Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 391-3 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Subject 391-3-6 - WATER QUALITY CONTROL › Rule 391-3-6-.06 - Waste Treatment and Permit Requirements

Current through Rules and Regulations filed
				through June 27, 2024
(1)
Purpose
. The purpose of Rule
				391-3-6-.06 is to provide for the
				degree of waste treatment required and the uniform procedures and practices to
				be followed relating to the application for issuance, modification, revocation
				and reissuance, and termination of permits for the discharge of any pollutant
				into the waters of the State. Requirements applicable to general NPDES permits
				are provided in Rules
				391-3-6-.15 and
				391-3-6-.16.
(2)
Definitions
. All terms used
				in this Rule shall be interpreted in accordance with the definitions as set
				forth in the Act unless otherwise defined in this Paragraph or in any other
				Rules of this Chapter:
(a) "Annual average
				stream flow" means that flow measured daily at the nearest listed U.S. Geologic
				Survey stream gauge, averaged for the entire period of record, and adjusted by
				comparison to the size of the drainage area in which the discharge is
				located.
(b) "Aquaculture project"
				means any point source which meets the criteria set forth in the Federal
				Regulations, 40 C.F.R.
				122.25;
(c) "Concentrated animal feeding operation"
				means any point source which meets the criteria set forth in the Federal
				Regulations, 40 C.F.R.
				122.23;
(d) "Concentrated aquatic animal production
				facility" means any point source which meets the criteria set forth in the
				Federal Regulations, 40
				C.F.R. 122.24;
(e) "Construction" means any placement,
				assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment (including contractual
				obligations to purchase such facilities or equipment) at the premises where
				such equipment will be used, including preparation work at such
				premises;
(f) "Dilution factor"
				means a numerical representation of the dilution of the permitted effluent from
				the wastewater treatment facility in the receiving stream. It shall be used to
				calculate instream concentrations of priority pollutants when the effluent
				concentration is known and to calculate effluent limitations from the instream
				criteria concentration listed in
				391-3-6-.03(5)(e).
1. For constituents and their criteria listed
				in 391-3-6-.03(5)(e)(i) and
				(iii) and for constituents and their chronic
				criteria in
				391-3-6-.03(5)(e)(ii),
				the dilution factor equals:
[7-day, 10-year minimum stream flow (7Q10) + discharger
				  design flow] / discharger design flow
For constituents and their acute criteria listed in
				  391-3-6-.03(5)(e)(ii),
				  the dilution factor for the calculation of effluent limitations equals:
[1-day, 10-year minimum stream flow (1Q10) + discharger
				  design flow] / discharger design flow
For constituents listed in
				  391-3-6-.03(5)(e)(iv),
				  the dilution factor equals:
[Annual or long-term average stream flow + Discharger design
				  flow] / discharger design flow
2. The dilution factor equations assume a
				relatively rapid and complex mix. In situations where this does not occur, the
				Permittee or EPD may perform field studies to document and describe the mixing
				zone. The dilution factor in such situations, for the purpose of calculating
				effluent limitations for chemical constituents, will be determined based on the
				studies. If a mixing zone is granted, all criteria and requirements of
				subsection
				391-3-6-.03(10)
				must also be met.
3. In situations
				where the dilution factor equations do not appropriately describe the dilution
				capacity of receiving waters, such as for discharges to impounded waters or to
				tidal estuaries, the dilution factor will be determined through field studies
				or appropriate analytical procedures.
(g) "Effluent Limitation" means any
				restriction or prohibition established under the Act on quantities, rates, or
				concentrations, or a combination thereof, of chemical, physical, biological, or
				other constituents which are discharged from point sources into the waters of
				the State, including, but not limited to, schedules of compliance and whole
				effluent biological monitoring requirements;
(h) "EPD" means the Environmental Protection
				Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources;
(i) "Indirect discharger" means a
				non-domestic discharger introducing pollutants to a publicly owned treatment
				works;
(j) "Major discharger" as
				defined in EPA annual operating guidance for the EPA Regional Offices and the
				States and specifically listed in the annual State program plan;
(k) "New discharger" means any point source
				that meets the criteria set forth in the Federal Regulations,
				40 C.F.R.
				122.29;
(l) "New Source" means any point source that
				meets the criteria set forth in the Federal Regulations,
				40 C.F.R.
				122.29;
(m) "NPDES Permit Application" means the
				application filed by any person with the Director for an NPDES
				Permit;
(n) "NPDES Permit" means
				the permit issued by the Division to regulate the discharge of pollutants from
				any point source into the waters of the State;
(o) "Segment" means a portion of a water
				quality planning area, the surface waters of which have common hydrologic
				characteristics (or flow regulation patterns); common natural physical,
				chemical and biological characteristics and processes; and common reactions to
				external stresses, such as the discharge of pollutants. Segments will be
				classified as either a water quality segment or an effluent limitation segment
				as follows:
1. Water quality segment. Any
				segment where it is known that water quality does not meet applicable water
				quality standards and/ or is not expected to meet applicable water quality
				standards even after the application of the effluent limitations required by
				sections 301(b)(1)(B) and 301(b)(2)(A) of the Act;
2. Effluent limitation segment. Any segment
				where it is known that water quality is meeting and will continue to meet
				applicable water quality standards or where there is adequate demonstration
				that water quality will meet applicable water quality standards after the
				application of the effluent limitations required by sections 301(b)(1)(B) and
				301(b)(2)(A) of the Act.
(p) "Separate storm sewer" means any point
				source which meets the criteria set forth in the Federal Regulations,
				40 C.F.R.
				122.26.
(q) "Silvicultural point source" means any
				point source which meets the criteria set forth in the Federal Regulations,
				40 C.F.R.
				122.27;