in consultation with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services and the Suffolk County Department of Environment and Energy, shall promulgate such rules and regulations as deemed necessary and appropriate for the implementation and enforcement of any provision of this article. Such rules shall govern the conduct of adjudicatory proceedings and appeals, and the Commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to consult with the County Attorney to draft such rules providing for due process procedural mechanisms.
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services and the Suffolk County Department of Environment and Energy are hereby authorized, empowered and directed to provide such resources to the Commissioner as may be needed to implement this article.
The Commissioner is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to appoint one or more Stormwater Management Officers and Illicit Discharge and Detection Elimination Enforcement Officers, from the ranks of personnel of the Department of Public Works, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services or the Suffolk County Department of Environment and Energy, and, upon consultation with said department management, may refer one or more functions necessary for the implementation of this article to those departments.
A willful violation of the provisions of § 759-3 of this article shall be deemed a misdemeanor.
Any violation of any provision this article shall be subject to a civil penalty, in an amount not less than $250 nor more than $1,000.
Each day of continued violation not corrected to the Commissioner's satisfaction in compliance with this article shall constitute a separate additional violation.
The County Attorney or the Suffolk County District Attorney may commence legal proceedings to restrain, prevent and enjoin a violation of this article or any rule or regulation promulgated hereunder, to seek civil penalties, equitable remedies, damages, criminal fines and sanctions, and such other and further relief as may be deemed appropriate.
This article shall apply to all illicit discharges and illicit connections occurring on or after the effective date of this article.

References: § 759

§ 759
 § 1342
 § 759
 § 1313
 § 1342
 § 759