MIL-HDBK-1005/9A
may be developed to take into account differences in raw
materials used, manufacturing processes, age of the facilities,
types of wastewater, and type of product produced.
Limitations that are established focus on
conventional, nonconventional, and toxic pollutants.
Conventional pollutants are biochemical oxygen demand (BOD),
total suspended solids (TSS), pH, oil and grease, and fecal
coliform. Nonconventional pollutants are pollutants that are
not, by definition, conventional or toxic. There are over 400
toxic pollutants. Similar to the water quality standards, the
Clean Water Act requires revision to the limitations. However,
these revisions should be performed on an annual basis to
reflect current and improved technologies.
Every 2 years an "Effluent Guidelines Plan" is
published in the Federal Register identifying industrial sources
that discharge nonconventional and toxic pollutants and do not
yet have guidelines. Effluent guidelines (incorporating
technology-based standards) are established based on the amount
of effluent limitation reduction possible for toxic and
nonconventional pollutants by the best available technology
(BAT) economically achievable method. Best conventional
pollutant control technology is the technical standard for
conventional pollutants. When the EPA has not established
technology-based limitations, best professional judgment (BPJ)
is used to determine effluent guidelines. Industries built
after the publication of regulations are considered "new
sources" and are subject to more stringent effluent standards.
As long as compliance is met, industries have the freedom to
choose among different manufacturing processes and equipment.
1.5.3
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES). NPDES is the regulatory mechanism for the Clean Water
Act. NPDES requires anyone discharging pollutants from a point
source (pollutants discharged through confined and discrete
carrying devices) into waters of the United States to have a
permit. Some of the regulations that are controlled through
permits include the disposal of sewage sludge, dredge and fill
activities into navigable water and wetlands, discharge of
pollutants into ocean waters, and discharge of storm water.
NPDES permits can subject a direct discharge industrial facility
or a publicly owned treatment work to many terms and conditions.
6
Previous Page
