ENB Region 6 Completed Applications 12/21/2005

The applicant proposes to construct a communication tower in the adjacent area of Freshwater Wetland J-11, a class II, 64 acre wetland. There will be no direct impacts to the wetland proper. An existing logging road will provide access to the tower. The project is located west of Hallenbeck Road, north of Cold Spring Brook and south of Beach Road.

The State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit for this Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in St. Lawrence county (discharging to the St. Lawrence River) been modified in accordance with EBPS and 6NYCRR 750-1.18(b)(6) & (7).  The modification is undertaken to address Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) abatement and to ensure compliance with DEC regulations and the Clean Water Act.

On April 19, 1994, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially noticed  the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy (Policy) to establish a consistent national approach for controlling discharges from all CSOs to the waters of the United States.  The Policy provides guidance to permittees and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting authorities on the implementation of both the technology-based controls, called the Nine Minimum Controls (NMCs), and development and implementation of water quality-based requirements, i.e., a Long Term Control Plan (LTCP).

In the Policy, EPA required that NPDES and SPDES permits would be modified to include the CSO requirements. EPA also set a goal for municipalities to implement the NMCs by January 1, 1997 and  develop a LTCP two years later. As the NPDES permitting authority for New York State, the DEC has entered into an agreement with EPA to modify all remaining CSO SPDES permits in New York State in order to be in compliance with the Clean Water Act.  DEC has developed 15 CSO Best Management Practices (BMPs), in accordance with the CSO Control Policy and State regulations, that embody the NMCs. Most permits contain all15 BMPs.

Long Term Control Planning is an additional control measure that: integrates the BMPs into the overall plan; evaluates the impact of CSO discharges on receiving water quality; evaluates and identifies control alternatives to address water quality use and standard impacts; and proposes implementation schedules of the chosen controls.  SPDES permit requirements for the LTCP are divided into two phases.   Phase I is the study phase, where the scope of the impact of CSO discharges is evaluated and alternatives to mitigate the impact are reviewed.  The Policy provides consideration for CSO permittees serving populations under 75,000 such that the scope of the Phase I LTCP may be reduced on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Department. Phase II is the construction and implementation of the alternatives chosen in the Phase I  LTCP. All CSO permittees, where DEC has determined that the CSO discharges may have an impact on water quality in the receiving water, will be required to perform a Phase I LTCP. The results of the Phase I LTCP will then determine whether the permittee will proceed to a Phase II LTCP.

Compared to the issued permit this draft is intended to replace, the following significant changes are proposed for the Ogdensburgh Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant SPDES permit:

1.  BOD5, TSS - These limits are effectively the same, but have been marginally adjusted to maintain consistency with specifying limits and ALs with 2 significant figures (1626 = 1600, 2439 = 2400).  Also, DM reporting is added to existing requirements for 30-Day and 7-Day Ave. reporting.

2.  Total Copper - Due to past exceedences, this AL is increased from 5.7 to 30 lb/d, approximately  the 95^th percentile of the monitoring data.  The WQ limit would be 107.8 lb/d.

3.  Total Iron - This AL is deleted from the permit, as its discharge level is below that of concern.

4.  Total Mercury - Monitoring data indicate the presence of Hg in the effluent.  Since the Department’s goal is non-detect, a new limit of 200 ng/l, as determined through EPA Method 1631, is established.

5.  Total Phenols - Since the 99th%ile is ~ 1/3 the allowable WQ discharge rate, this AL is converted  from Monitor to the WQ number of 6.5 lb/d.

   

6.  BOD & TSS Removal % - As reflected in Footnote No. 4 on Page 3 of 11 of the permit under modification, 40 CFR 133.103(a) allows for the attainable percentage removal  rates to be defined during wet weather conditions, on a case-by-case basis, rather than adherence to the minimum 85% removal rates required during dry weather flows.

 

7.  Footnote No. 4 has been combined with Footnote No. 1 in the modified permit and, since there has      been only 1 instance in not meeting the 85% removal rate since 2001, and that rate was approximately 81% for TSS, the minimum treatment rate effectiveness during wet  weather flows has been specified at 80%.

8.  TRC - Daily Average reporting is added to existing requirement for Daily Maximum reporting.

9.  Updated Permit Sections - New language reflecting updated EPA and Department requirements is added to the permit for CSO BMPs, a Long Term Control Plan, and the industrial pretreatment program.

The applicant proposes to develop a 4.9 acre sand and gravel mine on a 48 acre parcel owned by the applicant, and located approximately 800' north of County Route 24, approximately 1,400' west of its intersection with the West Parishville Road.  On site processing may take place using a portable crusher and screen, as needed.