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<baltimore-city-law heading="Subtitle 3 – Wastewater Discharge Permits">
  <section prefix="§" num="3-1" heading="Permit required.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">
      <para num="(1)">All industrial/commercial users proposing to connect or to discharge, directly or indirectly, into a public sanitary or combined sewer must apply for a wastewater discharge permit before connecting to or discharging into a public sanitary or combined sewer.</para>
      <para num="(2)">All industrial or commercial users connected to or discharging into a public sewer after June 28, 1984, must apply for a permit.</para>
      <para num="(3)">The discharge of industrial or commercial wastewater to the public sewer without having applied for a permit shall result in the assessment of penalties as provided by §§ 3-2 and 23-4.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Users included.">These users include:<para num="(1)">any user who is subject to national categorical pretreatment standards;</para>
      <para num="(2)">any significant industrial user;</para>
      <para num="(3)">any user whose discharge would be in violation of Subtitle 2 {“Control of Sanitary and Storm Sewers”} of &lt;cite data-path="|25"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
      <para num="(4)">any user regulated by state pretreatment requirements;</para>
      <para num="(5)">any user using, storing, or generating prohibited, toxic, or priority pollutants; and</para>
      <para num="(6)">any other user as required by the Director.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Compliance with permit required.">No industrial/commercial user shall discharge wastewater directly or indirectly into a public sewer except pursuant to and in accordance with a wastewater discharge permit, when determined by the Director that a permit is required.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(1)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-2" heading="Applications.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">Users seeking a wastewater discharge permit shall complete and file with the Director of Public Works an application in the form prescribed by the Director.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Required information.">The applicant shall be required to submit, in units and terms appropriate for evaluation, the following information, if applicable:<para num="(1)">name, address, and standard industrial classification (“SIC”) number of applicant;</para>
      <para num="(2)">nature of process;</para>
      <para num="(3)">volume and rate of flow of wastewater to be discharged;</para>
      <para num="(4)">wastewater constituents and characteristics, including but not limited to those mentioned in this subtitle, as determined by a laboratory approved by the Director;</para>
      <para num="(5)">time and duration of discharge and hours of operation;</para>
      <para num="(6)">average and peak wastewater flow rates, including daily, monthly, and seasonal variations, if any;</para>
      <para num="(7)">production quantities and mass discharge rate;</para>
      <para num="(8)">description of activities, facilities, and plant processes on the premises, including all materials, processes, and types of materials which are or could be discharged; and</para>
      <para num="(9)">any other information as may be deemed by the Director to be necessary to evaluate the permit application.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(2)(1st par.)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-3" heading="Evaluation and issuance.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Additional information; inspection.">
      <para num="(1)">The Director will evaluate the data furnished by the user and may require additional information.</para>
      <para num="(2)">After evaluation and acceptance of the data furnished, an on-site inspection of the waste discharge system, treatment system, or other systems relating to the waste discharge may be required.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Issuance.">The Director may then issue a wastewater discharge permit subject to terms and conditions provided herein.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(2)(2nd par.)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-4" heading="Permit fee.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Director may set.">A wastewater discharge permit fee may be established by the Director of Public Works.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Criteria.">
      <para num="(1)">Such a fee shall be based on the City’s costs of operating the industrial waste control program.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Costs shall include, but not be limited to, issuance of permits, inspection of facilities, sampling, testing, and operation of the City’s industrial wastes laboratory.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(9)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-5" heading="Permit conditions - in general.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Permits subject to City regulations, etc.">Wastewater discharge permits shall be subject to:<para num="(1)">all provisions of &lt;cite data-path="|25"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt;; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">all other regulations, user charges, and fees established by the City.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Uniform enforcement.">The conditions of wastewater discharge permits shall be uniformly enforced by the Director of Public Works in accordance with &lt;cite data-path="|25"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt;, and applicable state and federal regulations.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Conflicts.">In the event of conflict between local, state, or federal regulations, the most stringent regulation shall be enforced by the Director.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Modifications.">The terms and conditions of the permit may be modified or changed by the City during the life of the permit:<para num="(1)">as limitations or requirements imposed by federal, state, or local laws or regulations are modified or changed; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">to protect the POTW from interference, pass-through, or contamination of treatment by-products.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(3)(1st - 3rd sens.), (a)(6)(4th sen.)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-6" heading="Permit conditions - specific requirements.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="“New source” defined.">
      <para num="(1)">“New source” means any building, structure, facility, or installation from which there is or may be a discharge of pollutants, the construction of which commenced after the publication of proposed pretreatment standards under § 307(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act which will be applicable to such source if such standards are thereafter promulgated in accordance with that section, provided that:<para num="(i)">the building, structure, facility, or installation is constructed at a site at which no other source is located;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">the building, structure, facility, or installation totally replaces the process or production equipment that causes the discharge of pollutants at an existing source; or</para>
        <para num="(iii)">the production or wastewater generating processes of the building, structure, facility, or installation are substantially independent of an existing source at the same site.
In determining whether these are substantially independent, factors such as the extent to which the new facility is integrated with the existing plant, and the extent to which the new facility is engaged in the same general type of activity as the existing source should be considered.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">Construction on a site at which an existing source is located results in a modification rather than a new source if the construction does not create a new building, structure, facility, or installation meeting the criteria of paragraph (1)(ii) or (iii) of this subsection but otherwise alters, replaces, or adds to existing process or production equipment.</para>
      <para num="(3)">Construction of a new source as defined under this subsection has commenced if the owner operator has:<para num="(i)">begun or caused to begin as part of a continuous on-site construction program:<para num="(A)">any placement, assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment; or</para>
          <para num="(B)">significant site preparation work including clearing, excavation, or removal of existing buildings, structures, or facilities which is necessary for the placement, assembly, or installation of new source facilities or equipment; or</para>
        </para>
        <para num="(ii)">entered into a binding contractual obligation for the purchase of facilities or equipment which are intended to be used in its operation within a reasonable time.
Options to purchase or contracts which can be terminated or modified without substantial loss, and contracts for feasibility, engineering, and design studies do not constitute a contractual obligation under this paragraph.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="In general.">Permits shall contain the following:<para num="(1)">the average and maximum concentrations and/or loadings of permitted wastewater constituents; these limitations will be based upon applicable federal general and categorical pretreatment standards for new and existing sources per 40 CFR Subchapter N, Parts 401 through 471, local limits, and/or state and local laws;</para>
      <para num="(2)">self-monitoring, sampling, reporting, notification, and record-keeping requirements, including an identification of the pollutants to be monitored, sampling location, sampling frequency, and sample type, based on the applicable general pretreatment standards, categorical pretreatment standards, local limits, and/or state and local laws;</para>
      <para num="(3)">requirements for submission of technical reports, discharge reports, waste disposal reports, or other reports as necessary;</para>
      <para num="(4)">requirements for:<para num="(i)">maintaining plant records relating to wastewater discharge, as specified under &lt;cite data-path="|25|§21-1"&gt;§ 21-1 of this article&lt;/cite&gt;; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">affording the City access thereto;</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(5)">requirements for amending the permit if discharge is significantly changed;</para>
      <para num="(6)">effective date and expiration date;</para>
      <para num="(7)">statement of non-transferability, as specified in &lt;cite data-path="|25|§3-10"&gt;§ 3-10 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
      <para num="(8)">statement of applicable civil and criminal penalties for violation of pretreatment standards, requirements, and any applicable compliance schedule; and</para>
      <para num="(9)">other conditions as deemed appropriate by the Director to insure compliance with &lt;cite data-path="|25"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt; and with state and federal pretreatment standards and requirements.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Federal requirements not waivable.">
      <para num="(1)">Permit requirements based upon federal standards may not be waived.</para>
      <para num="(2)">No consideration will be given to a request for a waiver of federal general or categorical pretreatment standards.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §1(o), §7(a)(3)(4th sen.), (a)(4)(3rd sen.), (a)(6)(6th sen.)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-7" heading="Permit conditions - compliance required.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">No person shall discharge wastewaters in violation of the limitations set by the wastewater discharge permit.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Application for amended permit.">Any person desiring to discharge wastewater or use facilities which are not in conformance with the wastewater discharge permit should apply to the Director of Public Works for an amended permit.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(4)(1st - 2nd sens.)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-8" heading="Changes in operations.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Report required.">Substantial changes in:<para num="(1)">business location;</para>
      <para num="(2)">industrial process;</para>
      <para num="(3)">volume or characteristics of pollutants in the discharge;</para>
      <para num="(4)">quantity or quality of discharge; or</para>
      <para num="(5)">in chemical storage practices,
shall be reported to the Director.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="When advance notice required.">Advance notice is required for anticipated facility expansions and for production increases, decreases, or modifications which could result in the change of the quantity or quality of discharged pollutants.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(5)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-9" heading="Term and reissuance of permits.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Term.">
      <para num="(1)">Permits shall be issued for a specified time period, not to exceed 5 years.</para>
      <para num="(2)">A permit may be issued for a period of less than a year or may expire on a specific date.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Appeal of permit determination.">
      <para num="(1)">Any user desiring to appeal a permit determination must provide comments to the Director within 15 days of receipt of the permit.</para>
      <para num="(2)">If any user disagrees with or is aggrieved by any determination or decision which is made, rendered, issued, or given under the provisions of this section, such user may appeal as provided in &lt;cite data-path="|25|§21-7"&gt;§ 21-7 of this article&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Reissuance.">The user shall apply for permit reissuance at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the user’s existing permit.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(6)(1st - 3rd, 5th, 6th sens.)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-10" heading="Permit transfers.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Permits issued to specific users and operations.">Wastewater discharge permits are issued to a specific user for a specific operation.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Transfers.">
      <para num="(1)">A wastewater discharge permit shall not be reassigned or transferred or sold a new owner, new user, or a new or changed operation without the prior written approval of the Director.</para>
      <para num="(2)">A permit shall not be transferred to any other location.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(7)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-11" heading="Suspension of permit.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Grounds for suspension.">A user’s wastewater discharge permit may be suspended:<para num="(1)">for any violation of &lt;cite data-path="|25"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt; or applicable state and federal regulations; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">for failure to act in strict accordance with the conditions of the user’s wastewater discharge permit, including:<para num="(i)">failing to report or inaccurately reporting wastewater constituents and characteristics or changes therein;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">refusing right of entry guaranteed by §§ &lt;cite data-path="|25|§4-8"&gt;4-8&lt;/cite&gt; and &lt;cite data-path="|25|§21-5"&gt;21-5&lt;/cite&gt; of &lt;cite data-path="|25"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">failing to reapply for a permit or to request a required permit modification; or</para>
        <para num="(iv)">failing to pay the required permit fee.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Procedure.">
      <para num="(1)">The Director shall provide prior notice of the suspension as is in his opinion reasonably permitted by the circumstances.</para>
      <para num="(2)">If such notice does not conform to §§ &lt;cite data-path="|25|§21-6"&gt;21-6&lt;/cite&gt; and &lt;cite data-path="|25|§22-1"&gt;22-1&lt;/cite&gt; of &lt;cite data-path="|25"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt; and the suspension is expected to continue or has continued in effect for more than 48 hours, the Director shall provide notice as set forth in said §§ 21-6 and 22-1 after the suspensions have taken effect.</para>
      <para num="(3)">This provision is in addition to statutes, rules, or regulations authorizing termination of service, including termination of existing wastewater connections, for delinquency in payment.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 25, §7(a)(8)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 84-129</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 91-775</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
