17.34.070 Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permits.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinances 165068, 172879, 185397, 189506 and 189750, effective November 29, 2019.)

  1. A.  Requirement for a permit.  Except as provided in Subsection 17.34.070 B. an industrial wastewater discharger must have an industrial wastewater discharge permit prior to discharging into the City sewer system if:
    1. 1.  The discharge is required to be permitted under procedures contained in the City’s approved pretreatment program; or
    2. 2.  The discharger is a Significant Industrial User, which includes:
      1. a.  All industrial users subject to Categorical Pretreatment standards under 40 CFR 403.6 and 40 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N; and
      2. b.  Any other industrial user that:
        1. (1)  Discharges an average of at least 25,000 gallons per day or more of process wastewater to the POTW (excluding domestic, noncontact cooling and boiler blowdown wastewater);
        2. (2)  Contributes a process wastestream which makes up five percent or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the POTW treatment plant; or
        3. (3)  Is designated as such by the Director on the basis that the industrial user has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW’s operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement in accordance with 40 CFR 403.8(f)(6),
    3. 3.  The Director may determine that an industrial user meeting the criteria above is not a “Significant Industrial User” if the discharge has no reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW’s operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement in accordance with 40 CFR 403.8(f)(6).
  2. B.  Existing discharges.
    1. 1.  If discharges occur prior to the date that an industrial wastewater discharge permit is required, the discharger shall be notified in writing by the Director that such a permit is required.  Such existing dischargers shall be allowed to continue discharging into the City sewer system without an industrial wastewater discharge permit until a permit is issued or denied, provided the discharger files a completed environmental survey and application for an industrial wastewater discharge permit within 90 days of receipt of the notice.
    2. 2.  Discharges that require an industrial wastewater discharge permit and are allowed to continue discharging without such a permit under Subsection 17.34.070 B.1. shall comply with the requirements of this Chapter and rules adopted hereunder.
  3. C.  Application for industrial wastewater discharge permit.
    1. 1.  Existing Significant Industrial Users, shall submit application for a permit on a form provided by the Director within 180 days after the effective date of a categorical pretreatment standard issued by the U.S. EPA or within 90 days after receiving notification from the Director that such a standard has been issued, whichever is sooner.
    2. 2.  New Source Dischargers.  Any new source discharger determined by the Director to be a Significant Industrial User shall submit an application for a permit on a form provided by the Director within 90 days of notification by the Director. However, a new source discharger may not discharge to the sewer system without a permit.
    3. 3.  Submission of the application for permit required by this Section will satisfy the requirements of 40 CFR 403.12(b).
    4. 4.  The application for permit shall not be considered complete until all information required by the application form, requirements of this Chapter, or by administrative is provided.  All fees must be paid and the certification statement required by 40 CFR 403.12(b)(6) signed by the authorized representative.  The Director may grant specific exemptions for these items.
  4. D.  Issuance of industrial wastewater discharge permits.
    1. 1.  Industrial wastewater discharge permits shall be issued or denied by the Director within 90 days after a completed application is received, unless that period is extended in writing by the Director for good and valid cause.
    2. 2.  Industrial wastewater discharge permits shall contain conditions which meet the requirements of this Chapter, administrative rules and applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
    3. 3.  If pretreatment facilities are needed to meet the applicable pretreatment standards or requirements in an industrial wastewater discharge permit, the permit shall require the installation of such facilities on a compliance schedule.
    4. 4.  Whenever an industrial wastewater discharge permit requires installation or modification of pretreatment facilities or a process change necessary to meet discharge standards or spill control requirements, a compliance schedule shall be included which establishes the date for installation of the pretreatment facilities or process changes.  The compliance schedule may contain appropriate interim dates for completion of specified tasks.  Compliance dates established in a permit cannot exceed federal categorical deadline dates.
    5. 5.  Industrial wastewater discharge permits shall expire no later than 5 years after the effective date of the permit and shall not be transferable except with prior notification and approval from the Director.
    6. 6.  The Director may deny the issuance of an industrial wastewater discharge permit if the discharge could result in violations of local, state or federal laws or regulations; cause interference or damage to any portion of the City sewer system; or create an imminent or potential hazard to human health or the environment.
  5. E.  Modification of permits.
    1. 1.  An industrial wastewater discharge permit may be modified for good and valid cause at the written request of the permittee or at the discretion of the Director.
    2. 2.  Permittee modification requests shall be submitted to the Director and shall contain a detailed description of all proposed changes in the discharge.  The Director may request any additional information needed to adequately review the application or assess its impact.
    3. 3.  The Director may deny a request for modification if they determine that the change will result in violations of local, State or federal laws or regulations, will cause interference or damage to any portion of the City sewer system, or will create an imminent or potential hazard to human health or the environment.
    4. 4.  If a permit modification is made at the direction of the Director, the permittee shall be notified in writing of the proposed modification at least 30 days prior to its effective date and informed of the reasons for the changes.
  6. F.  Change in a permitted discharge.  A modification to the permittee’s discharge permit must be issued by the Director before any significant increase is made in the volume or level of pollutants in an existing permitted discharge to the City sewer system.  Changes in the discharge involving the introduction of a wastewater not previously included in the industrial wastewater discharge permit application or involving the addition of new pollutants shall be considered new discharges, requiring application under Section 17.34.070.
  7. G.  Renewal of Permits.  A permittee shall apply for renewal of its industrial wastewater discharge permit at least 90 days prior to the expiration date of the existing permit.  Upon timely application for renewal, an existing permit will remain effective until the renewed permit is issued or denied.
  8. H.  Administrative review and appeal of permit or permit modification.  Upon receipt of an industrial wastewater discharge permit or permit modification, a permittee may request administrative review of any of its terms or conditions in accordance with provisions established in this Chapter and its associated administrative rules. After a permittee has exhausted BES administrative review,  a permittee may appeal any of the permit’s terms or conditions to the Code Hearings Officer in accordance with procedures set out at Chapter 22.10 of the Portland City Code.  Administrative review by BES and appeal to the Code Hearings Officer may be limited by administrative rule.

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