Chapter 14 SEWERAGE*

Section 14-67 Permit classes; application.

    There shall be two (2) classes of building sewer permits:  (a) for residential and commercial service; and (b) for service to establishments producing industrial wastes. In either case, the owner  shall make application on a special form furnished by the city. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent in the  judgment of the chief building official.

    (a)    Wastewater analysis. When requested by the superintendent, a user must submit information on the nature and characteristics of its wastewater within thirty (30) days of the  request. The superintendent is authorized to prepare a form for this purpose and may periodically require users to update this information.

    (b)    Wastewater discharge permit requirement.

    (1)    No significant industrial user  shall discharge wastewater into the POTW without first obtaining a wastewater discharge permit from the superintendent, except that a significant  industrial user that has filed a timely application pursuant to section 14-67(c) may continue to  discharge for the time period specified therein.

    (2)    The superintendent may require  other users to obtain wastewater discharge permits as  necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

    (3)    Any violation of the terms and  conditions of a wastewater discharge permit shall be  deemed a violation of this chapter and subjects the wastewater discharge permittee to the sanctions set out in section 14-124. Obtaining a wastewater discharge permit does not relieve a permittee of its obligation to comply with all federal and state pretreatment standards or requirements or with any other requirements of federal, state, and local law.

    (c)    Wastewater discharge permitting--existing connections. Any user required to obtain a  wastewater discharge permit who was discharging wastewater into the POTW prior to the effective  date of this chapter and who wished to continue such discharges in the future, shall, within thirty  (30) days after said date, apply to the superintendent for a wastewater discharge permit in accordance with section 14-67(e), and shall not cause or allow discharges to the POTW to continue  after sixty (60) days of the effective date of this chapter except in accordance with a wastewater discharge permit issued by the superintendent.

    (d)    Wastewater discharge permitting--new connections. Any user required to obtain a wastewater discharge permit who proposes to begin or recommence discharging into the POTW  must obtain such permit prior to the beginning or recommencing of such discharge. An application  for this wastewater discharge permit, in accordance with section 14-67(e), must be filed at least thirty (30) days prior to the date upon which any discharge will begin or recommence.

    (e)    Wastewater discharge permit application contents. All users required to obtain a wastewater discharge permit must submit a permit application. The superintendent may require all  users to submit as part of an application the following information:

    (1)    All information required by section 14-118;

    (2)    Description of activities, facilities,  and plant processes on the premises, including a list of  all raw materials and chemicals used or stored at the facility which are, or could accidentally or intentionally be, discharged to the POTW;

    (3)    Number and type of employees, hours of operation, and proposed or actual hours of  operation;

    (4)    Each product produced by type,  amount, process or processes, and rate of production;

    (5)    Type and amount of raw material processed (average and maximum per day);

    (6)    Site plans, floor plans, mechanical and plumbing plans, and details to show all sewers,  floor drains, and appurtenances by size, location, and elevation, and all points of discharge;

    (7)    Time and duration of discharges;  and

    (8)    Any other information as may be deemed necessary by the superintendent to evaluate the wastewater discharge permit application.

Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be processed and will be returned to the user for  revision.

    (f)    Application signatories and certification. All wastewater discharge permit applications  and user reports must be signed by an authorized representative of the user and contain the  following certification statement:

"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."

    (g)    Wastewater discharge permit decisions. The superintendent will evaluate the data  furnished by the user and may require additional information. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of a complete wastewater discharge permit application, the superintendent will determine whether or not to issue a wastewater discharge permit. The superintendent may deny any application for a wastewater discharge permit.

    (h)    Wastewater discharge permit duration. A wastewater discharge permit shall be issued for a specified time period, not to exceed five (5) years from the effective date of the permit.  A  wastewater discharge permit may be issued for a period less than five (5) years, at the discretion of  the superintendent. Each wastewater discharge permit will indicate a specific date upon which it will expire.

    (i)    Wastewater discharge permit contents. A wastewater discharge permit shall include such  conditions as are deemed reasonably necessary by the Superintendent to prevent pass through or interference, protect the quality of the water body receiving the treatment plant's effluent, protect  worker health and safety, facilitate sludge management and disposal, and protect against damage to the POTW.

    (j)    Wastewater discharge permits must contain:

    (1)    A statement that indicates wastewater discharge permit duration, which in no event shall  exceed five (5) years;

    (2)    A statement that the wastewater discharge permit is nontransferable without prior  notification to the city in accordance with section 14-67(l), and provisions for furnishing the new  owner or operator with a copy of the existing wastewater discharge permit;

    (3)    Effluent limits based on applicable pretreatment standards;

    (4)    Self-monitoring, sampling, reporting, notification, and record-keeping requirements.  These  requirements shall include an identification of pollutants to be monitored, sampling location, sampling, frequency, and sample type based on federal, state and local law;

    (5)    A statement of applicable civil and criminal penalties for violation of pretreatment  standards and requirements, and applicable compliance schedule. Such schedule may not extend  the time for compliance beyond that required by applicable federal, state, or local law.

    (k)    Wastewater discharge permits may  contain, but need not be limited to, the following  conditions:

    (1)    Limits on the average and/or maximum  rate of discharge, time of discharge, and/or  requirements for flow regulation and equalization;

    (2)    Requirements for the installation of pretreatment technology, pollution control, or  construction of appropriate containment devices, designed to reduce, eliminate, or prevent the  introduction of pollutants into the treatment works;

    (3)    Requirements for the development  and implementation of spill control plans or other special conditions including management practices necessary to adequately prevent accidental,  unanticipated, or nonroutine discharges;

    (4)    Development and implementation  of waste minimization plans to reduce the amount of pollutants discharged to the POTW;

    (5)    The unit charge or schedule of  user charges and fees for the management of the wastewater discharged to the POTW;

    (6)    Requirements for installation and maintenance of inspection and sampling facilities and  equipment;

    (7)    A statement that compliance with  the wastewater discharge permit does not relieve the  permittee of responsibility for compliance with all applicable federal and state pretreatment standards, including those which become effective during the term of the wastewater discharge  permit; and

    (8)    Other conditions as deemed appropriate  by the superintendent to ensure compliance with  this chapter, and state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

    (l)    Wastewater discharge permit modification. The superintendent may modify a wastewater  discharge permit for good cause, including, but not limited to, the following reasons:

    (1)    To incorporate any new or revised federal, state, or local pretreatment standards or  requirements;

    (2)    To address significant alterations  or additions to the user's operation, processes, or wastewater volume or character since the time of wastewater discharge permit issuance;

    (3)    A change in the POTW that requires  either a temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of the authorized discharge;

    (4)    Information indicating that the permitted discharge poses a threat to the city's POTW, city  personnel, or the receiving waters;

    (5)    Violation of any terms or conditions  of the wastewater discharge permit;

    (6)    Misrepresentations or failure to fully disclose all relevant facts in the wastewater discharge permit application or in any required reporting;

    (7)    Revision of or a grant of variance  from categorical pretreatment standards pursuant to 40 CFR 403.13;

    (8)    To correct typographical or other errors in the wastewater discharge permit; or

    (9)    To reflect a transfer of the facility ownership or operation to a new owner or operator.

    (m) Wastewater discharge permit transfer. Wastewater discharge permits may be transferred to  a new owner or operator only if the permittee gives at least thirty (30) days advance notice to the  superintendent and the superintendent approved the wastewater discharge permit transfer. The notice to the superintendent must include a written certification by the new owner or operator which:

    (1)    States that the new owner and/or  operator has no immediate intent to change the facility's  operations and processes;

    (2)    Identifies the specific date on which the transfer is to occur; and

    (3)    Acknowledges full responsibility  for complying with the existing wastewater discharge permit.

    Failure to provide advance notice of a transfer renders the  wastewater discharge permit void as  of the date of facility transfer.

    (n)    Wastewater discharge permit revocation. The superintendent may revoke a wastewater  discharge permit for good cause, including, but not limited to, the following reasons:

    (1)    Failure to notify the superintendent  of significant changes to the wastewater prior to the  changed discharge;

    (2)    Failure to provide prior notification to the superintendent of changed conditions pursuant  to section 14-121(e);

    (3)    Misrepresentation or failure to fully disclose all relevant facts in the wastewater discharge permit application;

    (4)    Falsifying self-monitoring reports;

    (5)    Tampering with monitoring equipment;

    (6)    Refusing to allow the superintendent  timely access to the facility premises and records;

    (7)    Failure to meet effluent limitations;

    (8)    Failure to pay fines;

    (9)    Failure to meet compliance schedules;

    (10)    Failure to complete a wastewater survey or the wastewater discharge permit application;

    (11)    Failure to provide advance notice  of the transfer of business ownership of a permitted facility; or

    (12)    Violation of any pretreatment  standard or requirement, or any terms of the wastewater  discharge permit or this chapter.

    (o)    Wastewater discharge permits shall  be voidable upon cessation of operations or transfer of business ownership.  All wastewater discharge permits issued to a particular user are void upon  the issuance of a new wastewater discharge permit to that user.

    (p)    Wastewater discharge permit reissuance. A user with an expiring wastewater discharge  permit must apply for reissuance by submitting a complete permit application, in accordance with section 14-67(e), a minimum of sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the user's existing  wastewater discharge permit.

    (q)    Reconsideration of wastewater discharge permit decision and judicial review of final administrative wastewater discharge permit decision.

    (1)    The superintendent shall provide  public notice of the issuance of a wastewater discharge permit. Any person, including the user, may petition the superintendent to reconsider the terms of a wastewater discharge permit within thirty (30) days notice of its issuance.

    (2)    Failure to submit a timely petition for review shall be deemed to be a waiver of the administrative appeal.

    (3)    In its petition, the appealing  party must indicate the wastewater discharge permit provisions objected to, the reasons for this objection, and the alternative condition, if any, it seeks  to place in the wastewater discharge permit.

    (4)    The effectiveness of the wastewater discharge permit shall not be stayed pending the  appeal.

    (5)    If the superintendent fails to  act within thirty (30) days, a request for reconsideration shall  be deemed to be denied. Decisions not to reconsider a wastewater discharge permit, not to issue a wastewater discharge permit, or not to modify a wastewater discharge permit shall be considered  final administrative actions for purposes of judicial review.

    (6)    Aggrieved parties seeking judicial  review of the final administrative wastewater discharge  permit decision must do so by filing a complaint with the Superior Court of Thomas County, Georgia within thirty (30) days after entry of said final decision. Except for the requirement that the action be filed in the Superior Court of Thomas County, Georgia, the judicial review shall be  without a jury as set forth in section 50-13-19 O.C.G.A.

(Ord. of 6-23-97,  IV)