sEastside WWTPState Discharge Permit 15DP2525 NPDES Permit MD0020842.pdf

January 9, 2020

CERTIFIED MAIL

Dr. Howard Zhang, Director

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

United States Department of Agriculture

10300 Baltimore Avenue

Building 003, Room 231

Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350

RE: Discharge Permit Modification for USDA East Side Wastewater Treatment Plant

State Discharge Permit 15-DP-2525A, NPDES Permit MD0020842

Dear Dr. Zhang:

A letter dated May 15, 2019 was received requesting modification of the 15-DP-2525 permit to allow for overland flow of water from a 20,000,000 gallon impoundment. Enclosed are the modified pages (1, 6, 7, 8a, 9, 10, 11a, 13, 22a, 22b and 22c) with the modification date indicated on the cover page. Please use these pages to replace the corresponding pages of the current discharge permit. For your information, changes to the current discharge permit due to this modification are summarized as follows:

1. Cover Page: State Discharge Permit No is changed to 15-DP-2525A and Modification

Date is added as February 1, 2020.

2. Special Condition II.A(1).; A(2).; B(1).a; and B(1).b are revised to add limitations and minimum monitoring requirements for the Overland Flow System at internal monitoring point 101 (pages 6, 7, 8a, 9, 10, 11a).

3. Special Condition II.C. is revised to add reference to the Overland Flow System (page 13).

4. Special Condition II.P. Overland Flow System is added (page 22a and 22b).

5. Map showing Overland Flow System (page 22c) is added.

Maryland Department of the Environment

Larry Hogan. Governor

Boyd K. Rutherford. Lt. Governor

Ben Grumbles. Secretary

Horacio Tablada. Deputy Secretary

1800 Washington Boulevard I Baltimore. MD 21230 I 1-800-633-6101 I 410-537-3000 I TTY Users 1-800-735-2258 www.mde.maryland.gov

Dr. Zhang

Please note the other terms and conditions of the original discharge permit (15-DP-2525), not affected by this modification shall remain the same and in full force.

If you have any questions, please contact Elita Castleberry, Project Manager, Surface Discharge Permits Division, at (410) 537-4113.

Sincerely, --- I _/ r;;dl- L~v D. Lee Currey, irector l~y Water and Science Administration

Enclosures cc: Ms. Rebecca K. Crane, USEPA (through electronic copy) Ms. Evelyn Hoban, Director, Environmental Health, Prince George's County Health Department Compliance Program' s Central Division Chief Mr. Matt Rowe (through electronic copy) Mr. Dennis Rasmussen

1800 Washington Boulevard I Baltimore. MD 21230 I l -800-633-6101 I 410-537-3000 I TTY Users l -800-735-2258

Maryland Department of the Environment

JUL 2 6 201

CERTIFIED MAIL

Mr. Daniel H. Ragan, Plant Maintenance Branch Supervisor U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service 10300 Baltimore A venue Building 003, Room 203, BARC West Beltsville, MD 20705

Re: USDA East Side Wastewater Treatment Plant State Discharge Permit 15-DP-2525; NPDES Permit MD0020842

Dear Mr. Ragan:

Larry Hogan Governor

Boyd Rutherford Lieutenant Governor

Ben Grumbles Secretary

Enclosed is the above discharge permit with the effective date indicated on the cover page. The permittee is responsible for complying with all permit conditions. You are therefore advised to read the permit carefully and become thoroughly familiar with the requirements in order to maintain compliance with the permit. The expired 05-DP-2525 discharge permit for the USDA East Side WWTP included Special Condition 11.D Bay Restoration Fee Payment. This condition has been added to the enclosed final permit on page 22 as Special Condition 11.0.

The reissuance of this permit is not a validation by the Department of prior performance and does not obviate the need for the permittee to take immediate and complete action to resolve all existing noncompliance of the permit, inc1uding any excursions of the prior permit terms. This renewal permit does implement additional restrictions on the discharge.

Your facility has been approved by MDE to electronically submit Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) through NetDMR. Therefore you are required to submit monthly DMRs by the 28th of the following month and all other documents as listed in the discharge permit electronically through NetDMR. Should you encounter problems in electronic submission for any month, please consult the MDE's Compliance Program by calling at (410) 537-3510 to avoid missing the deadline for submission of the above stated documents.

1800 Washington Bou levard I Baltimore. MD 21230 I 1·800-633·6101 I 410-537·3000 I TTY Users 1-800-735·2258 www.mde.maryland .gov

Mr. Daniel H. Ragan, Plant Maintenance Branch Supervisor Page2

You will also find enclosed a copy of the Federal Register published on May 18, 2012 updating the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Part 136 - "Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for Analysis of Pollutants". For future update of 40 CFR, Part 136, please visit the U.S Government Publishing Office (GPO) website (http://bit.ly/40CFR_Partl36, this link is case-sensitive). Unless otherwise specified, these guidelines are to be used for the analyses of pollutants required by this permit.

In addition, we have also enclosed a copy of the table of the Minimum Monitoring Requirements, a copy of Department's "Toxic Pollutant Monitoring Protocol and Reporting Requirements for Toxic Chemical Testing Analytical Data (amended on 5/18/201 l)", a copy of Effluent Biotoxicity Testing Protocol for Industrial and Municipal Effluents, and a copy of the WWTP Effluent Toxic Chemical Monitoring Data Transmittal Cover Sheet.

If you have any questions, please contact Curtis H. Dalton, P.E., Chief, Technical Services Division, at (410) 537-3675.

Sincerely, &JJ

Lynn uhl, Director Water Management Administration

Enclosures cc: Evelyn Hoban, Director, Environmental Health, Prince George's County Health Department Scott Boylan, Compliance Program's Western Division Chief Ms. Audrey Pleva (Permit cover page only) Mr. Bill Lee (through electronic copy) Mr. Donald Currey, SSA Mr. Dennis Rasmussen

1800 Washington Boulevard I Baltimore. MD 21230 I 1-800·633·6101 I 410-537-3000 I TTY Users l-800-735-2258

D I S C H A R G E P E R M I T

Pursuant to the provisions of Title 9 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the provisions of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq., and implementing regulations 40 CFR Parts 122, 123, 124 and 125, the Department of the

Environment hereby establishes conditions and requirements pertinent to the wastewater treatment plant and collection system and authorizes:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Service

10300 Baltimore Ave. Building 003, Room 203 BARC West Beltsville, Maryland 20705

TO DISCHARGE FROM: USDA East Side Wastewater Treatment Plant

LOCATED AT: Building 218 Beaverdam Road

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

Beltsville, Prince George’s County, Maryland 20705

THROUGH OUTFALL: 002A (WWTP Effluent)

TO: An existing outfall ditch that flows to an unnamed tributary of Beaverdam

Creek, designated as Use I water which is protected for water contact recreation and nontidal warmwater aquatic life in accordance with the following special and general conditions and a map incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

N P D E S D i s c h a r g e

P e r m i t N u m b e r : M D 0 0 2 0 8 4 2

S t a t e D i s c h a r g e

P e r m i t N u m b e r : 1 5 - D P - 2 5 2 5 A

E f f e c t i v e

D a t e : 0 9 / 0 1 / 2 0 1 6

E x p i r a t i o n

D a t e : 0 8 / 3 1 / 2 0 2 1

M o d i f i c a t i o n

D a t e : 0 2 / 0 1 / 2 0 2 0

R e a p p l i c a t i o n D u e

D a t e : 0 8 / 3 1 / 2 0 2 0

Maryland Department of the Environment

Larry Hogan Governor

Boyd Rut he rfo rd Li eute nant Governo r

Be n Grumbles Secretary

1800 Wash ington Bou levard I Balt imore. MD 21230 I l -800-633-6101 I 41 0 -537-3000 I TTY Users l -800-735-2258 www.mde.maryland .gov

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 2 of 36

I . D E F I N I T I O N S

A. “Ambient temperature” of the effluent receiving stream means the water temperature that is not impacted by a point source discharge, and it shall be measured in areas of the stream representative of typical or average conditions of the stream segment in question.

B. “Bypass” means the intentional diversion of pollutants from any portion of a treatment or collection facility.

C. “BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)” means the amount of oxygen consumed in a standard BOD5 test without the use of a nitrification inhibitor at 20 degree centigrade on an unfiltered sample.

D. “Clean Water Act” means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.

E. “CFR” means the Code of Federal Regulations.

F. “COMAR” means the Code of Maryland Regulations.

G. “Department” means the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

H. Discharge Limits

1. “Daily maximum (or minimum)" limitation means the highest (or lowest) allowable the daily averages in a calendar month. The daily discharge expressed as concentration (in mg/l) shall be calculated by dividing total of measurement readings by number of sample collected during a calendar day or any 24-hour period that reasonably represents the calendar day for purposes of sampling. The daily discharge expressed as loading rate (in pounds/day) is calculated by using this formula {daily average concentration (mg/l) x the same day total flow (in million gallons) x 8.34}.

• “Weekly average maximum (or minimum)" limitation means the highest

(or lowest) allowable average of "daily discharges'' over a calendar week, calculated as the sum of all "daily discharges'' measured during a calendar week divided by the number of "daily discharges'' measured during that week. Each of the following 7-day periods is defined as a calendar week: Week 1 is Days 1 - 7 of the month; Week 2 is Days 8 - 14; Week 3 is Days 15 - 21; and Week 4 is Days 22 - 28. For weekly average maximum, if the "daily discharge" on days 29, 30 or 31 exceeds the "weekly average" discharge limitation, MDE may elect to evaluate the last 7 days of the month as Week 4 instead of Days 22 - 28. For weekly average minimum, if the "daily discharge" on days 29, 30 or 31 is lower than the "weekly average" discharge limitation, MDE may elect to evaluate the last 7 days of the month as Week 4 instead of Days 22 - 28.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 3 of 36

2. “Monthly average maximum (or minimum)” limitation means the highest (or lowest) allowable monthly average concentration or waste load of a parameter over a calendar month. The monthly average is calculated as the sum of all daily discharges for a parameter sampled and/or measured in that calendar month divided by the number of days on which monitoring was performed.

3. “Minimum (or maximum)” limit means the lowest (or highest) allowable value measured during a calendar day or any 24-hour period that reasonably represents the calendar day for purposes of sampling.

4. “Monthly loading rate (in pounds/month)” means the total load of a parameter calculated for that calendar month. It is calculated using this formula {(monthly average concentration in mg/l) x (Total monthly flow in Million Gallons) x 8.34}.

5. “Annual Maximum Loading Rate (in pounds/year)” limit means the highest allowable year-to-date cumulative load of a parameter for a calendar year. It is calculated as the sum of the individual Total Monthly Loading Rates from January through December of the current calendar year.

6. “Year-to-date Cumulative load (pounds)” value means cumulative load of a parameter through the reporting month in a calendar year. It is calculated as a sum of the individual total monthly loads from January through the reporting month in a calendar year.

7. “Monthly log mean (Monthly geometric mean)” limit means the highest allowable value calculated as the logarithmic or geometric mean of all samples taken in the calendar month. The geometric mean is the antilogarithm of the mean of the logarithms.

I. Discharge Monitoring

1. “Composite sample” means a combination of individual samples obtained at hourly or smaller intervals over a time period. Either the volume of each individual sample is proportional to discharge flow rates or the sampling interval (for constant volume samples) is proportional to the flow rates over the time period used to produce the composite.

2. “Grab sample” means an individual sample collected over a period of time not exceeding 15 minutes.

3. “Estimated flow” value means a calculated volume or discharge rate which is based on a technical evaluation of the sources contributing to the discharge including, but not limited to, pump capabilities, water meters, and batch discharge volumes.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 4 of 36

4. “Measured flow” value means any method of liquid volume measurement, the accuracy of which has been previously demonstrated in engineering practice, or for which a relationship to absolute volume has been obtained.

5. “Recorded flow” means any method of providing a permanent, continuous record of flow including, but not limited to, circular and strip charts.

6. “Monthly average flow” means the total flow for a calendar month divided by the number of days in the same month.

J. "i-s (immersion stabilization)" means a calibrated device immersed in the effluent or stream, as applicable, until the temperature reading is stabilized.

K. “NetDMR” means a nationally-available electronic reporting tool, initially designed by states and later adapted for national use by EPA, which can be used by NPDES-regulated facilities to submit discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) electronically to EPA through a secure Internet application over the National Environmental Information Exchange Network (NEIEN). EPA can then share this information with authorized states, tribes, and territories.

L. “NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System)” means the national system for issuing permits as designated by the Clean Water Act.

M. “Nondetectable Level” for total residual chlorine means a residual concentration of less than 0.10 mg/l as determined using either the DPD titrimetric or chlorimetric method or an alternative method approved by the Department.

N. “Outfall” means the location where the effluent is discharged into the receiving waters.

O. “Overflow” means any loss of wastewater or discharge from a sanitary sewer system, combined sewer system or wastewater treatment plant bypass (as defined in I.B) which results in the direct or potential discharge of raw, partially treated wastewater into the waters of the State.

P. “Permittee” means an individual or organization holding the discharge permit issued by the Department.

Q. “POTW” means a publicly owned treatment works.

R. “Sampling Point” means the effluent sampling location in the outfall line(s) downstream from the last addition point or as otherwise specified.

S. “Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO)” means a discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from a separate sewer system before the sanitary wastewater reaches the headworks of a wastewater treatment facility, pursuant to COMAR 26.08.10.01.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 5 of 36

T. “Significant Industrial User (SIU)” is defined as any industrial user (IU) that:

1. is subject to national categorical standards; and

2. any other IU that:

a. discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day or more of process wastewater (excluding sanitary, non-contact cooling and boiler blowdown wastewater); or

b. contributes a process wastestream that makes up 5% or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the POTW; or

c. is designated as such by the POTW on the basis that the IU has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW's operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement; or

d. is found by the POTW, the Department, or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to have significant impact either individually or in combination with other contributing industries to the POTW, on the quality of the sludge, the POTW's effluent quality, or air emissions generated by the system.

U. “TKN (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen)” means organic nitrogen plus ammonia nitrogen.

V. “TSS (Total Suspended Solids)” means the residue retained on the filter by an analysis done in accordance with Standard Methods or other approved methods.

W. “Upset” means the exceptional incident in which there is unintentional and temporary noncompliance with technology-based permit effluent limitations because of factors beyond the reasonable control of the permittee. An upset does not include noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventive maintenance, or careless or improper operation.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525A (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 6 of 36

I I . S P E C I A L C O N D I T I O N S

A(1). Effluent Limitations, Outfall 002A (1) (2) (3) (4)

The quality of the effluent discharged by the facility at a discharge point location- 002A shall be limited at all times as shown below:

TSS (6)(7) REPORT 44,260 N/A

Effluent Characteristics

Maximum Effluent Limits

Monthly

Average Loading

Rate, Weekly

Average Loading Rate, Daily

Average Loading Rate, Monthly Average

Concentration, Weekly Average

Concentration, Daily Average

Concentration, Pounds/day Pounds/day Pounds/day mg/l mg/l mg/l BOD5 (4/1 to 10/31)

(11/1 to 3/31)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Annual Max. Loading Rate(6) 44, 348 lbs/yr

TSS (4/1 to 10/31)

(11/1 to 3/31)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Growing Season (4/1 to 10/31)

(5) Max. Loading Rate

20, 860 lbs/season

Total Ammonia

Nitrogen as N (4/1 to 10/31)

(11/1 to 3/31)

8.3

N/A

1.6

2.7

Total Recoverable Copper (13) 0.0092 N/A N/A 0.0018 N/A N/A

Effluent Characteristics

Maximum Effluent Limits

Total Monthly

Loading Rate, Annual Maximum

Loading Rate, Monthly Average

Concentration, Pounds/Day Pounds/Year mg/l

Total Phosphorus-P (7)(9)(10)(11) 1.5 566 REPORT

Total Nitrogen-N (7)(8) (9)(10)(11) 21 7,553 REPORT

Total PCBs(4) N/A REPORT (g/yr)(See also footnote- 27)

N/A

Effluent Characteristics

Effluent Limits

Maximum Minimum

E. Coli 126 MPN/ 100 ml monthly geometric mean value

N/A

Total Residual Chlorine (12) 0.011 mg/l (See footnote- 12) N/A pH 8.5 6.5

Dissolved Oxygen (All Year)

5.0 mg/l at anytime

Permit No. 15-DP-2525A (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 7 of 36

A(1). Effluent Limitations, Continued

An annual average flow of 0.62 million gallons per day (mgd) was used in waste allocation calculations (expressed as waste loading rate limit), and this unit shall be used when reporting on the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR), (EPA Form 3320-1, Rev. 01/06). Notification is to be provided to the Department at least 180 days before the annual average flow is expected to exceed this flow level. If a permit modification is required, the Department will initiate the public participation NPDES process.

Footnotes for effluent limitations:

(1) When this permit is renewed, the new limitations may not be equal to the above limitations.

(2) There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam other than trace amounts.

(3) The permit may also be reopened in accordance with the requirements of MDE's Watershed Permitting

Plan under which all discharge permits in a watershed are issued the same year.

(4) The Anacostia River is on the 303(d) list as the impaired waters for total suspended solids, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, BOD, fecal coliform, PCBs, debris/floatable/trash, Heptachlor Expoxide, Chlorides, Sulfates, channelization, and lack of riparian buffer, parameters. The last two replaced the biological listing in 2012, parameters. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of fecal bacteria, approved by the EPA on March 14, 2007 (document version 11/03/2008), allocated of enterococci concentration effluent limitations of 33 MPN/100 ml (which is consistent with the biological water quality criteria); TMDL for sediment/TSS, approved by the EPA on 07/24/2007 (document version June

11, 2012), allocated total suspended solids annual load of 44,260 lbs/yr and growing season load of

20,860 lbs/growing season to this facility; a TMDL approved by the EPA on June 5, 2008, allocated a

BOD annual load of 44,348 lbs/yr, a TN annual load of 7,554 lbs/yr, and a TP annual load of 567 lbs/yr to this facility. A TMDL, approved by the EPA on September 30, 2011, allocated a PCB load of 0.548 g/yr to this facility. A Trash TMDL approved by the EPA on September 21, 2010 did not require a trash load reduction at this facility. Bacteria, sediment/TSS, TN, TP and BOD parameter limits are in conformance with these approved TMDLs. The TSS, TN, TP limitations are in conformance with the

“Chesapeake Bay TMDL for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sediment” established on December 29, 2010.When TMDLs for other remaining parameters (Heptachlor Expoxide, Chlorides, and Sulfates) are completed, limits may be imposed, after the public participation process, to incorporate any TMDL requirements.

(5) The Growing Season (4/1 to 10/31) Maximum Loading Rate (in pounds/season) for TSS is a calculated parameter to be reported monthly as the sum of the Total Monthly Loading Rates from April through October of the current calendar year. The details and results of all required annual calculations shall be submitted to the Department with the Discharge Monitoring Report for October.

(6) The Annual Maximum Loading Rate (in pounds/year) for BOD5 and TSS is a calculated parameter to be reported monthly as the sum of the Total Monthly Loadings from January through December of the current calendar year. The details and results of all required annual calculations shall be submitted to the Department with the Discharge Monitoring Report for December.

(7) Total monthly loading rate (in pounds/day) for nutrients is a calculated parameter to be reported for each calendar month. It is equal to {(monthly average concentration (mg/l) x (Total flow in a calendar month

(Million Gallons) x 8.34}/(the number of days in the month).

(8) Total Nitrogen is the sum of ammonia-N, organic-N and (nitrite + nitrate)-N based on samples collected on the same day.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 8 of 36

(9) The permit Annual Maximum Loading Rate Limits for TN and TP became effective 03/01/2013. The permittee shall operate the facility in a manner that optimizes the nutrient removal capability of the facility.The first exceedance of the permit limit shall be counted and reported as daily exceedances beginning from the first exceedance, determined to the nearest day, through December 31. In addition, after any such exceedance, the permittee shall demonstrate to the Department's satisfaction that the facility is optimizing its nutrient removal capability, and neither the arrival of the next calendar year nor the issuance of a permit renewal during a period of noncompliance shall obviate continuance of any noncompliance status related to treatment optimization requirements.

(10) At the end of each calendar year, the permittee shall comply with the concentration-based limitations for the Annual Maximum Loading Rate defined below or the Tributary Strategy-based loading rate limitation listed in above in the effluent limitations table, whichever is lower:

(a) TN Limitation (lbs/year): 4.0 mg/l x annual total flow (calendar year based in million gallons per year) x 8.34. To the extent that the permittee alleges that temperature levels of 12 degrees C or lower have diminished the treatment system’s capability of complying with this concentration-based loading rate limitation for Total Nitrogen, the permittee shall provide notification beginning with the calendar year report under the “Upset” provision in Section

III.B.6 of this permit. In any enforcement proceeding, the permittee seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset has the burden of proof.

(b) TP Limitation (lbs/year): 0.30 mg/l x annual total flow (calendar year based in million gallons per year) x 8.34.

The details and results of all required annual calculations shall be submitted to the Department with the Discharge Monitoring Report for December. See Special Condition II.J, on page 14 for further details.

The concentration-based loading requirements may be revised if the limits or schedule are determined to be impracticable based on actual performance and the Department re-opens the permit as a major modification (which requires public participation) to impose (an) alternate effluent limitation(s) or revised schedule.

(11) The permittee may request that the permit be reopened and modified to include nutrient trading consistent with the most current "Maryland Policy for Nutrient Cap Management and Trading in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Watershed" in effect at that time.

(12) Total residual chlorine limitation of 0.011 mg/l shall be applicable, when chlorine or any chlorine-containing compound is used in any treatment process(es), including but not limited to disinfection, that could become a potential constituent of the effluent discharged from the USDA East Side WWTP.

(13) The Total Recoverable Copper limitations will be effective three years from the effective date of the permit (See Special Condition II.N). Total Recoverable Copper shall be reported in accordance with II.B and III.A.2.c.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525A (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 9 of 36

A(2). Effluent Limitations, Internal Monitoring Point 101 (MP101)

The Permittee is authorized to discharge treated sewage via spray irrigation onto the overland flow system (OFS) per Special Condition II.P. Prior to discharge to the OFS, all sewage shall be treated to produce an effluent quality at internal MP101 which shall be limited as shown below:

Samples shall be obtained prior to discharge to the OFS via spray irrigation and shall be taken during each spraying period. Monitoring results for MP101 from the spray irrigation shall be submitted with the Monthly Operational Report via NetDMR with the Discharge Monitoring

Report. No wastewater from the OFS shall be allowed into the waters of the state. All renovated wastewater shall be collected and returned to: the WWTP to be treated or the impoundment.

Effluent Characteristics

Maximum Effluent Limits

Monthly

Average Loading

Rate, Weekly

Average Loading Rate, Daily

Average Loading Rate, Monthly Average

Concentration, Weekly Average

Concentration, Daily Average

Concentration, Pounds/day Pounds/day Pounds/day mg/l mg/l mg/l

BOD5 N/A N/A N/A 70 N/A N/A

TSS N/A N/A N/A 90 N/A N/A

Effluent Characteristics

Effluent Limits

Maximum Minimum

Fecal Coliform 200 MPN/ 100 ml monthly geometric mean N/A pH 8.5 6.5

Page No. 8a of 36

Permit No. 15-DP-2525A (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 10 of 36

B(1).a Minimum Monitoring Requirements:

The effluent characteristics listed below in Table B(1).a shall be monitored at the sampling point (Definition I.R). If the sampling point is other than the outfall- 002A, the permittee shall ensure that the effluent samples are representative of the effluent quality being discharged at the outfall 002A.

Effluent Characteristics Monitoring

Period Measurement Frequency Sample Type

BOD5 (14)(16)(17)(18)(26) All Year Two per week 24-hour composite

Total Suspended Solids (14)(16) (17)((18)26) All Year Two per week 24-hour composite

Total Ammonia Nitrogen as N (14)(19)(26) All Year Two per week 24-hour composite

Total Phosphorus as P (14)(20)((26) All Year Two per week 24-hour composite

Total Nitrogen as N (14)(18)(19)(20)(26) All Year Two per week Calculated

(Nitrite + Nitrate) as N (14)(15)(19)(26) All Year Two per week 24-hour composite

Organic Nitrogen as N (14)(15)(19)((26) All Year Two per week 24-hour composite

Orthophosphate as P (14)(15)(26) All Year Two per week 24-hour composite

E. Coli (14)(26) All Year One per week Grab

Total Residual Chlorine (14)(21)(22) All Year Two per day Grab

Dissolved Oxygen (14)(22) All Year Two per day Grab pH (14)(22) All Year Two per day Grab

Flow (14)(23)(24) All Year Continuous Recorded

Total Monthly Flow (14)(25) All Year Monthly Calculated

Total Recoverable Copper(14) (15) (28) All Year Monthly 24-hour composite

Total Recoverable Zinc(14) (15) (28) All Year Monthly 24-hour composite

Total Recoverable Cyanide(14) (15) (28) All Year Monthly 24-hour composite

Total hardness as CaCO3

(14) (15) All Year Monthly 24-hour composite

Total PCB (14) (27) All year See Footenote 27 24-hour composite

Chloride dissolved as Cl(14) (15) All Year Monthly 24-hour composite

Sulfate dissolved as SO4(14) (15) All Year Monthly 24-hour composite

Heptachlor Epoxide(14) (15) (28) All Year Monthly 24-hour composite

Arsenic, Total (14) (15) (28) All Year One/year 24-hour composite

Lead, Total (14) (15)(28) All Year One/year 24-hour composite

Mercury, Total (14) (15)(28) All Year One/year 24-hour composite

Nickel, Total(14) (15) (28) All Year One/year 24-hour composite

Silver(14) (15) (28) All Year One/year 24-hour composite

Total Toxic Organic (TTO)(14) (15) All Year One/year 24-hour composite

Page No. 9 of 36

Permit No. 15-DP-2525A (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 11 of 36

B(1).a Minimum Monitoring Requirements, Continued:

Footnotes for the monitoring requirements, continued:

(14) "STORET" (short for STOrage and RETrieval) is a widely-used repository for water quality data reporting and monitoring. The STORET codes for the effluent characteristics described as limitations and/or monitoring requirements are: BOD5 (00310), Total Suspended Solids (00530), TKN (00625), Total Ammonia Nitrogen as N (00610), Total Phosphorus as P (00665), Total Nitrogen as N (00600), (Nitrite + Nitrate) as N (00630), Organic Nitrogen as N (00605), Orthophosphate as P (04175), E. Coli

(51040), Fecal Coliform (74055), Total Residual Chlorine (50060), Dissolved Oxygen (00300), pH

(00400), Flow (50050), Total monthly flow (82220), Hardness, Total as CaCO3, (00900), PCBs (79819), Total Recoverable Copper as Cu(01119), Total Recoverable Zinc(01094), Total Recoverable

Cyanide(78248), Chloride dissolved as Cl (82295), Sulfate dissolved as SO4 (00946), Heptachlor

Epoxide (xxxxx), Total Arsenic (01002) , Total Cadmium (01027) , Total Lead (01051), Mercury

(71900), Total Nickel (01067), Total Silver(01077), and Total Toxic Organic (78223)

(15) This parameter (without effluent limitations) must be monitored, and it shall be reported on the Monthly

Operating Report (MOR) as individual results and on the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) (EPA

Form 3320-1) as monthly average concentrations.

(16) The Growing Season (4/1 to 10/31) Maximum Loading Rate (in pounds/season) for TSS is a calculated parameter to be reported monthly as the sum of the Total Monthly Loading Rates from April through October of the current calendar year. The details and results of all required annual calculations shall be submitted to the Department with the Discharge Monitoring Report for October.

(17) The Annual Maximum Loading Rate (in pounds/year) for BOD5 and TSS is a calculated parameter to be reported monthly as the sum of the Total Monthly Loadings from January through December of the current calendar year. The details and results of all required annual calculations shall be submitted to the Department with the Discharge Monitoring Report for December.

(18) Total monthly loading rate (in pounds/day) for nutrients is a calculated parameter to be reported for each calendar month. It is equal to {(monthly average concentration (mg/l) x (Total flow in a calendar month

(Million Gallons) x 8.34}/(the number of days in the month).

(19) Total nitrogen as N (in mg/l) is a calculated parameter as the sum of individual results for total ammonia nitrogen as N, organic nitrogen as N and (nitrite + nitrate) as N. All the nitrogen species must be sampled on the same day.

(20) The permittee shall also calculate and report on the monthly DMR the TN and TP total monthly loads

(Definition I.H.5) plus year-to-date cumulative loads (Definition I.H.6) for the calendar year in question for the outfall- 002A.

For each calendar year beginning January 2016, the year-to-date cumulative loads of TN and TP for the month of December shall represent the total annual loads, and they must be incorporated toward complying with the respective annual maximum load limits. Refer to Special Condition II.M for

“Reporting TN and TP total annual loads for compliance to the Concentration-based maximum annual lading rate limits”.

(21) The minimum detection level (quantification level) for total residual chlorine is 0.10 mg/l. The permittee may report all results below the minimum level as <0.10 mg/l. All results reported below the minimum level shall be considered in compliance.

Page No. 10 of 36

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 11 of 36

(22) The monitoring of parameters (total residual chlorine, pH and dissolved oxygen) by two per day-grab samplings shall be distributed on a daily basis during the entire staffed period in accordance with the representative sampling requirements as stated in General Condition III.A.1.

(23) Flows shall be reported in millions gallons per day (mgd) to at least the nearest 1,000 gallons per day.

(Example: A flow of 524,699 gallons per day shall be reported as 0.525 mgd.). For each calendar month, flows shall be reported on the MOR as daily individual results and on the DMR as monthly average (mgd) and daily maximum (mgd)).

(24) Continuous electronic flow measurement and recording which can produce a permanent record are acceptable to the Department.

(25) Total monthly flow is a calculated parameter equal to sum of the daily flow results in a calendar month.

It shall be reported on the monthly DMR as Total monthly flow in millions gallons (MG) to at least the nearest 1,000 gallons. (Example: A flow of 1,524,699 gallons shall be reported as 1.525 MG).

(26) The permittee shall distribute the timing for effluent sampling with (a) minimum of 48-hour apart for two per week monitoring frequencies

(27) (a) If the annual total PCBs load is greater than 0.548 grams/year, an additional Best Management Practice (BMP) will be required to track and eliminate the source of the PCBs. The permittee shall submit a plan to the Department for approval to track the source and BMP implementation within 60 days of exceedance of annual load of total PCBs

(b) Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Total PCBs) samples shall be analyzed using Method 1668 A or C.

The total PCBs concentration is the summation of all individually measured congeners. Both the individual congeners and the total PCBs concentrations shall be reported in accordance with the General Condition III.A.2.c. Any value detected less than 5 picogram/l may be reported as non-detectable.

(c) The frequency of effluent sampling for the Total PCBs shall be two per quarter for the first three years and one per quarter for the last two years of the permit life

(28) Parameter shall be analyzed in accordance with the MDE Water Management Administration Toxic Substance Protocol and Reporting Requirements for Toxic Chemical Testing Analytical Data (5/18/2011) or subsequent versions. This includes analytical methodology, detection levels, holding times, preservation methods, sample type and reporting. In addition to the submitted Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR), the permittee shall submit a copy of the laboratory report for the parameter to MDE in accordance with the General Condition III A.2.c of this discharge permit.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525A (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 13 of 36

B(1).b Minimum Monitoring Requirements at:

The effluent characteristics listed below in Table B(1).b shall be monitored at the internal monitoring point referred to as MP101 prior to discharge to the OFS via spray irrigation per Special Condition II.P.

Effluent Characteristics Monitoring Period Measurement Frequency Sample Type

BOD5 (14) See below *

Two per week** 24-hour composite

Total Suspended Solids (14) See below *

Two per week** 24-hour composite

Fecal Coliform (14) See below *

One per week Grab pH (14) See below *

Two per day Grab

Flow (14) See below *

Continuous during spray irrigation

Recorded

* Monitoring shall be performed during spray irrigation.

** If spray irrigation in OFS occurs more than one day in a week, then a minimum of two samples shall be required.

Page No. 11a of 36

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 12 of 36

B(2) Report Submittal Requirements

Report Description Reporting Frequency Report Submittal Deadline

Effluent Biomonitoring Study Plan and Toxic Chemical Testing Plan (29)(30) See footnote - 30 See footnote - 30

Effluent Biomonitoring Study Report (29)(31) See footnote- 31 See footnote- 31

Effluent Toxic Chemical Testing Report (29)(31) See footnote - 32 See footnote- 32

(29) If the permittee has selected a third party for submitting reports to the Department, the permittee must provide to the third party with a document of authorization for report submission which is required with the report.

(30) Within three months from the effective date of this permit, the permittee shall submit the Study Plans for effluent biomonitoring as well as toxic chemical testing and obtain approval from the Department.

(31) After MDE’s approval of the Effluent Biomonitoring Study Plan, the permittee shall perform the effluent biomonitoing study and submit the results in a comprehensive report to the Department as per requirements of the Special Condition II.D. The reporting frequency of this report shall be once per year for four years beginning effective date of this permit. The report shall be submitted to the Department along with the DMR for the month during which the test was completed, and it shall be postmarked by the 28th of the month following the test completion month. (Example: If the test is completed in March, the comprehensive report shall be submitted with the March DMR postmarked by 28th April).

(32) After MDE’s approval of the Effluent Toxic Chemical Testing Plan, the permittee shall perform the effluent toxic chemical testing and submit the results in a comprehensive report to the Department as per requirements of the Special Condition II.F. The reporting frequency of this report shall be once per year for four years beginning effective date of this permit. The report shall be submitted to the Department along with DMR for the month during which the test was completed, and it shall be postmarked by the 28th of the month following the test completion month. (Example: If the test is completed in March, the comprehensive report shall be submitted with the March DMR postmarked by 28th April).

Permit No. 15-DP-2525A (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 15 of 36

C. Outfall 001 (Abandoned)

Outfall 001 (Abandoned) is the abandoned discharge outfall to the unnamed tributary to Beaverdam Creek from the final chlorination / dechlorination and aeration tank that collects treated wastewater from the overland flow fields. Excess treated wastewater that is collected from the overland flow fields is no longer discharged through abandoned Outfall 001, it is instead returned to the overland flow storage lagoon for recycling. This permit does not authorize wastewater discharge through Outfall 001, wastewater discharge through Outfall 001 is prohibited.

See Special Condition II.P. Overland Flow System on pages 22a, 22b and 22c of 36

D. BIOMONITORING PROGRAM

1. Within three months of the effective date of the permit, the permittee shall submit to the Department for approval a study plan to evaluate wastewater whole effluent toxicity (WET) at Outfall 002A using the biomonitoring results.

The study plan shall include a discussion of:

a. wastewater and production variability

b. sampling & sample handling

c. source & age of test organisms

d. source of dilution water

e. testing procedures/experimental design

f. data analysis

g. quality assurance/quality control

h. report preparation

i. testing schedule

2. The testing program shall consist of four quarters of definitive annual chronic testing. The testing events shall be conducted annually during January or

February of each of the first four years after approval of the study plan. This testing shall be initiated no later than the January or February following the

Department’s acceptance of the study plan.

Each annual testing event shall include the Ceriodaphnia survival and reproduction test and the fathead minnow larval survival and growth test.)

3. The samples used for biomonitoring shall be collected at the same time and location as the samples analyzed for the effluent limitations and monitoring

Page No. 13 of 36

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 14 of 36 requirements for this outfall. For chlorinated effluents, samples shall be collected after dechlorination. The permittee shall collect 24-hour flow– proportioned composite samples unless the Department has given prior approval of an alternative sampling type.

4. The following EPA document discusses the appropriate methods:

Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms Fourth Edition, EPA-821-R-02-013, October, 2002

5. Test results shall be submitted to the Department within one month of completion of each set of tests.

6. Test results shall be reported in accordance with MDE/WMA "Reporting Requirements for Effluent Biomonitoring Data,” 3/21/03.

7. As a minimum, the reported chronic results shall be expressed as NOEC, LOEC, ChV, and IC25.

8. If a 50% mortality or greater occurs in one or more effluent concentrations during the first 48 hours of the chronic tests, 48-hour LC50s shall be calculated and reported along with the chronic results

9. If testing is not performed in accordance with MDE-approved study plan, additional testing may be required by the Department.

10. If the test results of any two consecutive valid toxicity tests show acute or chronic toxicity (LC50 equal to or less than 100% for acute tests and an IC25 equal to or less than the in-stream waste concentration for chronic tests), the permittee shall repeat the test within 30 days to confirm the findings of acute or chronic toxicity. Intermittent toxicity or other concerns may require additional testing or limits. If acute and/or chronic toxicity is confirmed, the permittee shall:

a. Eliminate the source of toxicity through operational changes as soon as possible but in any case not longer than within three months, or

b. Perform a TRE. If the permittee repeats the toxicity testing as stated above and the results of the repeat test do not confirm the acute or chronic toxicity, the Department will require the permittee to repeat the toxicity testing as stated above to reconfirm a finding of no acute or chronic toxicity. After reconfirmation, the permittee shall complete any remaining quarterly testing required.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 15 of 36

11. If the permittee completes a TRE in accordance with II.D.10.b and unacceptable toxicity is confirmed, a Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) permit limit and a compliance schedule will be required which shall become discharge permit conditions through a Department initiated permit modification or through a permit renewal.

12. When a WET test result shows reasonable potential for toxicity, unless it can be demonstrated that the source of toxicity has been eliminated, inappropriate test procedures were utilized, or the source has been controlled via a chemical specific permit limitation, WET limits shall be required. These limits may be implemented by reopening the current permit or in a permit renewal. Where reasonable potential has been assumed based on one test result, the permit shall include a WET limit effective within three years unless the effluent shows no toxicity in six follow-up quarterly tests. The permit may be modified to remove the WET limit if the six follow-up quarterly tests show no toxicity.

13. If plant processes or operations change so that there is a significant change in the nature of the wastewater, the Department may require the permittee to conduct a new set of tests.

14. If a significant industrial user locates within the service area so that significant change in the nature of the wastewater might be anticipated, MDE may require the permittee to conduct a new set of tests.

15. The biomonitoring program study plan, WET test results and related materials shall be submitted electronically to the Department if the permittee has already been approved for the NetDMR process. Otherwise, the permittee shall submit all pertinent physical documents to:

Attention: Whole Effluent Toxicity Coordinator Compliance Program

Water management Administration Maryland Department of the Environment

1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 420 Baltimore, MD 21230-1708

(NOTE: If the documents are submitted electronically using NetDMR process, the permittee must make written notification upon submission to the Whole Effluent Toxicity Coordinator.)

E. Toxicity Reduction Evaluation

The permittee shall conduct a Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) when a review of toxicity test data by the Department indicates unacceptable acute or chronic effluent

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 16 of 36 toxicity. A TRE is an investigation conducted to identify the causative agents of effluent toxicity, isolate the source(s), determine the effectiveness of control options, implement the necessary control measures and then confirm the reduction in toxicity.

1. Within 90 days of notification by the Department that a TRE is required, the permittee shall submit for approval by the Department a plan of study, schedule and completion date for conducting a TRE. The permittee shall conduct the TRE study consistent with the submitted plan and schedule.

2. This plan should follow the framework presented in Toxicity Reduction Evaluation Guidance for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (EPA/833B- 99/002) August 1999.

Additional Guidance documents on the TRE process are shown below:

Methods for Aquatic Toxicity Identification Evaluations Phase I Toxicity Characterization Procedures Second Edition United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development Washington, DC 20460 EPA/600/6-9 l/003 February 1991

Methods for Aquatic Toxicity Identification Evaluations Phase II Toxicity Identification Procedures for Samples Exhibiting Acute and Chronic Toxicity, United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development EPA/600/R-92/080 September 1993 Washington DC 20460

Methods for Aquatic Toxicity Identification Evaluations Phase Ill Toxicity Confirmation Procedures for Samples Exhibiting Acute and Chronic Toxicity, United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development Washington DC 20460 EPA /600/R-92/08 1 September 1993

Clarifications Regarding Toxicity Reduction and Identification Evaluations in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program, March 27, 2001, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management , Office of Regulatory Enforcement, Washington, DC 20460

3. Beginning 60 days from the date of the Department's acceptance of the TRE study plan and every 60 days thereafter, the permittee shall submit progress reports including all relevant test data to the Department. This shall continue until completion of the toxicity reduction confirmation.

4. Within 60 days of completion of the toxicity identification or the source identification phase of the TRE, the permittee shall submit to the Department a plan, schedule and completion date for implementing those measures necessary to eliminate acute toxicity, an LC50 greater than 100%, and/or eliminate chronic toxicity, an IC25 greater than the in-stream waste concentration (IWC). The

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 17 of 36 implementation of these measures shall begin immediately upon submission of this plan.

5. Within 60 days of completing the implementation of the control measures to eliminate or reduce toxicity, the permittee shall submit to the Department for approval a study plan to confirm the elimination or reduction of toxicity by using biomonitoring.

6. If, for any reason, the implemented measures do not result in compliance with the Department's toxicity limitations, the permittee shall continue the TRE and a Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) permit limit and a compliance schedule will be required.

7. All the TRE-related materials shall be submitted electronically to the Department if the permittee has already been approved for the NetMR process.

Otherwise, the permittee shall submit all pertinent physical documents to:

Attention: Whole Effluent Toxicity Coordinator Compliance Program

Water management Administration Maryland Department of the Environment

1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 420 Baltimore, MD 21230-1708

(NOTE: If the documents are submitted electronically using NetDMR process, the permittee must make written notification upon submission to the Whole Effluent Toxicity Coordinator.)

F. Toxic Chemical Testing

1. Concurrent with the biomonitoring study plan, the permittee shall submit to the Department for approval, a study plan to perform four sets of analytical testing for toxic chemicals.

2. The toxic chemical testing study plan shall include a description of:

a. sampling methods;

b. analytical methods;

c. practical detection levels; and

d. quality control procedures.

Permit No. 15-DP-2525 (NPDES MD0020842) Page No. 18 of 36

3. Concurrently with each biomonitoring toxicity tests (Special Condition II.D.2), the permittee shall perform analytical testing for the toxic chemicals identified in the Department's "Toxic Pollutant Monitoring Protocol and Reporting Requirements for Toxic Chemical Testing Analytical Data" (05/18/2011).

4. Toxic chemical testing shall be performed in accordance with 40 CFR Part 136 and the Department-approved toxic chemical testing plan. Also, when analyzing effluent samples for Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Total PCBs) using Method 1668 A or C, the total PCBs concentration is the summation of all individually measured congeners. Both the individual congeners and the total PCBs concentrations shall be reported. Grab samples must be used for cyanide, phenols, and volatile organic compounds.