LIS

Administrative Code

Creating a Report: Check the sections you'd like to appear in the report, then use the "Create Report" button at the bottom of the page to generate your report. Once the report is generated you'll then have the option to download it as a pdf, print or email the report.

Virginia Administrative Code
Title 9. Environment
Agency 25. State Water Control Board
Chapter 151. Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activity
10/14/2024

9VAC25-151-90. Sector A - Timber products facilities (including mulch, wood, and bark facilities and mulch dyeing facilities).

A. Discharges covered under this section. The requirements listed under this section apply to stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity from facilities generally classified under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes 2491 and 2499 that are engaged in the following activities: cutting timber and pulpwood (those that have log storage or handling areas), mills, including merchant, lath, shingle, cooperage stock, planing, plywood and veneer, and producing lumber and wood materials; wood preserving, manufacturing wood buildings or mobile homes; and manufacturing finished articles made entirely of wood or related materials, except for wood kitchen cabinet manufacturers (SIC Code 2434), and mulch, wood, and bark facilities, including mulch dyeing operations (SIC Code 24991303).

B. Special conditions.

1. Prohibition of nonstormwater discharges. Discharges of stormwater from areas where there may be contact with chemical formulations applied to provide surface protection are not authorized by this permit. Surface protection includes chemical application to control sap stain, mold, mildew, and insects. These discharges must be covered under a separate VPDES permit. Discharge of wet dye drippings from mulch dyeing operations are also prohibited.

2. Authorized nonstormwater discharges. In addition to the discharges described in Part I B 1, the following nonstormwater discharges may be authorized by this permit provided the nonstormwater component of the discharge is in compliance with subsection C of this section and the effluent limitations described in subsection D of this section: discharges from the spray down of lumber and wood product storage yards where no chemical additives are used in the spray down waters and no chemicals are applied to the wood during storage.

C. Stormwater controls. The description of stormwater management controls shall address the following areas of the site: log, lumber, and wood product storage areas; residue storage areas; loading and unloading areas; material handling areas; chemical storage areas; and equipment and vehicle maintenance, storage, and repair areas. Facilities that surface protect or preserve wood products shall address specific control measures, including any BMPs, for wood surface protection and preserving activities. Facilities that dye mulch shall address specific control measures to prevent the discharge of wet dye drippings and to prevent seepage of pollutants to groundwater.

The SWPPP shall address the following minimum components:

1. Good housekeeping. Good housekeeping measures in storage areas, loading and unloading areas, and material handling areas shall be designed to:

a. Limit the discharge of wood debris;

b. Minimize the leachate generated from decaying wood materials; and

c. Minimize the generation of dust.

2. Routine facility inspections. Inspections at processing areas, transport areas, and treated wood storage areas of facilities performing wood surface protection and preservation activities shall be performed monthly to assess the usefulness of practices in minimizing the deposit of treatment chemicals on unprotected soils and in areas that will come in contact with stormwater discharges. The requirement for routine facility inspections is waived for facilities that have maintained an active VEEP E3/E4 status.

D. Numeric effluent limitations.

The following numeric effluent limitations shall be met by existing and new facilities. Wet deck storage area runoff. Nonstormwater discharges from areas used for the storage of logs where water, without chemical additives, is intentionally sprayed or deposited on logs to deter decay or infestation by insects are required to meet the following effluent limitations: pH shall be within the range of 6.0-9.0, and there will be no discharge of debris. Chemicals are not allowed to be applied to the stored logs. The term "debris" is defined as woody material, for example, bark, twigs, branches, heartwood, or sapwood that will not pass through a 2.54 cm (1 in.) diameter round opening and is present in the discharge from a wet deck storage area. Permittees subject to these numeric limitations shall be in compliance with these limitations through the duration of permit coverage.

Table 90-1
Sector A - Numeric Effluent Limitations

Parameter

Effluent Limitations

Wet Decking Discharges at Log Storage and Handling Areas (SIC Code 2411)

pH

6.0 - 9.0 s.u.

Debris,woody material (e.g., bark, twigs, branches, heartwood, or sapwood)

No discharge of debris that will not pass through a 2.54 cm (1") diameter round opening.

E. Benchmark monitoring and reporting requirements. Wood preserving facilities; mulch, wood, and bark facilities; and mulch dyeing facilities are required to monitor their stormwater discharges for the pollutants of concern listed in the appropriate section of Table 90-2.

Table 90-2
Sector A - Benchmark Monitoring Requirements

Pollutants of Concern

Benchmark Concentration

General Sawmills and Planing Mills (SIC Code 2421)

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

100 mg/L

Wood Preserving Facilities (SIC Code 2491)

Total Recoverable Arsenic1

150 μg/L

Total Recoverable Chromium1

16 μg/L

Total Recoverable Copper1

13 μg/L

Log Storage and Handling Facilities (SIC Code 2411)

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

100 mg/L

Hardwood Dimension and Flooring Mills; Special Products Sawmills, not elsewhere classified; Millwork, Veneer, Plywood and Structural Wood; Wood Containers; Wood Buildings and Mobile Homes; Reconstituted Wood Products; and Wood Products Facilities not elsewhere classified (SIC Codes 2426, 2429, 2431-2439 (except 2434), 2441, 2448, 2449, 2451, 2452, 2493, and 2499).

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

100 mg/L

Mulch, Wood, and Bark Facilities (SIC Code 24991303)

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

100 mg/L

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

120 mg/L

Facilities with Mulch Dyeing/Coloring Operations (SIC Code 24991303): Monitor ONLY those outfalls from the facility that collect runoff from areas where mulch dyeing/coloring activities occur, including but not limited to areas where loading, transporting, and storage of dyed/colored mulch occurs.2

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

100 mg/L

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5)

30 mg/L

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

120 mg/L

Total Recoverable Aluminum

1,100 μg/L

Total Recoverable Arsenic

150 μg/L

Total Recoverable Cadmium

1.8 μg/L

Total Recoverable Chromium

16 μg/L

Total Recoverable Copper

13 μg/L

Total Recoverable Selenium

5.0 μg/L

Total Recoverable Silver

3.2 μg/L

Total Recoverable Zinc

120 μg/L

Total Nitrogen

2.2 mg/L

Total Phosphorus

2.0 mg/L

1Monitoring for metals (arsenic, chromium and copper) is not required for wood preserving facilities using only oil-based preservatives.

2Benchmark monitoring waivers are available to facilities utilizing mulch dye or colorant products that do not contain the specified parameters provided that (i) monitoring from samples collected during one monitoring period demonstrates that the specific parameter in question is below the quantitation level; (ii) a waiver request with attached laboratory certificate of analysis is submitted to and approved by the department; and (iii) a certification statement is submitted to the department annually that the facility does not use mulch dyeing products that contain any of the specifically waived parameters. Approved benchmark monitoring waivers shall be kept with the SWPPP.

Statutory Authority

§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; § 402 of the Clean Water Act; 40 CFR Parts 122, 123, and 124.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 9, eff. June 30, 1999; amended, Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 16, eff. July 1, 2004; Volume 25, Issue 19, eff. June 24, 2009; Volume 30, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2014; Volume 35, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2019; Volume 40, Issue 15, eff. July 1, 2024.

Website addresses provided in the Virginia Administrative Code to documents incorporated by reference are for the reader's convenience only, may not necessarily be active or current, and should not be relied upon. To ensure the information incorporated by reference is accurate, the reader is encouraged to use the source document described in the regulation.

As a service to the public, the Virginia Administrative Code is provided online by the Virginia General Assembly. We are unable to answer legal questions or respond to requests for legal advice, including application of law to specific fact. To understand and protect your legal rights, you should consult an attorney.