TCEQ Adopts General Permit for Petroleum Bulk Storage and Terminals
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. - Texas Environmental Update, April 2007
On April 11, 2007, TCEQ approved the reissuance of Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) General Permit No. TXG340000 authorizing discharges of facility wastewater, contact storm water and storm water associated with industrial activities into or adjacent to water in the state from petroleum bulk stations and terminals. The initial general permit for these facilities expired on July 26, 2004 and although existing discharges covered by this general permit maintained coverage until TCEQ final action on the renewal, no new discharges or notices of intent (NOIs) could be accepted. With the issuance of this renewal, new eligible discharges may now be authorized under this general permit.
Changes from the existing general permit include the following: (i) references to Standard Industrial Classification Code 5171 relating to petroleum bulk plants and terminals have been removed to allow facilities whose primary SIC code is not 5171, yet operate a petroleum bulk station and terminal, to operate under this general permit; and (ii) an effluent limitation was added for methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and the effluent limitation for total lead was reduced based on an antidegradation review of the general permit by TCEQ’s Water Quality Standards Team. However, a three-year compliance period has been included to allow existing facilities (i.e., facilities in operation prior to the issuance of this permit renewal) to comply with these limitations for total lead and MTBE. Notably, all eligible discharges are subject to whole effluent, 24-hour acute toxicity monitoring.
On a related note, TCEQ staff has initiated the process for renewal of the general permit for water contaminated by petroleum fuel or petroleum substances, TPDES General Permit No. TXG830000 as this permit expires in October of this year. Agency staff are also considering the development of a general permit for mobile oil drilling units. For additional information about TCEQ general permits, please click here.1
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