Individual Permits

The primary focus of the AZPDES individual permitting program is municipal/domestic and non-domestic (industrial) direct dischargers. The sources of pollutants and the type of discharger determines the type of application forms and information needed. (Note: most facilities must include antidegradation information with submittal.)

For regulatory purposes, these sources are generally categorized as either "point" or "nonpoint" sources. Typical point sources include process discharges from publicly owned treatment works, discharges from industrial facilities, and discharges associated with urban runoff. While provisions of the AZPDES program do address certain specific types of agricultural activities (e.g., feedlots, CAFOs), the majority of agricultural facilities are defined as nonpoint sources and are exempt from AZPDES regulations. As a general matter, groundwater is not considered waters of the United States and discharges to groundwater do not require AZPDES permits (See Aquifer Protection Permit Program). The exception to this rule is where a "hydrological connection" exists with a nearby surface water; in these cases, a discharger may be required to apply for an AZPDES permit.

Municipalities receive domestic sewage from residential and commercial customers. Larger publicly-owned treatment works will also receive and treat wastewater from industrial facilities (indirect dischargers) connected to the system. Typical pollutants include conventional pollutants (five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), TSS, pH, fecal coliform) and may include nonconventional and toxic pollutants depending on the customers on the system.

Nonmunicipal sources, including industrial and commercial facilities, are unique with respect to the types of pollutants generated by the facility. Unlike domestic wastewater, the types of raw materials, production processes, treatment technologies and pollutants discharged vary widely and are facility specific. Once a facility submits the appropriate application, ADEQ develops a permit for that particular facility based on the information contained in the permit application such as type of activity, nature of discharge, and receiving water quality. ADEQ issues the permit to the facility for a specific time period (not to exceed five years) with a requirement that the facility reapply before the expiration date.

A.A.C. R18-9-B901 requires that applications for new discharges be made no later than 180 days before the actual discharge begins. Similarly, applications for permit renewals (for existing dischargers) must be made at least 180 days prior to the expiration of the existing permit. Before an application can be considered administratively complete, ADEQ must know whether the facility has been found consistent with (or not consistent with) the Regional 208 Water Quality Management Plan (WQM). Applicants should consult with their planning agencies to obtain a consistency statement.

General Permits

• De Minimis
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)
• Stormwater

A general permit covers multiple facilities within a specific category and offers a permitting option for point source discharges having common elements such as:

• Stormwater point sources
• Facilities that involve the same or substantially similar types of operations
• Facilities that discharge the same type of waste or engage in the same types of sludge use or disposal practices
• Facilities that require the same effluent limits, operating conditions, or standards for sewage sludge use or disposal
• Facilities that require the same or similar monitoring

De Minimis

Background on 2004 DMGP

ADEQ issued the AZPDES De Minimis General Permit (DMGP) No. AZG2004-001 on March 17, 2004. The permit allows for the discharge of pollutants associated with potable and reclaimed water systems, subterranean dewatering, well development, aquifer testing, hydrostatic testing of specific pipelines, residential cooling water, charitable car washes, building and street washing, and dechlorinated swimming pool water. The permit also allows other case-by-case short-term and/or low volume discharges that have been specifically approved in writing by ADEQ. By definition (DMGP, Part VII), De Minimis discharges contain relatively low levels of pollutants, are of limited flow and/or frequency, and shall not last for more than 30 days unless approved in advance by ADEQ.

The DMGP addresses non-stormwater discharges that have potential to enter a water of the U.S. Waters of the U. S. include lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), ephemeral washes, playa lakes, certain canals, certain wetlands, and other waters per 40 CFR 122.2 and A.A.C. R18-11-101 (41). The permit also applies to any release to a storm sewer system or other conveyance if the discharge has the potential to reach waters of the U.S.

Authorization under this permit requires the owner or operator of the discharge facility to implement various best management practices (BMPs) and except as specified in the DMGP Part II.A.1.a., to conduct discharge monitoring based on the type of discharge activity and the type of receiving water.

• 2004 De Minimis General Permit
• 2004 De Minimis Fact Sheet
• 2004 De Minimis General Permit Response to Comments
• Impaired Waters (2006-2008 303(d) List)

Authorization
With a few exceptions (DMGP Part II.A.1.a.), each discharge authorization under the 2004 DMGP was based on an NOI signed by the appropriate signatory (DMGP Part V. K.). The NOI serves as a promise by the signatory that there will be compliance with the permit conditions. The BMP plan was also required to be submitted along with the NOI for a number of discharges. A Notice of Termination (NOT) must be submitted within 30 days after the discharge ceases permanently or responsibility for the discharging facility is transferred.

Areawide coverage
As an alternative to individual NOIs for specific discharges, the DMGP allowed municipalities and utilities supplying water, reclaimed water, oil or gas to obtain areawide coverage of discharges from multiple locations within their service areas or municipal boundaries. For areawide authorizations, a Notice of Termination should not be submitted after each discharge, but only if the permittee wishes to terminate the areawide coverage.

(NOTE: discharges from hydrostatic tests of pipelines previously used to transport oil or gas were not eligible for areawide coverage. An individual NOI and ADEQ approval under A.A.C. R18-9-B301(C)(3) was required.)

De Minimis Forms
Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 and higher is required to print the following forms correctly.

• De Minimis Notice of Intent (single-source discharge)*
• De Minimis Notice of Intent for Areawide Discharges*
• De Minimis Notice of Termination
• De Minimis Discharge Monitoring Report Form

* (For NOI amendments only - no new submittals accepted until 2009 DMGP is issued.)

Monitoring
With certain exceptions (DMGP Part II.A.1.a.), monitoring must be conducted and recorded for covered discharges according to the provisions of the DMGP and any specific requirements of the authorization issued by ADEQ. Monitoring results, including pre- and post-discharge photographic documentation, are required to be submitted to ADEQ for any discharge lasting more than four consecutive days and/or exceeding 0.25 million gallons in any one day. Monitoring from individual discharges of this duration/size must be submitted with the NOT. Operators with Areawide Discharge Authorizations were required to compile monitoring results (including photo documentation) for any discharges of this duration/size conducted prior to Jan. 1, 2008, and to submit the compiled results to ADEQ by Feb. 28, 2008. Numerical data is to be submitted on the De Minimis Discharge Monitoring Report Form.

For further information

AZPDES Index · Overview of the AZPDES Process · Individual Permits · General Permits · Stormwater · Pretreatment Program · Biosolids Sewage/Sludge · Forms & Guidance · FAQs · Other Programs