Virginia Law

Chapter 194. Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Vehicle Wash Facilities and Laundry Facilities

9VAC25-194-10. Definitions.

The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings defined in the State Water Control Law and 9VAC25-31 (VPDES Permit Regulation) unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, except that for the purposes of this chapter:

"Board" means the State Water Control Board. When used outside the context of the promulgation of regulations, including regulations to establish general permits, "board" means the Department of Environmental Quality.

"Construction equipment" means trenchers, backhoes, boring equipment, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, and any other piece of earth moving equipment.

"Golf course equipment" means carts, utility vehicles, bunker rakes, groomers, seeders, and other turf equipment but does not mean equipment used in fertilizer, pesticide, or herbicide application.

"Inlet protection measures" means equipment and best management practices to minimize pollution to state waters via the storm drain. Equipment includes containment berms, barriers, or seals designed to prevent water from entering the inlet, weighted filters, or socks designed to remove metals, oil and grease, solids, and debris combined with other measures, including vacuuming of wastewater, shut off hose nozzles, washing, or directing wastewater to grassy areas.

"Laundry" means any self-service facility where the washing of clothes is conducted as designated by NAICS Code 812310 and SIC 7215. It does not include facilities that engage in dry cleaning.

"Lawn maintenance equipment" means motorized or hand operated lawn care equipment, including mowers, hedgers, aerators, augers, blowers, brush clearers, brush cutters, dethatchers, edgers, pole saws, power rakes, and tillers, but does not mean equipment used in fertilizer, pesticide, or herbicide application.

"NAICS" means North American Industry Classification System from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 2017 edition.

"SIC" means the Standard Industrial Classification from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987 edition.

"Total maximum daily load" or "TMDL" means a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. A TMDL includes wasteload allocations (WLAs) for point source discharges, and load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources or natural background or both, and must include a margin of safety (MOS) and account for seasonal variations.

"Vehicle maintenance" means vehicle and equipment rehabilitation, mechanical repairs, painting, fueling, and lubrication.

"Vehicle wash" means any fixed or mobile facility where the manual, automatic, or self-service exterior washing of vehicles is conducted and includes the following:

1. Vehicles that convey passengers or goods on streets or highways, such as automobiles, trucks, motor homes, buses, motorcycles, ambulances, fire trucks, and tractor trailers. This industry primarily comprises establishments engaged in cleaning, washing, or waxing automotive vehicles, such as passenger cars, trucks, and vans, and trailers as designated by NAICS Code 811192 and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code 7542;

2. Incidental floor cleaning wash waters associated with facilities that wash vehicles where the floor wash water also passes through the vehicle wash treatment system;

3. Golf course equipment and lawn maintenance equipment;

4. Maintenance and construction equipment;

5. Street sweepers and catch basin cleaner trucks; and

6. Recreational boats less than 8.6' beam and 25' in length towed by a vehicle.

"Vehicle wash" does not mean engine cleaning or degreasing; the cleaning of floors in vehicle maintenance areas, cleaning of the interior of tanks or trailers carrying bulk or raw material, cleaning of equipment used in the paving industry, cleaning of chemical, fertilizer, or pesticide spreading equipment, or cleaning of tanker trucks, garbage trucks, livestock trailers, trains, boats larger than 8.6' beam and 25' in length, or aircraft; or the use of acid caustic metal brighteners or steam heated water.

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 13, Issue 26, eff. October 15, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 19, eff. October 15, 2002; Volume 28, Issue 18, eff. October 16, 2012; Volume 33, Issue 26, eff. October 16, 2017; Volume 38, Issue 18, eff. January 1, 2023; Volume 39, Issue 4, eff. January 2, 2023.

9VAC25-194-15. Applicability of incorporated references based on the dates that they became effective.

Except as noted, when a regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set forth in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is referenced or adopted in this chapter and incorporated by reference, that regulation shall be as it exists and has been published as of July 1, 2021.

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 28, Issue 18, eff. October 16, 2012; amended, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 26, eff. October 16, 2017; Volume 38, Issue 18, eff. January 1, 2023.

9VAC25-194-20. Purpose.

This general permit regulation governs the discharge of wastewater from vehicle wash facilities and laundry facilities to surface waters.

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 13, Issue 26, eff. October 15, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 18, eff. October 16, 2012.

9VAC25-194-30. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 26, eff. October 15, 1997; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 4, eff. January 2, 2023.

9VAC25-194-40. Effective date of the permit.

This general permit will become effective on January 1, 2023. This general permit will expire on December 31, 2027. This general permit is effective for any covered owner upon compliance with all the provisions of 9VAC25-194-50.

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 13, Issue 26, eff. October 15, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 19, eff. October 15, 2002; Volume 22, Issue 16, eff. May 17, 2006; Volume 28, Issue 18, eff. October 16, 2012; Volume 33, Issue 26, eff. October 16, 2017; Volume 38, Issue 18, eff. January 1, 2023.

9VAC25-194-50. Authorization to discharge.

A. Any owner governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater as described in 9VAC25-194-20 to surface waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia provided that:

1. The owner files a registration statement in accordance with 9VAC25-194-60, and that registration statement is accepted by the board;

2. The owner submits the required permit fee;

3. The owner complies with the applicable effluent limitations and other requirements of 9VAC25-194-70; and

4. The owner has not been notified by the board that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this permit in accordance with subsection B of this section.

B. The board will notify an owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this general permit in the event of any of the following:

1. The owner is required to obtain an individual permit in accordance with 9VAC25-31-170 B 3 of the VPDES Permit Regulation;

2. The owner is proposing to discharge to state waters specifically named in other board regulations that prohibit such discharges;

3. The discharge would violate the antidegradation policy in the Water Quality Standards at 9VAC25-260-30;

4. The discharge is not consistent with the assumptions and requirements of an approved TMDL; or

5. The discharge is to surface waters where there are central wastewater treatment facilities reasonably available, as determined by the board.

C. Mobile vehicle wash owners shall operate such that there is no discharge to surface waters and storm sewers unless they have coverage under this permit.

D. Compliance with this general permit constitutes compliance, for purposes of enforcement, with §§ 301, 302, 306, 307, 318, 403, and 405(a) through (b) of the federal Clean Water Act and the State Water Control Law with the exceptions stated in 9VAC25-31-60 of the VPDES Permit Regulation. Approval for coverage under this general permit does not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.

E. Continuation of permit coverage.

1. Permit coverage shall expire at the end of the applicable permit term. However, expiring permit coverages are automatically continued if the owner has submitted a complete registration statement at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the permit or a later submittal date established by the board, which cannot extend beyond the expiration date of the permit. The permittee is authorized to continue to discharge until such time as the board either:

a. Issues coverage to the owner under this general permit; or

b. Notifies the owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this permit.

2. When the owner that was covered under the expiring or expired general permit has violated or is violating the conditions of that permit, the board may choose to do any or all of the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the general permit coverage that has been continued;

b. Issue a notice of intent to deny coverage under the amended general permit. If the general permit coverage is denied, the owner would then be required to cease the discharges authorized by the continued general permit coverage or be subject to enforcement action for discharging without a permit;

c. Issue an individual permit with appropriate conditions; or

d. Take other actions authorized by the VPDES Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31).

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 13, Issue 26, eff. October 15, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 19, eff. October 15, 2002; Volume 28, Issue 18, eff. October 16, 2012; Volume 33, Issue 26, eff. October 16, 2017; Volume 38, Issue 18, eff. January 1, 2023.

9VAC25-194-60. Registration statement.

A. Deadlines for submitting registration statements. Any owner seeking coverage under this general permit shall submit a complete VPDES general permit registration statement in accordance with this chapter, which shall serve as a notice of intent for coverage under the VPDES general permit regulation for vehicle wash facilities and laundry facilities.

1. New facilities. Any owner proposing a new discharge shall submit a complete registration statement at least 60 days prior to the date planned for commencement of the discharge or a later submittal established by the board.

2. Existing facilities.

a. Any owner covered by an individual VPDES permit that is proposing to be covered by this general permit shall submit a complete registration statement at least 240 days prior to the expiration date of the individual VPDES permit or a later submittal established by the board.

b. Any owner that was authorized to discharge under an expiring or expired VPDES general permit for vehicle wash facilities and laundry facilities and that intends to continue coverage under this general permit shall submit a complete registration statement to the board at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the existing permit or a later submittal established by the board.

c. Any owner of a vehicle wash facility covered under this permit that had a monthly average flow rate of less than 5,000 gallons per day, and the flow rate increases above a monthly average flow rate of 5,000 gallons per day, shall submit an amended registration statement within 60 days of the increased flow or a later submittal established by the board.

B. Late registration statements. Registration statements for existing facilities covered under subdivision A 2 b of this section will be accepted after the expiration date of the permit, but authorization to discharge will not be retroactive.

C. The required registration statement shall contain the following information:

1. Facility name and mailing address, owner name and mailing address, telephone number, and email address (if available);

2. Facility street address (if different from mailing address);

3. Facility operator (local contact) name, address, telephone number, and email address (if available) if different than owner;

4. Whether the facility discharges to surface waters. If "yes," name of receiving stream; if "no," describe the discharge;

5. Whether the facility discharges to a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). If "yes," the facility owner must provide the name of the MS4 and notify the owner of the municipal separate storm sewer system of the existence of the discharge at the time of registration under this permit and include that notification with the registration statement. The notice shall include the following information: the name of the facility, a contact person, phone number, email, the location of the discharge, the nature of the discharge, and the facility's VPDES general permit number;

6. Whether the facility has a current VPDES permit. If "yes," provide permit number;

7. Whether the locality requires connection to central wastewater treatment facilities;

8. Whether central wastewater treatment facilities are available to serve the site. If "yes," the option of discharging to the central wastewater facility must be evaluated and the result of that evaluation reported here;

9. A USGS 7.5 minute topographic map or equivalent computer generated map showing the facility discharge locations, latitude and longitude, and receiving stream;

10. Provide a brief description of the type of washing activity. Include (as applicable) the type of vehicles washed, number of vehicle washing bays, and the number of laundry machines;

11. Highest average monthly flow rate for each washing activity or combined washing activity, reported as gallons per day;

12. Facility line (water balance) drawing;

13. Description of wastewater treatment or stormwater inlet protection measures;

14. Information on use of chemicals at the facility. Include detergents, soaps, waxes, and other chemicals;

15. Whether detergent used for washing vehicles contains more than 0.5% phosphorus by weight;

16. State Corporation Commission entity identification number if the facility is required to obtain an entity identification number by law; and

17. The following certification:

"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."

The registration statement shall be signed in accordance with 9VAC25-31-110 of the VPDES Permit Regulation.

D. The registration statement shall be delivered by either postal or electronic mail to the DEQ regional office serving the area where the facility is located. Following notification from the department of the start date for the required electronic submission of Notices of Intent to discharge forms (i.e., registration statements) as provided for in 9VAC25-31-1020, such forms submitted after that date shall be electronically submitted to the department in compliance with this section and 9VAC25-31-1020. There shall be at least three months' notice provided between the notification from the department and the date after which such forms must be submitted electronically.

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 13, Issue 26, eff. October 15, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 19, eff. October 15, 2002; Volume 28, Issue 18, eff. October 16, 2012; Volume 33, Issue 26, eff. October 16, 2017; Volume 38, Issue 18, eff. January 1, 2023.

9VAC25-194-70. General permit.

Any owner whose registration statement is accepted by the board shall comply with the requirements of the general permit and be subject to all requirements of 9VAC25-31-170 of the VPDES Permit Regulation.

General Permit No.: VAG75
Effective Date: January 1, 2023
Expiration Date: December 31, 2027
GENERAL PERMIT FOR VEHICLE WASH FACILITIES AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES

AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE VIRGINIA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM AND THE VIRGINIA STATE WATER CONTROL LAW

In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act, as amended, and pursuant to the State Water Control Law and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, owners of vehicle wash facilities and laundry facilities are authorized to discharge to surface waters within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia, except those specifically named in board regulations that prohibit such discharges.

The authorized discharge shall be in accordance with the information submitted with the registration statement, this cover page, Part I - Effluent Limitations, Monitoring Requirements, Special Conditions and Part II - Conditions Applicable to All VPDES Permits, as set forth in this general permit.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS.

1. During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater originating from vehicle wash facilities that discharge a monthly average flow rate less than or equal to 5,000 gallons per day from outfalls:

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS.

2. During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater originating from vehicle wash facilities that discharge a monthly average flow rate greater than 5,000 gallons per day from outfalls:

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS.

3. During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater originating from a laundry facility from outfalls:

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS.

4. During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater originating from a combined vehicle wash and laundry facility from outfalls:

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

B. Special conditions.

1. The permittee of a vehicle wash facility shall perform visual examinations of the effluent including sheens, floating solids, or visible foam and maintenance of the wastewater treatment facilities and inlet protection measures, if applicable, at least once per week and document this visual examination and maintenance activities in the operational log. This operational log shall include the examination date and time, examination personnel, presence of a discharge, and the visual quality of the discharge. The operational log shall be made available for review by the department personnel upon request.

2. The effluent shall be free of sheens. There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

3. No sewage shall be discharged from a point source to surface waters from this facility except under the provisions of another VPDES permit specifically issued for that purpose.

4. There shall be no chemicals added to the water or waste that may be discharged other than those listed on the owner's accepted registration statement, unless prior approval of the chemical is granted by the board.

5. Wastewater should be reused or recycled whenever feasible.

6. The permittee of a vehicle wash facility shall comply with the following solids management plan, where applicable:

a. Any settling basins or oil water separators shall be cleaned in accordance with the schedule outlined in the operation and maintenance (O&M) manual and at a frequent enough interval to achieve effective treatment.

b. Any solids from settling basins, oil water separators, trash, or other debris shall be handled, stored, and disposed of so as to prevent a discharge to state waters of such solids.

7. Washing of vehicles or containers bearing residue of animal manure or toxic chemicals (fertilizers, organic chemicals, etc.) is prohibited. If the facility is a self-service operation, the permittee shall post this prohibition on a sign prominently located and of sufficient size to be easily read by all patrons.

8. If the facility has a vehicle wash discharge with a monthly average flow rate of less than 5,000 gallons per day, and the flow rate increases above a monthly average flow rate of 5,000 gallons per day, an amended registration statement shall be filed within 30 days of the increased flow.

9. A permittee submitting a registration statement in accordance with Part II M and discharging into a municipal separate storm sewer shall notify the owner of the municipal separate storm sewer system of the existence of the discharge at the time of registration under this permit and include that notification with the registration statement. The notice shall include the following information: the name of the facility, a contact person and contact information (phone number and email), the location of the discharge, the nature of the discharge, and the facility's VPDES general permit number, if known or existing.

10. Approval for coverage under this general permit does not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any other federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.

11. The owner of a facility discharging vehicle wash water directly to a stormwater drain shall provide inlet protection measures in addition to meeting all other requirements of the permit.

12. The permittee shall notify the department as soon as the permittee knows or has reason to believe:

a. That any activity has occurred or will occur that would result in the discharge, on a routine or frequent basis, of any toxic pollutant that is not limited in this permit, if that discharge will exceed the highest of the following notification levels:

(1) One hundred micrograms per liter of the toxic pollutant;

(2) Two hundred micrograms per liter for acrolein and acrylonitrile; five hundred micrograms per liter for 2,4-dinitrophenol and for 2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol; and one milligram per liter for antimony;

(3) Five times the maximum concentration value reported for that pollutant in the permit application; or

(4) The level established by the board.

b. That any activity has occurred or will occur that would result in any discharge, on a nonroutine or infrequent basis, of a toxic pollutant that is not limited in this permit, if that discharge will exceed the highest of the following notification levels:

(1) Five hundred micrograms per liter of the toxic pollutant;

(2) One milligram per liter for antimony;

(3) Ten times the maximum concentration value reported for that pollutant in the permit application; or

(4) The level established by the board.

13. Operation and maintenance manual requirement. The permittee shall develop and maintain an accurate operation and maintenance (O&M) manual for the wastewater treatment works and applicable inlet protection measures. This manual shall detail the practices and procedures that will be followed to ensure compliance with the requirements of this permit. The permittee shall operate and maintain the treatment works and the inlet protection measures in accordance with the O&M manual. The O&M manual shall be reviewed and updated at least annually and shall be signed and certified in accordance with Part II K of this permit. The O&M manual shall be made available for review by the department personnel upon request. The O&M manual shall include the following items, as appropriate:

a. Techniques to be employed in the collection, preservation, and analysis of effluent samples;

b. Stormwater inlet protection measure directions for use and maintenance of equipment;

c. Best management practices employed;

d. Treatment system operation, routine preventive maintenance of units within the treatment system, critical spare parts inventory, and recordkeeping;

e. A sludge/solids management plan, including the schedule for settling basin or oil water separator cleaning and solids handling as required by Part I B 6;

f. Procedures for performing the visual examination and maintenance required by Part I B 1 including example log sheets and the location of the operational log; and

g. Date when the O&M manual was updated or reviewed and any changes that were made.

14. Compliance reporting under Part I A 1 through 4.

a. The quantification levels (QL) shall be as follows:

The QL is defined as the lowest concentration used to calibrate a measurement system in accordance with the procedures published for the test method.

b. Reporting. Any single datum required shall be reported as "<QL" if it is less than the QL in subdivision 14 a of this subsection. Otherwise, the numerical value shall be reported. The QL must be less than or equal to the QL in subdivision 14 a of this subsection.

c. Monitoring results shall be reported using the same number of significant digits as listed in the permit. Regardless of the rounding convention used by the permittee (e.g., five always rounding up or to the nearest even number), the permittee shall use the convention consistently and shall ensure that consulting laboratories employed by the permittee use the same convention.

15. The discharges authorized by this permit shall be controlled as necessary to meet applicable water quality standards in 9VAC25-260.

16. Discharges to waters with an approved total maximum daily load (TMDL). Owners of facilities that are a source of the specified pollutant of concern to waters where an approved TMDL has been established shall implement measures and controls that are consistent with the assumptions and requirements of the TMDL.

17. Notice of termination.

a. The owner may terminate coverage under this general permit by filing a complete notice of termination with the department. The notice of termination may be filed after one or more of the following conditions have been met:

(1) Operations have ceased at the facility and there are no longer wastewater discharges from vehicle wash or laundry activities from the facility;

(2) A new owner has assumed responsibility for the facility. A notice of termination does not have to be submitted if a VPDES Change of Ownership Agreement form has been submitted;

(3) All discharges associated with this facility have been covered by a VPDES individual permit or an alternative VPDES permit; or

(4) Termination of coverage is requested for another reason provided the board agrees that coverage under this general permit is no longer needed.

b. The notice of termination shall contain the following information:

(1) Owner's name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address (if available);

(2) Facility name and location;

(3) VPDES vehicle wash facilities and laundry facilities general permit number; and

(4) The basis for submitting the notice of termination, including:

(a) A statement indicating that a new owner has assumed responsibility for the facility;

(b) A statement indicating that operations have ceased at the facility and there are no longer wastewater discharges from vehicle wash or laundry activities from the facility;

(c) A statement indicating that all wastewater discharges from vehicle wash facilities and laundry facilities have been covered by an individual VPDES permit; or

(d) A statement indicating that termination of coverage is being requested for another reason (state the reason).

c. The following certification:

"I certify under penalty of law that all wastewater discharges from vehicle wash or laundry facilities from the identified facility that are authorized by this VPDES general permit have been eliminated, or covered under a VPDES individual or alternative permit, or that I am no longer the owner of the industrial activity, or permit coverage should be terminated for another reason listed above. I understand that by submitting this notice of termination, that I am no longer authorized to discharge wastewater from vehicle wash facilities or laundry facilities in accordance with the general permit, and that discharging pollutants in wastewater from vehicle wash facilities or laundry facilities to surface waters is unlawful where the discharge is not authorized by a VPDES permit. I also understand that the submittal of this notice of termination does not release an owner from liability for any violations of this permit or the Clean Water Act."

d. The notice of termination shall be signed in accordance with Part II K.

e. The notice of termination shall be submitted to the DEQ regional office serving the area where the vehicle wash or laundry facility is located.

Part II
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL VPDES PERMITS

A. Monitoring.

1. Samples and measurements taken as required by this permit shall be representative of the monitored activity.

2. Monitoring shall be conducted according to procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 or alternative methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unless other procedures have been specified in this permit.

3. The permittee shall periodically calibrate and perform maintenance procedures on all monitoring and analytical instrumentation at intervals that will ensure accuracy of measurements.

4. Samples taken as required by this permit shall be analyzed in accordance with 1VAC30-45, Certification for Noncommercial Environmental Laboratories, or 1VAC30-46, Accreditation for Commercial Environmental Laboratories.

B. Records.

1. Records of monitoring information shall include:

a. The date, exact place, and time of sampling or measurements;

b. The individuals who performed the sampling or measurements;

c. The dates and times analyses were performed;

d. The individuals who performed the analyses;

e. The analytical techniques or methods used; and

f. The results of such analyses.

2. Except for records of monitoring information required by this permit related to the permittee's sewage sludge use and disposal activities, which shall be retained for a period of at least five years, the permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, copies of all reports required by this permit, and records of all data used to complete the registration statement for this permit, for a period of at least three years from the date of the sample, measurement, report or request for coverage. This period of retention shall be extended automatically during the course of any unresolved litigation regarding the regulated activity or regarding control standards applicable to the permittee, or as requested by the board.

C. Reporting monitoring results.

1. The permittee shall submit the results of the monitoring required by this permit not later than the 10th day of the month after monitoring takes place, unless another reporting schedule is specified elsewhere in this permit. Monitoring results shall be submitted to the department's regional office.

2. Monitoring results shall be reported on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) or on forms provided, approved or specified by the department. Following notification from the department of the start date for the required electronic submission of monitoring reports, as provided for in 9VAC25-31-1020, such forms and reports submitted after that date shall be electronically submitted to the department in compliance with this section and 9VAC25-31-1020. There shall be at least three months' notice provided between the notification from the department and the date after which such forms and reports must be submitted electronically.

3. If the permittee monitors any pollutant specifically addressed by this permit more frequently than required by this permit using test procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 or using other test procedures approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or using procedures specified in this permit, the results of this monitoring shall be included in the calculation and reporting of the data submitted in the DMR or reporting form specified by the department.

4. Calculations for all limitations that require averaging of measurements shall utilize an arithmetic mean unless otherwise specified in this permit.

D. Duty to provide information. The permittee shall furnish to the department, within a reasonable time, any information that the board may request to determine whether cause exists for terminating coverage under this permit or to determine compliance with this permit. The board may require the permittee to furnish, upon request, such plans, specifications, and other pertinent information as may be necessary to determine the effect of the wastes from the permittee's discharge on the quality of state waters, or such other information as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the State Water Control Law. The permittee shall also furnish to the department upon request, copies of records required to be kept by this permit.

E. Compliance schedule reports. Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports on, interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule of this permit shall be submitted no later than 14 days following each schedule date.

F. Unauthorized discharges. Except in compliance with this permit or another permit issued by the board, it shall be unlawful for any person to:

1. Discharge into state waters sewage, industrial wastes, other wastes, or any noxious or deleterious substances; or

2. Otherwise alter the physical, chemical or biological properties of such state waters and make them detrimental to the public health, or to animal or aquatic life, or to the use of such waters for domestic or industrial consumption, or for recreation, or for other uses.

G. Reports of unauthorized discharges. Any permittee who discharges or causes or allows a discharge of sewage, industrial waste, other wastes or any noxious or deleterious substance into or upon state waters in violation of Part II F, or who discharges or causes or allows a discharge that may reasonably be expected to enter state waters in violation of Part II F, shall notify the department of the discharge immediately (see Part II I 4) upon discovery of the discharge, but in no case later than 24 hours after said discovery. A written report of the unauthorized discharge shall be submitted to the department within five days of discovery of the discharge. The written report shall contain:

1. A description of the nature and location of the discharge;

2. The cause of the discharge;

3. The date on which the discharge occurred;

4. The length of time that the discharge continued;

5. The volume of the discharge;

6. If the discharge is continuing, how long it is expected to continue;

7. If the discharge is continuing, what the expected total volume of the discharge will be; and

8. Any steps planned or taken to reduce, eliminate and prevent a recurrence of the present discharge or any future discharges not authorized by this permit.

Discharges reportable to the department under the immediate reporting requirements of other regulations are exempted from this requirement.

H. Reports of unusual or extraordinary discharges. If any unusual or extraordinary discharge, including a bypass or upset, should occur from a treatment works, and the discharge enters or could be expected to enter state waters, the permittee shall promptly notify (see Part II I 4), in no case later than 24 hours, the department after the discovery of the discharge. This notification shall provide all available details of the incident, including any adverse effects on aquatic life and the known number of fish killed. The permittee shall submit the report to the department in writing within five days of discovery of the discharge in accordance with Part II I 2. Unusual and extraordinary discharges include any discharge resulting from:

1. Unusual spillage of materials resulting directly or indirectly from processing operations;

2. Breakdown of processing or accessory equipment;

3. Failure or taking out of service some or all of the treatment works; and

4. Flooding or other acts of nature.

I. Reports of noncompliance. The permittee shall report any noncompliance that may adversely affect state waters or may endanger public health.

1. An oral report shall be provided within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The following shall be included as information that shall be reported within 24 hours under this subsection:

a. Any unanticipated bypass; and

b. Any upset which causes a discharge to surface waters.

2. A written report shall be submitted within five days and shall contain:

a. A description of the noncompliance and its cause;

b. The period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times, and if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and

c. Steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance.

The board may waive the written report on a case-by-case basis for reports of noncompliance under Part II I if the oral report has been received within 24 hours and no adverse impact on state waters has been reported.

3. The permittee shall report all instances of noncompliance not reported under Part II I 1 or 2, in writing, at the time the next monitoring reports are submitted. The reports shall contain the information listed in Part II I 2.

4. The immediate (within 24 hours) reports required in Part II G, H, and I may be made to the department's regional office. Reports may be made by telephone or online at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/pollution-response. For reports outside normal working hours, leave a message and this shall fulfill the immediate reporting requirement. For emergencies, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management maintains a 24-hour telephone service at 1-800-468-8892.

5. Where the permittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts in a permit registration statement or in any report to the department, it shall promptly submit such facts or information.

J. Notice of planned changes.

1. The permittee shall give notice to the department as soon as possible of any planned physical alterations or additions to the permitted facility. Notice is required only when:

a. The permittee plans alteration or addition to any building, structure, facility, or installation from which there is or may be a discharge of pollutants, the construction of which commenced:

(1) After promulgation of standards of performance under § 306 of the Clean Water Act that are applicable to such source; or

(2) After proposal of standards of performance in accordance with § 306 of the Clean Water Act that are applicable to such source, but only if the standards are promulgated in accordance with § 306 within 120 days of their proposal;

b. The alteration or addition could significantly change the nature or increase the quantity of pollutants discharged. This notification applies to pollutants that are subject neither to effluent limitations nor to notification requirements specified in Part I B 12; or

c. The alteration or addition results in a significant change in the permittee's sludge use or disposal practices, and such alteration, addition, or change may justify the application of permit conditions that are different from or absent in the existing permit, including notification of additional use or disposal sites not reported during the permit registration process or not reported pursuant to an approved land application plan.

2. The permittee shall give advance notice to the department of any planned changes in the permitted facility or activity that may result in noncompliance with permit requirements.

K. Signatory requirements.

1. Registration statement. All registration statements shall be signed as follows:

a. For a corporation: by a responsible corporate officer. For the purpose of this section, a responsible corporate officer means: (i) a president, secretary, treasurer, or vice-president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making or decision-making functions for the corporation, or (ii) the manager of one or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities, provided the manager is authorized to make management decisions that govern the operation of the regulated facility including having the explicit or implicit duty of making major capital investment recommendations, and initiating and directing other comprehensive measures to assure long-term environmental compliance with environmental laws and regulations; the manager can ensure that the necessary systems are established or actions taken to gather complete and accurate information for permit registration requirements; and where authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures;

b. For a partnership or sole proprietorship: by a general partner or the proprietor, respectively; or

c. For a municipality, state, federal, or other public agency: by either a principal executive officer or ranking elected official. For purposes of this section, a principal executive officer of a public agency includes: (i) the chief executive officer of the agency, or (ii) a senior executive officer having responsibility for the overall operations of a principal geographic unit of the agency.

2. Reporting requirements. All reports required by permits and other information requested by the board shall be signed by a person described in Part II K 1 or by a duly authorized representative of that person. A person is a duly authorized representative only if:

a. The authorization is made in writing by a person described in Part II K 1;

b. The authorization specifies either an individual or a position having responsibility for the overall operation of the regulated facility or activity such as the position of plant manager, operator of a well or a well field, superintendent, position of equivalent responsibility, or an individual or position having overall responsibility for environmental matters for the company. A duly authorized representative may thus be either a named individual or any individual occupying a named position; and

c. The written authorization is submitted to the department.

3. Changes to authorization. If an authorization under Part II K 2 is no longer accurate because a different individual or position has responsibility for the overall operation of the facility, a new authorization satisfying the requirements of Part II K 2 shall be submitted to the department prior to or together with any reports or information to be signed by an authorized representative.

4. Certification. Any person signing a document under Part II K 1 or 2 shall make the following certification:

"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."

L. Duty to comply. The permittee shall comply with all conditions of this permit. Any permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of the State Water Control Law and the Clean Water Act, except that noncompliance with certain provisions of this permit may constitute a violation of the State Water Control Law but not the Clean Water Act. Permit noncompliance is grounds for enforcement action, for permit coverage termination, or for denial of a permit coverage renewal application.

The permittee shall comply with effluent standards or prohibitions established under § 307(a) of the Clean Water Act for toxic pollutants within the time provided in the regulations that establish these standards or prohibitions, even if this permit has not yet been modified to incorporate the requirement.

M. Duty to reapply. If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by this permit after the expiration date of this permit, the permittee shall submit a new registration statement at least 60 days before the expiration date of the existing permit, unless permission for a later date has been granted by the board. The board shall not grant permission for registration statements to be submitted later than the expiration date of the existing permit.

N. Effect of a permit. This permit does not convey any property rights in either real or personal property or any exclusive privileges, nor does it authorize any injury to private property or invasion of personal rights, or any infringement of federal, state or local law or regulations.

O. State law. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action under, or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties established pursuant to any other state law or regulation or under authority preserved by § 510 of the Clean Water Act. Except as provided in permit conditions on "bypassing" (Part II U) and "upset" (Part II V), nothing in this permit shall be construed to relieve the permittee from civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.

P. Oil and hazardous substance liability. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties to which the permittee is or may be subject under Article 11 (§ 62.1-44.34:14 et seq.) of the State Water Control Law.

Q. Proper operation and maintenance. The permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) that are installed or used by the permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit. Proper operation and maintenance also includes effective plant performance, adequate funding, adequate staffing, and adequate laboratory and process controls, including appropriate quality assurance procedures. This provision requires the operation of back-up or auxiliary facilities or similar systems which are installed by the permittee only when the operation is necessary to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit.

R. Disposal of solids or sludges. Solids, sludges, or other pollutants removed in the course of treatment or management of pollutants shall be disposed of in a manner so as to prevent any pollutant from such materials from entering state waters.

S. Duty to mitigate. The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge or sludge use or disposal in violation of this permit that has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment.

T. Need to halt or reduce activity not a defense. It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this permit.

U. Bypass.

1. The permittee may allow any bypass to occur that does not cause effluent limitations to be exceeded, but only if it also is for essential maintenance to assure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to the provisions of Part II U 2 and U 3.

2. Notice.

a. Anticipated bypass. If the permittee knows in advance of the need for a bypass, prior notice shall be submitted, if possible, at least 10 days before the date of the bypass.

b. Unanticipated bypass. The permittee shall submit notice of an unanticipated bypass as required in Part II I.

3. Prohibition of bypass.

a. Bypass is prohibited, and the board may take enforcement action against a permittee for bypass, unless:

(1) Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;

(2) There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if adequate back-up equipment should have been installed in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent a bypass that occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; and

(3) The permittee submitted notices as required under Part II U 2.

b. The board may approve an anticipated bypass, after considering its adverse effects, if the board determines that it will meet the three conditions listed in Part II U 3 a.

V. Upset.

1. An upset constitutes an affirmative defense to an action brought for noncompliance with technology based permit effluent limitations if the requirements of Part II V 2 are met. A determination made during administrative review of claims that noncompliance was caused by upset, and before an action for noncompliance, is not a final administrative action subject to judicial review.

2. A permittee who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall demonstrate through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence that:

a. An upset occurred and that the permittee can identify the causes of the upset;

b. The permitted facility was at the time being properly operated;

c. The permittee submitted notice of the upset as required in Part II I; and

d. The permittee complied with any remedial measures required under Part II S.

3. In any enforcement proceeding the permittee seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset has the burden of proof.

W. Inspection and entry. The permittee shall allow the director, or an authorized representative (including an authorized contractor acting as a representative of the administrator), upon presentation of credentials and other documents as may be required by law to:

1. Enter upon the permittee's premises where a regulated facility or activity is located or conducted, or where records must be kept under the conditions of this permit;

2. Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must be kept under the conditions of this permit;

3. Inspect at reasonable times any facilities, equipment (including monitoring and control equipment), practices, or operations regulated or required under this permit; and

4. Sample or monitor at reasonable times, for the purposes of assuring permit compliance or as otherwise authorized by the Clean Water Act and the State Water Control Law, any substances or parameters at any location.

For purposes of this section, the time for inspection shall be deemed reasonable during regular business hours, and whenever the facility is discharging. Nothing contained herein shall make an inspection unreasonable during an emergency.

X. Permit actions. Permit coverage may be terminated for cause. The filing of a request by the permittee for a permit coverage termination or a notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance does not stay any permit condition.

Y. Transfer of permit coverage.

1. Permit coverage is not transferable to any person except after notice to the department.

2. Coverage under this permit may be automatically transferred to a new permittee if:

a. The current permittee notifies the department within 30 days of the transfer of the title to the facility or property;

b. The notice includes a written agreement between the existing and new permittees containing a specific date for transfer of permit responsibility, coverage, and liability between them; and

c. The board does not notify the existing permittee and the proposed new permittee of its intent to modify or revoke and reissue the permit. If this notice is not received, the transfer is effective on the date specified in the agreement mentioned in Part II Y 2 b.

Z. Severability. The provisions of this permit are severable, and, if any provision of this permit or the application of any provision of this permit to any circumstance, is held invalid, the application of such provision to other circumstances, and the remainder of this permit, shall not be affected thereby.

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 13, Issue 26, eff. October 15, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 19, eff. October 15, 2002; Volume 22, Issue 16, eff. May 17, 2006; Volume 28, Issue 18, eff. October 16, 2012; Volume 33, Issue 26, eff. October 16, 2017; Volume 38, Issue 18, eff. January 1, 2023; Volume 40, Issue 4, eff. October 9, 2023; Volume 40, Issue 9, eff. December 18, 2023.

9VAC25-194-80. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 26, eff. October 15, 1997; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 19, eff. October 15, 2002.

Forms (9VAC25-194)

Registration Statement for the General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit for Vehicle Wash Facilities and Laundry Facilities 2022 Reissuance (rev. 6/2022)

Documents Incorporated by Reference (9VAC25-194)

Standard Industrial Classification Manual 1987, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, National Technical Information Service, Order No. PB 87-100012.